How To: Poising a Watch Balance

How to Poise a Watch Balance | Essential Watchmaking Technique Explained

In this video, we dive into one of the most critical skills in watchmaking: poising a watch balance. This delicate process ensures that the balance wheel—the heart of any mechanical watch—rotates evenly and maintains accurate timekeeping.

🔧 What is Balance Poising?
Poising a balance means making sure its weight is evenly distributed around its axis. Even a tiny imbalance can cause time deviations, especially in different positions (like dial up or crown down). This is often done after replacing or adjusting parts like the balance staff, roller, or hairspring.

🛠️ How It’s Done:
The balance wheel is placed on poising jaws (a tool that allows it to rotate freely).
If one side consistently drops to the bottom, it means that side is heavier.
The watchmaker then removes material or adds weight (typically by adjusting the screws or adding poising weights) until the balance stays level in any position.

✅ Why Poising Is Important:
Improves timekeeping accuracy across all positions
Ensures even amplitude and better isochronism
Crucial for chronometer-grade movements or vintage watch restorations
Whether you're a horology student, watch repair enthusiast, or just curious about the mechanics of mechanical watches, this tutorial will give you a clear understanding of a skill every watchmaker must master.

📌 Content:
how to poise a watch balance
watch balance wheel poising
mechanical watch accuracy
watchmaking tutorial
vintage watch repair
balance wheel adjustment
poising tool watch
horology basics
watch restoration
timekeeping precision

Hope you enjoy the video 😊

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[tudo]

I have watched it over and over, but only know the operations you do and the effects of this tool. I’m sure when you fix the watch and use it I will know. 😃

[mikebruegger]

I believe the bubble balance should be placed on the jaws to level. I know mine is simply stored on the device but comes off to place on the jewel teeth

[SnowmansApartment]

Is it not possible to design the balance wheel such that it is always perfectly balanced?

[cocovogue]

CAN you explain how to change à spiral please

[aggese]

Was it still slightly unbalanced in the end?