What's this thing called Incabloc?

“Incabloc ® has been an integral part of the Swiss watch industry since its inception in 1928. Since then, the majority of mechanical watches produced in Switzerland have been fitted with this shock-protection system designed to protect balance-staffs. Incabloc SA has thus been the undisputed leader in this market for almost a century.” So says Incabloc themselves

Advert from 1950s, Paris Match

I think we all dread dropping our watches. It happens, but unless you have more of an antique watch your watch is most likely to be relatively alright because of a magical and inspired invention called the Incabloc.

Back in a 1935 Swiss watch industry report a watch expert stated that wristwatches lead a ‘dangerous life'. Before the Incabloc, accidental drops frequently damaged a watch's delicate balance staff pivots, rendering the timepiece inoperable. Swiss engineers Georges Braunschweig and Fritz Marti revolutionized watch protection by inventing the Incabloc system in 1933.

A typical 'double cone' version of the Incabloc on a Universal Geneve movement.

Developed at Universal Escapements, Ltd. (later Portescap SA) in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Incabloc is a spring-loaded mounting system for the jewel bearings supporting the balance wheel. Its iconic "lyre-shaped" spring allows the delicate jewels and pivots to shift under impact, absorbing shock and preventing breakage. Once the shock passes, the spring returns the components to their precise position.

Incabloc quickly became an industry standard, making watches significantly more robust. While other systems like KIF and Seiko's Diashock emerged, Incabloc's effectiveness and widespread adoption cemented its place as a cornerstone of modern mechanical watchmaking, greatly extending the lifespan and reliability of wristwatches.

Have a look at the Incabloc website, it's really very interesting and shows how vital miniature engineering is in the safety and upkeep of mechanical watches. https://www.incabloc.ch/en/shock-absorbers/