DuRoWe 55
Description
The form movement caliber DuRoWe 55 from Pforzheim, Germany, is noted in caliber lists as a 5 1/4 ligne movement, but that’s a bit off, since its real size is 5 2/3 x 8 2/3 lignes…
It is from the early 1950s and so has got the old, a little more long shape, which was replaced since the 1960s by more compact tonneau shaped movements.
Version with 17 jewels
Technically, it represents the state of the art of the 1950s and is well made. All important bearings contain rubies, so in total, this movement has got 15 jewels.
base plate
Other versions of this movement add two cap jewels for the escape wheel bearing and so, they can write “17 Rubis” on the dial.
gear train
The DuRoWe 55 uses the common gear train for these kind of form movements: Mainspring barrel, center minute wheel, tiny third and seconds wheels and a large escape wheel.
The lack of space leads to the detail, that the lower second wheel bearing is located above the escape wheel, so, here, we have got a two-storey construction.
side view of the gear train
The monometallic screw balance is not yet shock protected. It beats with 18000 A/h and can be adjusted at the hairspring key only.
As escapement, a swiss pallet lever is used.
DuRoWe 55: Dial side
On the dial side, you see the elaborate setting lever spring of the yoke winding system.
In the lab
Timegrapher result
Probably due to its age, this movement performs poor on the timegrapher. Only the very low beat error is very remarkable!| horizontal positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| dial up | +20 s/d | 320° | 0.3ms |
| dial down | +10 s/d | 306° | 0.2ms |
| vertical positions | |||
| crown right (12 up) | -190 s/d | 250° | 0.1ms |
| crown up (3 up) | -60 s/d | 260° | 0.0ms |
| crown left (6 up) | +50 s/d | 257° | 0.3ms |
| crown down (9 up) | -55 s/d | 260° | 0.4ms |
Technical data
| Manufacturer: | DuRoWe |
| Caliber: | 55 |
| Size: | 5 1/4''' (measured: 12,8 x 19,2mm) |
| A/h: | 18000 |
| lift angle: | 56°? |
| Number of jewels: | 15/17 |
| Escapement: | Pallet lever |
| Balance types: |
monometallic screw balance (two legs) |
| Shock protection(s): |
none |
| Balance bearing / direction hairspring: | Counterclockwise |
| Moveable stud: | no |
| Adjust mechanism: | Hairspring key |
| Construction: |
|
| Construction type: | solid construction |
| Winding mechanism: | yoke winding system |
| Setting lever spring: | 2 hole(s) |
| Attachment of setting lever: | screwed |
| References: |
Feilner: Bl.41 3651 Flume: 1952 32 |
| Mentioning in literature (years): | 1953 - 1954 |
| Inventory number: | 23042 |
Usage gallery
Stowa Amor ladies' watch
Roberta ladies' watch (case missing)