Kienzle 48/10c

Description

The Kienzle 48/10c is a representative of the large caliber series 48, here with indirectly driven center second hand and 10 bearing jewels.

The 10 jewels are distributed in an unusual way:

• balance bearing: 4 jewels
• balance: 1 jewel (ellipse)
• lever bearing: 2 jewels
• escapement wheel: 1 jewel (dial side)
• fourth wheel: 1 jewel (movement side)
• third wheel: 1 jewel (movement side)

Why the critical escapement wheel is jewel-beared only on one side, and especially only on the lesser stressed dial side, is unknown to me. It’s also noteworthy, that only that bearing of the third wheel, which drives the gear for the indirect second, contains a jewel, the other side note.

The gilt-colored ring balance is beared in two inhouse Kienzle shock protections, which consists both of one fixed bearing jewel and one vertically moveable cap jewel. This means, that the balance is secured against vertical shocks like knocking on the crystal, but not agains shocks from the side, which could easily bend or break the thin balance axles. And finally, the three-leg shock protection on the movement side has got extremely good flying qualities…

The movement construcion is the same as on most pin lever movements and except the escapement lever, everything is housed below one large three-quarter plate. Only the mainspring barrel can be released extra by removing one screw.

On the dial side, you see the rocking bar winding mechanism and the click mechanism; both share the same spring!

Technical data

Usage gallery