Lever escapement

Invented in 1755, the detached lever escapement stood the test of time. Its history is a good illustration of the way in which requirements of precision fluctuated over the years. Whilst the few timepieces made with detached lever escapement in the 18th century were regarded as chronometers, during the 19th century lever escapements became a feature of the high-quality pocked watch. Quality was still high, but not to standart of a precision instrument. For