Question about balance spring...

Dear friends,

any idea what's the balance spring's
material of the BP 500901?
Is it antimagnetic?

Thanks in advance

Dimitris --IWC, like 98% of the fine Swiss watch industry, uses Nivarox, a special alloy that is highly amagnetic. It primarily was developed because it is relatively unaffected by temperature and it is possible to become magnetized.

Thank you Michael.
In specs says, Glucydur® Beryllium, is it the same with Nivarox?

Hi Dimitris,
both are antimagnetic alloys, Nivarox as well is a trade name and a company in Le Locle, Switzerland who produces the balance springs and other parts. Suppose they use the Glucydur-Beryllium alloy as well.You can find them easily on the web but they belong to another group with HQ in Biel/Bienne.

Hi Dimitris,
To sum up:
Glucydur® Beryllium is the material used in the balance wheel.
Nivarox is the material used in the hairspring.
The combined use of the two results in very high temperature and magnetisim resistance.

Due to the widespread use of this combination, the effect of magnetisim on modern watches is seldom felt on the balance but more often on the escape wheel. Made of hardened steel, it can become magnetized and act like a compass needle. This results in strange variations in timekeeping as it is drawn to, or repulsed from, the magnetic poles, causing the strength of impulse to the balance to vary dramatically.
Fortunately,you will never experience this as your BP5009 movement is housed in a protective soft-iron Faraday cage and cannot be influnced by magnetisim.
Leo

Leo, as always - great education from a master IWC watchmaker!

Thank you for sharing the knowledge.

Thank you Leo,

Its clear to me now!!!

Every time Leo posts something, I learn something new. I love postings like these.

Thanks for discussion, very educational!

Yes, Leo is our "Hands On Guy". What a nice way to make a living....playing with IWC's all day. Poor Leo! LOL

Andy

Thanks for the explanation, Leo. Superb.

+1!

Cheers, Leo!