Moreover, in many ways, it will do the job better than a metal balance spring.

ECONOMIST: A luxury watchmaker is putting silicon in its timepieces

The Spiromax balance spring unveiled last month addresses several weaknesses of conventional metal spirals.

ECONOMIST: A luxury watchmaker is putting silicon in its timepieces

Its 30.50mm diameter sports 27 jewels, a KIF anti-shock system, Glucydur balance and a Nivarox balance spring.

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An internal cage with the balance wheel, balance spring and escapement completes one full turn on its axis in forty-five seconds.

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Other details: A balance spring with Breguet overcoil, the mobile stud holder.

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This is because the silicon in question is a spiral designed to take the place of the balance spring in mechanical watches.

ECONOMIST: A luxury watchmaker is putting silicon in its timepieces

Richard Mille is known for rugged sports watches made with unusual metals, while De Bethune's Denis Flageollet and David Zanetta pioneered the use of silicon and reinvented the balance spring.

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The balance spring is etched out of a thin silicon wafer using a photolithographic technique, similar to that used for microelectronic chips, so its exact shape and thickness can be more carefully controlled than with metal.

ECONOMIST: A luxury watchmaker is putting silicon in its timepieces

Local elections may change the political balance next spring, but that is not the difficulty.

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Just as in the Arab spring, the security forces, which used to have superior communications, found that technology has shifted the balance in favour of the street.

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