There Is a Revolution in Mechanical Watch Accuracy and It Goes by the Name MicroReg

In the watchmaking world, where tradition and heritage are often revered, integrating new technology can seem like an afterthought. With a strong focus on preserving the classic methods, innovation might not always be a priority. However, Horage, a young and ambitious watch manufacturer, is challenging this norm. With their ability to produce nearly every single part of their watches in-house, the Swiss watchmaker fosters an innovative approach more commonly seen in the tech sector. This forward-thinking attitude has led to their latest creation—the MicroReg.

The MicroReg is a tiny metal component, placed between two pieces of gold-coated ceramic. It responds to external electromagnetic pulses to make micro-adjustments to the watch’s regulating organ, essentially performing the role of a watchmaker from within the movement itself.

Every mechanical watch gets a certain level of regulation before it leaves the factory, and the precision it’s set to depends on the certification it aims for. The most famous is the COSC certification, which demands the watch’s movement stay within -4/+6 seconds per day over a 15-day testing period. However, this testing is done in controlled lab conditions. Once the watch is out of the lab, shipped to your local store and starts ticking on your wrist, those precise numbers can drift. As you go about your day-to-day activities, your watch’s accuracy might gradually shift away from that perfect zero.

Once your watch has adjusted to your daily routine, you can take it to a watchmaker for a tune-up to restore its certified accuracy, though this process can take some time. With Horage’s MicroReg, you can make adjustments on the spot. As long as you can measure your watch’s accuracy, you can fine-tune it yourself without needing a watchmaker.

Despite the high-tech nature of the MicroReg, the core mechanical integrity of the watch remains untouched. All the electronics are housed in a compact device that attaches to the watch through two discreet contact points on the side of the case—points that look much like the pushers you’d find on a traditional perpetual calendar. 

This invention works by harnessing the precision of tiny electromagnetic fields that drive micro-motors. Inside the watch, the device can make minute adjustments to the regulating pin, shifting it by mere nanometers. This fine-tuning alters the balance spring’s active length, allowing you to tweak the watch’s timing by as little as 0.1 seconds with just the push of a button.

In the early prototypes, the device worked directly on the regulating pin, but the latest model now uses a gearing system for even finer adjustments. Traditionally, this kind of precision was achieved by the steady hands of a watchmaker, which isn’t always the most reliable or consistent. The beauty of this new system is that it contains no electronic parts within the watch itself. When the adjustment device isn’t connected, it remains inactive inside the watch—silent and still—ready to spring into action when needed.

The first watch to feature the MicroReg will be the Revolution 3, priced at INR 6.57 lakh (6,900 CHF, exclusive of tax and duties), putting the spotlight squarely on the technology itself. The movement is displayed on the front of the watch, while the time is read off a rotating disc at the bottom of the dial. The caseback, meanwhile, serves as a billboard for innovation. 

If you’re eager to get your hands on the Revolution 3 MicroReg and see how it feels before placing an order on Horage’s website, you can visit Ming Watch Channel Ltd. in Hong Kong & Macau or drop by Red Army Watches in Singapore. These spots are your best bets for experiencing this timepiece up close and personal.