In watchmaking, what is the term for the mechanism that regulates the motion of the gears?

The mechanism that regulates the motion of the gears in a watch is known as the escapement. This component plays a critical role in controlling the gear train's movement, ensuring that the energy released from the mainspring is distributed in measured intervals. The escapement's primary function is to take the continuous energy produced by the mainspring and convert it into incremental movements that advance the gears at a steady rate, which is essential for accurately keeping time.

This process involves a component called a pallet fork engaging with the escape wheel, which allows the gear train to advance by a precise amount with each tick of the watch. Without the escapement, the energy would flow uncontrollably, rendering the watch incapable of maintaining accurate time.

In contrast, other terms like the governor, which is typically found in other mechanical contexts, does not pertain to watches; the movement refers more broadly to all the parts that enable a watch to function, and the rotor is specific to automatic watches, serving to wind the mainspring through motion but not regulating gear motion itself. Thus, the escapement is the essential and correct term for this vital mechanism in watchmaking.