Rolex Mainspring Barrel

A mainspring barrel is a simple, yet essential, part of any Rolex watch. The mainspring serves as the power plant for a mechanical watch movement. By winding the spring the watch will store up energy, which is then used to keep your timepiece running.

Below you will find a diagram outlining the various pieces that make up a Rolex mainspring barrel.

• Teeth: The teeth on a mainspring barrel is used to drive the wheel train.
• Mainspring:  The mainspring is a metal coiled ribbon.  Twisting the mainspring in a spiral pattern will allow energy to be stored.
• Arbor: The mainspring is coiled around an axle called an Arbor. The mainspring is wound when the arbor is turned. Once wound the force of the coiled mainspring will turn the arbor in the opposite direction to run the wristwatch.
• Barrel Cover: The barrel cover is used to seal the mainspring components securely within the mainspring barrel assembly.

Fully Assembled Mainspring Barrel

Mainspring barrel components

Top view of a Rolex mainspring barrel.

Removing The Mainspring

Removing a mainspring barrel can be simple if you have the right tools. Below is a general guide that will demonstrate how to create a tool that can be used to remove the mainspring.

What You Will Need

To get started you will need the following.

• Quarts movement plastic container
• 12.35mm drill bit
• Drill, flex shaft, or lathe
• Aerosol spray bottle with straw

Time To Get To Work!

Step 1:

If you have worked with a quarts movement you may have noted the clear plastic container that it comes with. This is the container that we will be using the create our tool.

Once you have your plastic container ready, use a 12.35mm drill bit to make a hole in the top center of the container. Be sure to remove any debris after drilling.  Your container should look like the following image before proceeding.

Step 2:

Place your new tool securely on a workbench so that you can securely add your mainspring barrel. With the arbor facing up, place the mainspring barrel on top of the hole.

Step 3:

Point the straw of an aerosol spray bottle directly on top of the arbor. Squeeze the trigger. If the mainspring barrel does not separate you will need to check the diameter of the straw. A straw that is too small will not work. In some cases using needle nose pliers to widen the straw diameter will work.  Using a larger straw is another solution.

Step 4:

Once the mainspring components have fallen into the plastic container you can safely open the clear container and remove the mainspring, arbor and barrel cover.

Removing a mainspring can be quick and easy if you have the right tools.  By creating this simple tool from materials you already have you can safely remove the mainspring from your Rolex mainspring barrel.

It is not recommended that you attempt to do any watch repairs on your own.  If you need repairs on your Rolex watch it is best to use a certified watch repair shop.