Escapement Frequency Explorer – VPH, Hz & Beat Feel
Pick a rate. See Hz, beats per second, and how the seconds hand’s “heartbeat” changes from vintage slow to high-beat smooth.
Frequency explorer
Stylized balance pulse (not a lab timegrapher).
Rate map
18,000 vph2.5 Hz · 5 bps · older dress / classic feel · visible tick character
21,600 vph3 Hz · 6 bps · many reliable workhorse autos
28,800 vph4 Hz · 8 bps · modern default · smoother sweep
36,000 vph5 Hz · 10 bps · high-beat · finer time slicing
VPH = vibrations per hour (half-oscillations). Hz = full oscillations per second. Beats/sec = VPH ÷ 3600.
Higher frequency is not automatic “more accurate.” Regulation and condition matter more on the wrist.
Common movement examples
- \~18,000: many vintage hand-winds / older calibers
- \~21,600: Seiko 7S26-class era, some Miyota workhorses
- \~28,800: ETA 2824 / Sellita SW200 families, many modern Swiss/Japanese autos
- \~36,000: Grand Seiko high-beat lines, some Zenith chronograph tradition
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 28,800 vph? 8 beats per second · 4 Hz — modern standard frequency.
Higher = better accuracy? Not by itself. It can help averaging errors; service and regulation still rule.
Why does the seconds hand look smoother? More beats per second = smaller steps between ticks.