Escapement a statue of an angel to follow the sun, the consensus is that this was not an escapement. The first mechanical escapement, the verge escapement, was used in a bell ringing apparatus called an "alarum" for several centuries before it was adapted to clocks. In 14th-century Europe it appeared as the timekeeper in the first mechanical clocks, which were large tower clocks. Its origin and first use is unknown because it is difficult to distinguish which of these early tower clocks were mechanical, and which were water clocks. However, indirect evidence, such as a sudden increase in cost and construction
Escapement of this escapement over the lever are of an uncertain value. In an effort to attract publicity, in recent decades some high end mechanical watch makers have introduced new escapements. None of these have been adopted by any watchmakers beyond their original creator. Based on patents initially submitted by Rolex on behalf of inventor Nicolas Déhon, the constant escapement was developed by Girard-Perregaux as working prototypes in 2008 (Nicolas Déhon was then head of Girard-Perregaux R&D department) and in watches by 2013. The key component of this escapement is a silicon buckled-blade which stores elastic energy. This blade is flexed