ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Timegrapher

Have you ever seen a watch that has a little circle on the back that moves back and forth really fast? That circle is called a balance wheel and it helps the watch keep time. But did you know that not all balance wheels work the same way? Some are better than others at keeping time accurate.

This is where a timegrapher comes in. A timegrapher is like a special kind of machine that helps people who make watches figure out how well the balance wheel is working. They can also use it to make adjustments to the watch so it keeps better time.

To use a timegrapher, you put the watch on a little stand and plug it into the machine. The machine will then make the balance wheel move back and forth, just like it would if it were inside the watch. The machine will also measure how fast the wheel moves and if it's moving fast or slow.

The timegrapher can also tell if the watch is "beat" evenly, which means the balance wheel moves back and forth at the same speed each time. If it's not moving evenly, then the watch may not keep time accurate, and there might be something wrong with it that needs to be fixed.

So, in short, a timegrapher is a machine that helps people who make watches figure out how well the balance wheel is working and make adjustments so the watch keeps better time.