The movement of the Tread 1 is a mesmerizing display of DEVON’s own patented system of interwoven Time Belts that displays hours, minutes and seconds in a way that’s never been seen before.
Four extremely compact microstep motors drive the movement of the four belts with efficiency, exacting power and steadfast accuracy. The belt assemblies are mounted on a central chassis, which allows for the perfect clearance of the moving parts and also creates the illusion that the parts are floating within the case. Fiberglass-reinforced nylon allows for belts that are only 2/1,000 of an inch thick while being strong and stable enough to ensure continuous accuracy.
At the heart of the Tread 1 is an onboard microprocessor, essentially a tiny computer, that controls all of the watch’s functions. It gathers data from a temperature-compensated crystal and a proprietary optical recognition system, which continuously monitors and verifies the position of the Time Belts thereby ensuring steadfast accuracy – in fact, the Tread 1 is accurate to within one halfsecond per day.
Lubricant-free ruby bearings are used at the friction points of the movement, a thoughtful engineering detail which precludes the need for lubrication and significantly reduces required maintenance.
Power for the Tread 1 is provided by a robust lithium-polymer rechargeable cell that runs for up to two weeks on a single charge. When recharging is required, it is accomplished inductively, without wires, via a charging tower in only a few hours.
The window into this mechanical masterpiece is a crystal produced from scratch-resistant polycarbonate with bulletproof durability, the five-piece case design is made from 316L, surgical-grade stainless steel, the hardest and most durable steel available in the world. The case is produced in five elements through advanced computer numerical control (CNC) machining.
