The escapement is the heart of every mechanical clock. It converts the continuous force of a wound spring or falling weight into discrete, regulated impulses that advance the gear train at a precise rate. The anchor escapement shown here features three coupled components: an escape wheel with pointed teeth driven by the mainspring, a pallet fork (anchor) that alternately catches and releases the teeth, and a balance wheel with a hairspring that oscillates at a natural frequency. The tick-tock rhythm emerges from this elegant feedback loop.