What clock mechanism did Leonardo da Vinci study to improve the accuracy of mechanical timekeeping?

Leonardo da Vinci studied an escapement mechanism to improve the accuracy of mechanical timekeeping.

An escapement controls the release of energy from a clock’s driving system. It allows a gear train to advance in measured steps while giving a pendulum or balance a regular impulse. Leonardo examined toothed wheels and oscillating components in clock studies, seeking reliable regulation of motion.

Mechanical clocks existed before Leonardo, but their accuracy was limited by friction, construction, and regulating systems. His drawings show how closely he analyzed repeated movement, gearing, and the relationship between power and timing.

Leonardo did not invent the modern pendulum clock; Christiaan Huygens introduced the pendulum clock in the seventeenth century, long after Leonardo’s death. His clock studies should therefore be seen as investigations into mechanisms and possible improvements, not as a finished modern timepiece.