GADROONING. Ornamentation found on the edges of late 18th- and early 19th-century watches. The decoration consists of either hammered or cast radiating lobes of curved or straight form.

GATE. The name given to the decorative piece covering the fusee stop finger. More correctly, the piece over the locking detent of the striking train.

GATHERING PALLET. Part of the rack-striking mechanism; a finger which makes one revolution for each stroke of the hour and gathers one tooth of the rack.

GIMBALS SUSPENSION. Two independent concentric rings free to turn round their respective axes. Gimbals are used in marine chronometers to maintain the instrument in a horizontal position regardless of the pitching and rolling of the ship. Girolamo Cardano (1501 - 76) - 'cardan joint' - is credited with the invention.

GOING BARREL. See BARREL.

GOING FUSEE. A fusee with maintaining power (q.v.).

GOING TRAIN. See TRAIN.

GONGS. Coiled wire used for striking or repeating watches in place of a bell. Possibly introduced by Julien Le Roy (1686 - 1759).

GRANDE SONNERIE. A watch which strikes both the hours and quarters at each quarter.

GREAT WHEEL. The first wheel in the train. In a going barrel watch it is on the going barrel. See BARREL.

GUARD PIN. See DART.

GUILLOCHE. See ENGINE TURNING.