In 1795, Abraham Louis Breguet developed the mechanical mechanism known as the Tourbillon that has changed the horological industry with its hypnotic spiral motion since the 18th century. More than an optical delight, this horological Whirlwind was created to counter the drag effect that gravity plays on some of the watche’s components and put the balance wheel and escapement into a rotating cage helping to average out positional errors of accuracy. The Tourbillon has evolved a lot since its inception with several types being creatively implemented like the Flying Tourbillon, double-axis, triple-axis, double and quadruple tourbillons and Gyrotourbillons. This month we have picked few of the stunning timepieces that implemented the Tourbillon. Feast your eyes on some beauties below.
Girard-Perregaux La Esmeralda Tourbillon
An homage to the brand’s iconic legend La Esmeralda Pocket watch that won Paris Universal Exhibition’s gold medal in 1889, this 18k pink gold case timepiece measures 44 mm in diameter and houses a mesmerizing Tourbillon with 3 bridges mechanical caliber with automatic winding. Developed and manufactured in-house, it features a 14.3 mm diameter Tourbillon carriage and a 10.5 mm diameter balance wheel.
Jacob & Co “Fleurs de Jardin”
A stunning garden of flowers around your wrist, this colorful limited edition of 101 pieces, features a 42.5 mm case in 18k rose gold with a bezel and inner ring set of rainbow sapphires and a mother-of-pearl and titanium PVD rose gold dial with gold plated hands. It’s powered by a legendary double-axis flying Tourbillon movement that makes a full clockwise in 10 minutes around the central axis with its cage rotating on itself once every 60 seconds.
The elements on the base dial turn both clockwise and counterclockwise. The time display has a patented differential gears system that allows the 12/6 o’clock to remain in the correct position regardless of the rotation.
Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Tourbillon Automatic
Inspired by the 310 AD Roman Maxentius Basilica, this octagonal 42 mm ultra-thin carbon case watch challenges the boundaries of technical watchmaking with its ultra-thin flying Tourbillon and BVl 288 ultra-thin calibre (1.95mm thick) and 52 hours of power reserve. Its has a stunning skeletonized dial and a carbon bracelet.
Richard Mille RM7101 Automatic Tourbillon Talisman
Created by Cecile Guenat, creative and development director of the brand, this contemporary timepiece is an intersection of Art Deco and tribal arts and a superb contrast of different geometrical figures and cultures. A fusion of supreme technical watchmaking specifications and fine jewelry, the automatic winding Tourbillon movement is entirely developed by the in-house team, with a variable geometry rotor incorporated at the heart of the Tourbillon calibre. The gem-set dial of 0.9 mm in thickness, at the centre of the movement looks like masks, tiaras and ritual artefacts. An ultra feminine piece despite its robust and highly technical specifications.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak rose gold blue dial Tourbillon
A majestic manual winding rose gold timepiece with a 41 mm case and a no numerals blue dial with Petite Tapisserie pattern, pink gold applied hour-markers and luminescent coated pink Royal Oak hands. It’s powered by a 2924 Calibre with Tourbillon that defies gravity with a supreme grace, and a power reserve of 70 hours.
Breguet Grande Complication double Tourbillon
A sublime manual winding wristwatch with 18k rose gold 43.5 mm case, with twin rotating tourbillons affixed by a bridge to a centre plate with a 12 hr rotation. It has a power reserve of 50 hours. The sapphire crystal case back has a visible movement with hand-engraved diagram of the solar system. It comes with an alligator leather strap and 18k rose gold deploy clasp.
The Tourbillon movement remains Breguet’s prerogative invention.
