What is a tourbillon? Why it is completely unnecessary in your wristwatch.
The tourbillon
Is it simply an expensive gimmick or an element of haute horlogerie that your watch absolutely needs?
How did it come about that the most talented watchmakers of our time are in a race to see who can build the most creative and accurate tourbillon into their watch?
And above all; what is a tourbillon?
The tourbillon is a device on a watch that is designed to improve and stabilize the accuracy. Built like a kind of cage, the tourbillon houses the balance wheel and rotates it, coupled with the second hand, evenly around its own axis. As a result, the balance is never in the same position for too long and thus gravity cannot have a negative influence on it.
History
The tourbillon, like so many revolutionary innovations in the watch world, was invented by Abraham Louis Breguet.
Mr. Breguet had identified a problem with the pocket watch, which was very popular and widespread at the time. Namely, it was usually carried in the vest pocket and thus stood upright most of the time. As a result, gravity had a great influence, especially on the balance wheel, which sets the pace for the mechanical watch.
The invention of the tourbillon eliminated this problem by ensuring that the moving balance was never in the same position for any length of time.
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Function
To understand how a tourbillon works, we first have to show briefly how a tourbillon can be imagined.
The entire balance, together with the pallet lever movement, is thus stowed away in a cage. Of course, it can still do its work as usual, except for the subtle difference that this cage is movable and rotates around its own axis.
You guessed it, this cage is what we call a tourbillon.
To ensure this movement, it is usually mounted on the fourth wheel so that it can rotate constantly. Since the escapement is also moved by the fourth wheel, it is perfectly suitable.
To date, this design can only be mounted by skilled specialists. Not only does the cage alone consist of over 80 components, it is also no heavier than half a gram in total.
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Types of tourbillons
As was to be expected, this simple complication is not the end of the story. Because when watchmakers are allowed to demonstrate their skills, innovative competition is inevitable.
Some variations that are worth knowing are:
The flying tourbillon
In the eyes of master watchmaker Alfred Helwig, the Breguet tourbillon, as fascinating and groundbreaking as it is, was not yet perfect.
Mr. Helwig took it upon himself to improve the old mechanism and, after three years of tinkering, presented his flying tourbillon.
While Breguet's tourbillon was fixed at the top and bottom with bridges, the Prussian succeeded in creating a tourbillon that only had to be fixed at the bottom and thus allowed more insight into the fascinating mechanics.
The Gyrotourbillon
A very recent development in the field of tourbillon comes from the house of Jaeger-LeCoultre. In 2004, the renowned watch brand from Vaud in Switzerland introduced its Gyrotourbillon.
It is the first tourbillon in a wristwatch that rotates in three dimensions. Dur the third dimension increases again the accuracy and the independence of gravity.
Thomas Prescher
If you're wondering now, Thomas prescher? Isn't that a normal name and not a version of the tourbillon? Then I absolutely agree with you and you deserve a cookie 😊
Thomas Prescher is a watchmaker from Switzerland who revolutionized the tourbillon for himself. Namely, he managed to build a tourbillon with one axis, two axes and last but not least three axes. What was considered impossible until then.
A tourbillon with three axes means that while the tourbillon rotates around two axes in one minute, it simultaneously moves around a third axis in one hour.
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Haute Horlogerie
Gastronomy has haute cuisine, in fashion it is haute couture, and in the world of luxury watches it is called haute horlogerie.
To understand haute horlogerie and its connection with tourbillons, it's worth looking at how the Haute Horlogerie seal came to be.
The seal was created during the time of the quartz crisis, when producers of luxury mechanical watches had to fight for their existence as the market was flooded with high-end, low-priced quartz watches. Haute Horlogerie was to distinguish between traditional mechanical watches and new types of quartz-powered models.
Unfortunately, a clear definition of what a watch must contain to qualify as a haute horlogerie watch does not exist, however, it can be said that these watches generally contain many mechanisms and complications, as complicated as possible.
The ones that are most often incorporated are chronographs, calendars, power reserves or additional time zones. The tourbillon, strictly speaking, does not count among the a href="https://gentleman-watches.com/mechanisches-uhrwerk/#Toggle5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">complications, however, it is very often added, as its whimsical appearance and complex construction proves the skill of the watchmakers.
If you are interested in this topic, you must read our article "What is Haute Horlogerie".
Conclusion
The tourbillon is relatively unnecessary in a wristwatch.
Attached to the wrist, the watch is constantly in motion and even a fixed balance is quite independent of gravity ...
Nonetheless, the tourbillon is a fantastic ad-on that I definitely want to have on my next watch. It proves the expertise of the watchmakers and attracts attention directly.
As an example, we have contrasted two fantastic watches with tourbillon.
Source cover image: Omega | revised article
About the author
Benno Büchler
In pursuit of more charmingly atypical watches, the teenage interest developed into a real passion. I strive to find the perfect combination of deviant and ravishing for the wrist.
