Table of Content
| 1) Tourbillion: The mechanism behind the complication | 2) Buying Tourbillion watches in 2023 |
Tourbillion: The mechanism behind the complication
Tourbillion is a complication that has become a fascination among watch enthusiasts today. But in order to understand the mechanism behind it, we first need to understand why does it even exist in the first place.
Tourbillion’s Existence: An innovation that was never needed
The Tourbillion complication was invented by Abraham-Louis Breguet back in the late 18th century. In order to understand how a tourbillon works, one first needs to understand how a mechanical watch works. Unlike a quartz watch that works on a battery, a mechanical timepiece is powered by a coiled spring.
In order to make a mechanical watch function in the way it has been designed, it needs a gear spring that converts the speed and torque to an appropriate level. Hence, it can keep the hours and minutes running on the dial. It also needs some resistance so that the mechanism does not unwind all at once. For that, it has something called an Escapement.
An escapement is made up of three parts, which include the escape wheel, pallet fork and a balance wheel. The escape wheel is what controls the speed of the movement.
As for the tourbillion itself, it is a mechanism that mounts the escapement and the balance wheel inside a rotating cage. The balance wheel here completes one full rotation per minute. This rotation causes the balance wheel to rotate on its own axis, canceling out the effect of gravity on the balance wheel’s oscillation. This was invented to avoid any inaccuracies in timekeeping.
While all of this sounds interesting and ground-breaking, it is not as helpful in the world of timekeeping. Watch manufacturers were able to achieve more or less similar accuracy with or without using a tourbillion. Hence, over the period of time, a tourbillion became nothing but an intricate mechanism that was good to showcase on high-end timepieces.
The fascination of Tourbillion watches among watch enthusiasts
Tourbillions are mechanisms that are fitted inside a rotating cage. This cage is visually stunning, which is why you will see that it is always shown through an aperture on the dial of the watch. It clearly showcases that a lot of work was put into building that watch. It gives the watch enthusiasts something to talk about in front of people who are not particularly watch nerds.
Over the past many years, a tourbillion has become a symbol of the pinnace of mechanical watchmaking. Tourbillions are ever-so more desirable and it is the first thing people look for when getting into really high-end timepieces.
Variations of Tourbillon watches
Tourbillion is a mechanical movement that is complex to manufacture and comes in different variations. While the function of the tourbillion is the same across the variations, it is the way how it is shown to the user that differs. Here’s a list of the variations of tourbillion watches.
- Single-axis tourbillon: It features a rotating cage that completes one full rotation per minute around a single axis.
- Double-axis tourbillon: In this, the rotating cage completes one full rotation per minute around two axes. As a result, it is able to provide greater accuracy as it cancels out the effects of gravity in multiple directions.
- Flying tourbillon: Mostly seen in modern watches, a flying tourbillon’s rotating cage is supported on only one side. This offers an impression that it is floating within the watch.
- Skeletonized tourbillon: As the name suggests, this type of tourbillion is seen on watches that feature a skeletonized dial. With such dials, the wearer is able to see the inner workings of the watch at all times.
Buying Tourbillion watches in 2023
Tourbillion watches can definitely be considered as a worthwhile investment. If you pick the right option, you will get a timepiece that has been engineered to perfection with the highest level of craftsmanship. A tourbillion watch, being a fascinating piece, will be your ticket to a lot of opportunities. It will give you the opportunity to open up conversations with a lot more people in the luxury world.
On top of that, just by owning a tourbillion watch, you will be regarded as someone who appreciates intricate design and precise engineering. A tourbillon watch is a symbol of luxury and sophistication. These are also watches that will always stand-out and will carry a timeless design that even the future generations will admire.
