tourbillon

The tourbillon is one of the most fascinating watch complications we know and was developed over 200 years ago. The name of the complex constructions comes from French and means "whirlwind". In this article, we explain the function of the tourbillon, discuss the different common "whirlwind" types and finally present some excellent tourbillon watches from the product portfolio of well-known brands.

Tourbillon: Function and Explanation

The tourbillon is a device in mechanical watches that is designed to improve the accuracy of the movement. Put simply, it consists of a rotating frame - not unlike a cage - that holds the balance, balance spring, anchor and escape wheel. The rotating frame is in turn connected to the seconds wheel via the shaft on which it sits, which acts as a drive for the cage. As the seconds wheel rotates, which is completed by 360° every minute, the rotating frame also completes a complete rotation. As a result, the balance's center of gravity shifts during the rotation, which is intended to reduce position and center of gravity errors or, in the best case, prevent them entirely.

By the way: Despite its complexity, the tourbillon mechanism, which is built around the anchor, escape wheel, balance wheel and balance spring, is lightweight. Modern tourbillons weigh an average of just 0.3 g. This fact makes it all the more clear what a delicate mechanism we are dealing with here.

Why is a tourbillon important in a watch?

But what is the point of all this? To understand the meaning and purpose of a tourbillon, you have to know about the influence of gravity on the technology at the heart of the watch. If a pocket watch, for example, is left at the same angle for a long time, this encourages tiny changes in the center of gravity of the balance wheel and balance spring, causing the regulator to move away from its optimal position exactly in the center of the balance staff. The logical result is undesirable deviations in the rate. The tourbillon successfully counteracts precisely these gravity-related deviations in the rate and is therefore one of the complications that are particularly useful for pocket watches and watches that are not worn on the wrist.

By their very nature, wristwatches are constantly subject to small movements triggered by the wearer's activity, which often makes them less susceptible to unreliable timing due to gravity. The purely functional use of a tourbillon to prevent deviations in the rate of the watch is therefore limited when worn on a wristband. Nevertheless, tourbillon watches are still very popular in this form and are considered an aesthetic masterpiece of watchmaking that captivates watch lovers with its sophisticated mechanics.

Tourbillon: A look at its history and development

Like so many groundbreaking inventions, the tourbillon entered the world of watches out of sheer necessity. Its development can be dated back to the end of the 18th century, a time when there were no wristwatches, which is difficult to imagine from today's perspective. Timepieces were mainly carried as pocket watches and usually stored in the wearer's vest pockets, where they lay vertically and were thus maximally exposed to the earth's gravity. The lack of accuracy caused by the effect of gravity in this position became a problem that needed to be solved.

It was none other than Abraham Louis Breguet who succeeded in presenting a satisfactory solution for greater precision in the movement. The French watchmaker, whose clientele included Marie-Antoinette, set to work and received a patent for his innovative invention a few years later. When people talk about the tourbillon today, it is entirely right that the great name of Abraham Louis Breguet is mentioned in the same breath.

The different types of tourbillon mechanisms

Since Breguet invented tourbillons, the mechanisms have been developed several times and built in different ways. We now take a look at the variety of tourbillons that have emerged over time.

A variant of the tourbillon is the carousel mechanism. Here, the watch's barrel is used as a rotating bearing, with the balance wheel and movement placed on a kind of rotating frame, the carousel. This special complication goes back to the Danish watchmaker Bahne Bonniksen and is significantly heavier than the classic Breguet tourbillon.

Another variation of the tourbillon is the flying tourbillon designed by Alfred Helwig, a master watchmaker from Glashütte. This version lacks the upper bridge, meaning that the cage rests only on the underside of the carriage. Alfred Helwig's flying tourbillon has been around since 1920.

The so-called Gyro-Tourbillon impresses with its technical finesse and compensates for changes in the position of a watch, but reaches its limits when it comes to dynamic disturbances. The mechanism, which comes from Jaeger-LeCoultre, rotates the balance in a sophisticated manner around three integrated axes and represents a technical masterpiece in which aesthetics are the main focus.

A relatively new type of tourbillon is called a double-axis tourbillon, or double tourbillon. Developed in 2003 by Thomas Prescher and released a year later by the Greubel Forsey brand, this is a combination of a small tourbillon and a large tourbillon frame. With two axes, this variant is designed to compensate for changes in position even more effectively - resulting in the greatest possible precision. The double tourbillon was followed shortly afterwards by the triple-axis tourbillon, which adds another axis to the construction and was also conceived by Prescher.

Tourbillon vs. other watch movements: what's the difference?

Not every watch has a tourbillon, which does not necessarily mean that the accuracy of models without this complication suffers significantly. After all, nowadays there are hardly any people who carry their watches around in their trouser or jacket pockets, as was common with pocket watches. A timepiece is typically placed on the wrist, where the watch is in motion anyway and the influence of gravity is significantly less than with a pocket watch in a static position.

In addition, there are technically incredibly powerful and well-designed movements that can impress with impressive precision without a tourbillon "escapement system". In short: the complication of the tourbillon is no longer a prerequisite for accuracy. Tourbillon watches are nevertheless highly valued, as they are symbols of the highest watchmaking art and make the hearts of die-hard watch fans beat faster with their special mechanics.

How much does a tourbillon cost?

Whether classic Abraham Louis Breguet, a flying tourbillon or another design: tourbillons are complex mechanisms, which is of course reflected in their price. For a high-quality tourbillon made in a traditional factory in Switzerland, for example, you have to spend at least €4,000. Cheaper tourbillons that are mass-produced in Asia, on the other hand, can sometimes be had for under €1,000. Such affordable models are mass-produced and often serve their purpose, but no longer have much to do with the traditional craftsmanship that goes into a tourbillon elsewhere.

The top tourbillon watches on the market today

If you want to own a piece of watch history and buy your own "whirlwind", you will find what you are looking for at various renowned watch brands. Below we present five watches with tourbillon technology in more detail:

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Tourbillon Concept GMT

Audemars Piguet uses the tourbillon in the Royal Oak Tourbillon Concept GMT watches, among others, which have now achieved legendary status. The exquisite timepiece has a sporty look, but also contains a lot of extremely elegant elements and looks great. The watch, which has a case made of sandblasted titanium, a green bezel and elegant rose gold hands, has skeletonized bridges and thus reveals the rose gold cage components. A spectacular sight that makes the watch with two time zones an impressive eye-catcher and a "Must-have" for tourbillon fans.

A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar

The Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar model from the Lange 1 series by A. Lange & Söhne is a watch with a huge number of complications, which is characterized above all by its perpetual calendar. It also has a moon phase display, a large date, a day of the week display and a day-night display, which makes for an extremely powerful package of functions. And don't forget: the high-quality timepiece from A. Lange & Söhne is equipped with a tourbillon, which can be admired through the sapphire crystal case back.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Grand Tourbillon

As the inventor of the gyrotourbillon , Jaeger-LeCoultre naturally also has a number of tourbillon watches in its range. The successful manufacturer's Grand Tourbillon models are available in a beautiful selection and are available, for example, in yellow and white gold with bracelets made of precious metals or the finest leather. A Jaeger-LeCoultre watch like this, which is priced well above average, radiates pure luxury in every version and is a piece of jewelry that combines breathtaking aesthetics with the highest precision and amazing technology.

Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle Tourbillon

The Traditionnelle collection from Vacheron Constantin is a kind of homage to Geneva's haute horlogerie of the 18th century and transports the charm of that era into the present in an authentic way. It includes some models with a tourbillon and presents an astonishingly harmonious combination of simple straight lines and rich elegance. Some items in the popular collection are skeletonized so that the tourbillon can be seen at work, others have eye-catching decorative elements on the dial and elaborately engraved bezels. It is clear from every single watch that it is a luxury product of the highest quality.

TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer – 02T Tourbillon

Sporty, masculine and full of functions: The Carrera Heuer Tourbillon watches from the luxury brand TAG Heuer immediately catch the eye and have a powerful aura that is hard to resist. The timepieces on straps made of leather, precious metal or rubber impressively demonstrate how technical know-how and extravagant design elements combine to create expressive watches - the result is products that are guaranteed to attract attention in the world of watch connoisseurs. TAG Heuer uses technically flawless tourbillons, which do their job behind the skeletonized dial, and combines these with no less powerful calibers and other complications, such as the small seconds.

The Future of the Tourbillon: Technological Advances and Innovations

More than 220 years have passed since Breguet invented the tourbillon. A lot has happened in that time: the tourbillon has been modified and developed several times, has always been a big topic in the watch scene and has managed to remain more than relevant to this day. The truth is, of course, that the times when the tourbillon was almost indispensable for precise watches with no deviations in time are over. And yet: the "whirlwind" among timepiece complications is as "in" as ever. Therefore, it is not to be expected that the tourbillon will disappear from the scene in the future. Rather, we can probably look forward to experiencing one or two future innovative developments of the tourbillon - we are excited!

Conclusion - Tourbillon: a complex and fascinating mechanism

What began with Breguet continues to this day: Tourbillon watches evoke pure fascination among watch lovers around the world and are often the centerpieces of large watch collections. From the flying tourbillon to the triple-axis tourbillon and the gyro-tourbillon, the designs are now available in numerous versions, which makes the subject even more exciting. One thing always remains the same: the tourbillon is always an expression of the best watchmaking and reliably enhances watches.