Tourbillon Watches: A Beginner's Guide

(Classique Double Tourbillon 5345)

In the world of horology, there are different complications revolving around time-keeping, one of that complications is Tourbillon. Watches with this complication are more expensive than watches with other complications. Tourbillon is an advanced complication to have in one's collection. 

(Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Squelette 5395)

Why was the tourbillon made? 

If an object is a physical entity, it will have the properties of matter. They will have mass, height, and weight and they are subject to gravity. And due to this, keeping the center of gravity of the spiral at the same axis of rotation of the balance wheel is impossible. This displacement in the center of gravity affects the rate. This created the need for more accurate mechanisms to be made.

(Classique complication 5359)

What makes tourbillon more accurate?

In a tourbillon, the balance wheel, spring, and escapement are in a cage that constantly rotates. The time-keeping components are rotated 360°, this cancels the vertical positional errors making the watch more accurate.

(Patek Philippe - Grand Complication Sky Moon Tourbillon 6002R)

History of Tourbillon

The tourbillon watch complication was made by French-Swiss watchmaker Abraham Louis Breguet in 1795 and patented by him in 1801. The term "tourbillon" actually represents a planetary system rotating about its axis and with this representation it invoked the comparison between the motion of the components and the astronomical phenomenon.

(Breguet - Classique complication 3797)

In brief, the tourbillon is a major accuracy complication of a watch. Tourbillon, after more than 200 years also, is made exactly as it was designed by Abraham Louis Breguet. 

(A. Lange & Söhne - Tourbograph Perpetual Honeygold)