What You Should Know About Tourbillon

How to pronounce tourbillon?

Tourbillon is pronounced "toor-bee-yawn".

What is a tourbillon?

A tourbillon is a mechanism in mechanical watches that aims to counteract the effects of gravity on the accuracy of the timepiece by mounting the escapement and balance wheel in a rotating cage. The idea behind the tourbillon is that by constantly rotating, any positional error is averaged out. Tourbillons are considered a highly complex and sophisticated feature in watchmaking and are often used to showcase a manufacturer's technical expertise.

When is tourbillion originated?

The tourbillon was first patented by watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1801. Breguet, who is considered one of the greatest watchmakers of all time, invented the tourbillon as a solution to the problem of accuracy in pocket watches caused by the effects of gravity on the delicate mechanism. Since its invention, the tourbillon has become a symbol of luxury and technical prowess in watchmaking and is still used in high-end mechanical watches today.

Here are some important points to know about tourbillons in watchmaking:

1. Purpose: The tourbillon is a mechanism that aims to counteract the effects of gravity on the accuracy of a mechanical watch by constantly rotating the escapement and balance wheel.

2. Complexity: The tourbillon is considered one of the most complex and sophisticated features in watchmaking and requires a high level of technical expertise to produce.

3. Historical Significance: The tourbillon was first patented by watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1801 and is considered a key innovation in the history of horology.

4. Limited Functionality: While the tourbillon was designed to improve accuracy, its effectiveness is limited, as it only compensates for positional error when the watch is vertical.

5. Status Symbol: Due to its complexity and rarity, the tourbillon is often used as a symbol of luxury and technical excellence in high-end watches.

6. Cost: The inclusion of a tourbillon in a watch can significantly increase its cost due to the time and expertise required to produce the mechanism.

7. Maintenance: The tourbillon mechanism is delicate and requires regular maintenance to keep it functioning properly.