What is Tourbillon (Watches)?

The tourbillon is a device in which the oscillation and escapement system of a mechanical watch rotates on its axis in order to achieve less positional accuracy, especially in wristwatches and pocket watches. Due to gravity, the accuracy of conventional watches is not the same in all positions. A tourbillon distributes the effect of gravity on the oscillating system evenly over all positions of at least one plane of rotation. Position-dependent rate deviations of the most sensitive parts cancel each other out in all these positions.

A simple tourbillon cannot compensate for position in all positions. Temperature fluctuations also affect these watches almost as much as normal mechanical movements. Tourbillons are technically very complex and not very robust. The better the balance wheel is balanced, the less accurate the tourbillon is. In gimbal-mounted watches, the balance shaft is always vertical. A tourbillon does not make sense in this case.

In the first 200 years, only about 700 tourbillons were built, as their production is particularly difficult. That’s why tourbillon watches are expensive. Adjusting and repairing a tourbillon watch requires a great deal of expertise and care. In the meantime, however, almost every luxury watch manufacturer offers corresponding watches, so that several thousand tourbillons have now been produced.

Almost all luxury watch manufacturers now offer tourbillon watches. The tourbillon, although its effect on accuracy is limited to wristwatches, is nevertheless very popular. Its high complexity is suitable as a distinguishing feature. For this reason, the dial of these watches is usually openworked, so that it reveals the tourbillon and parts of the movement. In the meantime, Chinese manufacturers produce tourbillon watches, which are sold under various (often European-sounding) pseudonyms, mostly via Internet auctions. The quality, price and value of these watches are discussed in watch collector circles. In 2022, the price of a current wristwatch with a tourbillon should be calculated “in the mid-five-digit range”. Another trend in internet auctions is to advertise watches with a visible balance wheel with the predicate “Tourbillon Style” or even “Tourbillon”, even though it is only a simple balance inhibition with a stationary escape wheel.

Sugess is a Chinese brand which makes tourbillon watches which cost less than $1000.

There are arguments surrounding the use of a tourbillon in a wristwatch. In the past, it was a demonstration of incredible watchmaking. Most of the manufacturers now use monometallic balances. Which do not move once unlike 400 years old design, so the problem for which the tourbillon was designed to fix is not present now. As a result, the tourbillon is basically useless in today’s mechanical wristwatches.