tourbillon watches ?

[penmanship]

Been looking at one, and it is a bit pricey (for me anyway) I am looking for anyone to weigh in on these watches. Are they a gimmick, or what?

Been poking around reading what I can find, but if anyone has an opinion (yay or nay) please weigh in.......


TIA,
Tim

[Fortitudo Dei]

IMHO, they are not quite a gimmick but also not necessary on a wrist watch. They were originally designed for use in pocket watches (and carriage clocks) to compensate for the fact that a pocket watch remained more-or-less in the same position during the day (i.e. vertical in a vest pocket and then often hung vertically at night). The tourbillon rotates the balance spring and balance wheel within a carriage to even out inaccuracies which occur at different rates when the watch is held in different positions. As a wrist watch changes position much more than a pocket watch, a tourbillon is not really necessary so instead has become a "statement" of horological craftsmanship due to the difficulty (and thus expense) in executing them. They are certainly fascinating to look at and the mechanical engineering involved on such a small scale is truly remarkable. Most people whose brand-knowledge of top-end watches doesn't extend past Rolex, Omega and Tag wouldn't have a clue what one is but someone with keen interest in horology is likely to spot an exposed tourbillon on someone's wrist at 10 paces. They also tend to appear on brands many people have never heard of (Greubel Forsey for example).

Necessary? No.
Desirable? Certainly.

IF I could afford one (I can't) I would be torn between the desire to own something so mechanically beautiful vs my dislike of the inevitable "bling" / "look at me!"-style that many of these watches tend to have.

[raisindot]

Fortitude, that is a far more concise, educational and useful a description/evaluation of tourbillons than I've read in any of the "Watch Monthly" magazines I've picked up on the "free magazines" shelves in airports over the years.

[scottish steve]

+1
I really have nothing to add to FD's post.
Penmanship, get yourself down to an AD which specialises in very to end watches and just ogle for an hour. They'll understand!

[Cuttingboard]

I really like the JLC Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon, very simple and elegant.

[kehern]

A relatively inexpensive tourbillon is available by Perpetual Watches. They go for about a grand. You don't get the "prestige" that you get with Swiss tourbillon watches, but if you were interested solely in the mechanical wonder of the tourbillon, you may want to look into them. For what it's worth, the watches are assembled by hand by a small group of people, and have gotten fairly favorable reviews on the watch forums.


I'm trying to save up some money for one, incase you can't tell!

[scottish steve]

I had a look (through the glass) at Sea Gull's double tourbillion early this year. A steal at $50,000. :-)

[xraygun]

That JLC is very elegant. What's the tourbillion add to the regular Master Ultra Thin price? A 35K cherry?

[Cuttingboard]

That JLC is very elegant. What's the tourbillion add to the regular Master Ultra Thin price? A 35K cherry?

Yes, an expensive cherry!

[Rushman2112]

That JLC is very elegant. What's the tourbillion add to the regular Master Ultra Thin price? A 35K cherry?

+1 - I have a new object of lust. Hmm.. USD35k, why that's only SGD43k... I shall get two tomorrow (after I win the lottery!)

[xraygun]

I'm figuring 35k on top of the 13k or so a "regular" one costs.

[Cannata]

I really like the JLC Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon, very simple and elegant.

A lovely watch indeed!

[Rushman2112]

I'm figuring 35k on top of the 13k or so a "regular" one costs.

Well, what's 13k between friends? I'll still get 2 with my lottery winnings.

Oh look, a flying pig...

[johnmrson]

I'm not a huge fan of them. I think that they clutter up the face of a watch. I can appreciate that they are part of the enormous skill and craft of watchmaking though.

[xraygun]

Can I ride the pig?

[Cuttingboard]

Here's a pic of Jaeger LeCultre's Master Tourbillon.

[maxman]

Technological marvels for sure, but when you can buy a house for the price of a watch you kinda have to wonder....

[djh]

Whilst I appreciate the technical mastery which is required to build a Tourbillon, I am not a fan at all. When A-L Breguet was doing his thing, they were even more amazing with all of the parts fashioned without the use of CNC machines. My favourite Toubillons have no holes in the dial- but they are also insanely expensive watches.

[Jim G]

I added a Tourbillon to my watch collection a couple of years ago. If you can afford it you won't be dissappointed. There are now fairly inexpensive Tourbillons by many different company's utilizing Chinese and Seagull movements. Check out shopnbc and look at the Android Tourbillon for around $1000.

[Rushman2112]

Here's a pic of Jaeger LeCultre's Master Tourbillon.

Watch porn, me want one!!