5 Of The Best Tourbillon Watches To Enhance Your Collection
Tourbillon is merely a fancy word for a cool, spinning thing inside these watches. What does it do? It aims to prevent gravity from interfering with how the watch keeps time.
People debate whether a Tourbillon is significant or not. Forget the jargon; it’s like a superhero part for your watch that spins every minute. This spin is designed to keep your watch exceptionally precise.
Some people are still unsure if it works, but one thing is certain: Tourbillon watches are the superheroes of the watch world. They’re all about showcasing how skilled watchmakers are at their craft.
So, let’s have a look at some of the best Tourbillon watches.
Best Tourbillon Watches: A Detailed Guide
I. Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface Tourbillon
JLC Reverso – a watch for folks who like to think and look good doing it! This watch is special because it’s made by Jaeger-LeCoultre, a brand that knows a thing or two about making great watches.
So, what’s cool about this Reverso?
Well, first of all, it’s all dressed up in 18k pink gold. Fancy, right? But the real magic happens with the two dials. One dial is all shiny silver with a spinning thing inside called a tourbillon (you can call it a twirly thing), and you’ve got to wind it by hand.
The other dial is kind of see-through and black, and it tells you a second-time zone and whether it’s day or night.
Now, even though this watch has lots of parts inside (254 to be exact), it’s still super slim, only 9mm thick. That’s pretty impressive. It’s exactly what you’d expect from Jaeger-LeCoultre – they’re really good at making watches that are both stylish and smart.
II. Zenith Defy Double Tourbillon
The Zenith Defy Double Tourbillon is an avant-garde piece with high-tech features that is both fascinating and rare. The carbon case measures 46mm across and has been constructed with ruggedness and durability in mind.
Two tourbillons proudly occupy the entire left side of the dial. Both of them have been suspended from the PVD-coated open-worked bridges with chamfers highlighted in rose gold.
The tourbillon, which has taken over the 7 and 8 o’clock index, acts as the escapement for the watch. On the other hand, the tourbillon at 10 o’clock acts as an escapement for the chronograph and beats at an impressive 50Hz (or 360,000 VpH). This means it completes a rotation every five seconds! Mind-blowing!
The open-worked dial features large silver-plated hands, a chronograph power-reserve indicator at 12 o’clock, and hour markers filled with Super-LumiNova for enhanced readability.
Zenith’s high-frequency El Primero automatic movement with 311 components provides a power reserve of 50 hours. It is water resistant to a depth of 100 meters and has a black rubber strap with a blue “Cordura effect”.
III. Panerai Radiomir Tourbillon GMT Ceramica
Initially designed as a prototype at the request of the Royal Italian Navy in 1936, the Radiomir was the first special luminous timepiece for divers from Panerai.
The Tourbillon GMT Ceramica pays tribute to Galileo Galilei for his significant contributions to the fields of astronomy and science. “Lo Scienziato” means the scientist, and this timepiece is nothing short of what you’d expect from a reputable watch brand like Panerai.
The watch is truly unique and comes in a 48mm wide imposing dark monochrome case that has been made from zirconium oxide. The case size means the watch is really large and solid, with a notable wrist presence.
The refined skeleton structure of the dial is highly legible, unlike many open-worked dials. Lumed Arabic numerals have been used for 12, 3, 6, and 9, while bar markers are used for the others.
The tourbillon is elegantly positioned between 9 and 12 o’clock and is astonishing with its unusual axis and fast spin of 30 seconds per revolution.
A small seconds sub-dial is at 9 o’clock, while a timezone day/night indicator is positioned at 3 o’clock. It is water resistant to a depth of 100 meters and is powered by a skeleton hand-wound mechanical movement; the Panerai P.2005/Scalibere.
IV. Breguet Marine Grande Complication
The Breguet Marine “Grande Complication” Tourbillon is a true classic, with an extra touch of first-class sophistication.
Breguet is renowned for manufacturing complex timepieces, and this one is an ode to the ingenuity of the Haute Horologerie brand. The state-of-the-art watch is termed a “Grande Complication” because it features a perpetual calendar, an equation of time, and the latest tourbillon.
Introduced at Baselworld in 2017, the timepiece pays homage to the appointment of Abraham-Louis as the official watchmaker of the French Navy. It was in 1815 that Louis XVIII, the King of France, appointed him “Horloger de la Marine Royale”.
This timepiece preserves traditional techniques and reinstates Marque’s unparalleled patrimony in the sphere of uber-complicated watches.
The striking guilloche-peaked wave motif underscores the connection between the Marine line and the sea. It is adorned with rose gold moon-tipped hands with luminescent material and applied Roman numerals.
The perpetual calendar is paired with the equation of time display. In a window between seven and nine o’clock, you will find a power reserve indicator.
A mechanical self-winding movement, the caliber 581DPE with 57 jewels and 563 components provides a power reserve of 80 hours.
V. Omega De Ville Tourbillon Numbered Edition
The 43mm case of the Omega De Ville Tourbillon Numbered Edition is crafted from polished 18k Sedna gold and brims with notable grace and poise.
The central part of the case has been brushed with 18k Canopus gold. Sedna gold is Omega’s proprietary pink gold, while Canopus gold is the brand’s proprietary white gold alloy.
The black dial is quite discreet, with a radial brushed pattern exquisitely executed with multiple layers that enliven the watch and give it profound depth. The design is luxurious yet modest, focusing on the tourbillon at the central part of the watch.
The tourbillon is impressive, with a modernized cage made of black ceramic titanium and hand-polished bevels.
It is encircled by a fluted gold ring, which functions as a decoration and a small seconds track. Applied gold indexes and small faceted gold hands adorn the dark dial. It is powered by the robust in-house – hand-wound movement, the Omega caliber 2640. Being a Master Chronometer, the timepiece is highly accurate, durable, and resistant to shocks.
Conclusion
So these were the best Tourbillon watches. Tourbillon watches represent the pinnacle of horological craftsmanship, marrying precision engineering with exquisite design. Their mesmerizing rotating escapements are a testament to the dedication and skill of watchmakers, making tourbillon watches a must-have for those who appreciate the artistry of fine watchmaking.
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