A tourbillon watch is a type of mechanical watch that was developed in the 18th century by Abraham-Louis Breguet. It is considered one of the most complex and intricate watch complications due to its unique design and mechanism. In this article, we will explain how a tourbillon watch works.
The word “tourbillon” is derived from the French word “whirlwind.” The tourbillon mechanism is designed to counteract the effects of gravity on the movement of the watch. Gravity can affect the accuracy of a watch by causing the balance wheel to oscillate at different rates depending on the position of the watch.
The tourbillon mechanism consists of a rotating cage that contains the escapement and balance wheel. The cage rotates around its own axis, typically once per minute. The rotation of the cage ensures that the escapement and balance wheel are constantly changing position relative to the force of gravity, which helps to average out any positional errors.
The escapement is a mechanism that controls the rate at which the watch runs. It consists of an escape wheel, a pallet fork, and a balance wheel. The escape wheel has teeth that mesh with the pallet fork, which in turn controls the oscillation of the balance wheel.
In a tourbillon watch, the escapement and balance wheel are mounted on a rotating carriage, which rotates around its own axis. The rotation of the carriage ensures that the escapement and balance wheel are constantly changing position relative to the force of gravity, which helps to average out any positional errors.
The tourbillon mechanism is powered by the mainspring of the watch, which provides the energy needed to rotate the cage. The mainspring is wound by either manual winding or an automatic winding mechanism.
Tourbillon watches are considered some of the most complex and intricate watches due to their unique design and mechanism. They are often considered a symbol of high-end watchmaking and luxury. Tourbillon watches can be quite expensive due to their complexity and the amount of handwork required to assemble the mechanism.
In conclusion, a tourbillon watch is a type of mechanical watch that is designed to counteract the effects of gravity on the movement of the watch. The tourbillon mechanism consists of a rotating cage that contains the escapement and balance wheel. The rotation of the cage ensures that the escapement and balance wheel are constantly changing position relative to the force of gravity, which helps to average out any positional errors. Tourbillon watches are considered some of the most complex and intricate watches, and are often a symbol of high-end watchmaking and luxury.
