Tourbillon
In
Tourbillons are still included in some modern wristwatches, where the mechanism is usually exposed on the watch's face to showcase it.
Types of tourbillon
Single axis tourbillon
Patented by Breguet in 1801, the single axis tourbillon minimizes the difference in rate between positions caused by poise errors. The tourbillon was invented to complement the split bi-metallic balance which was inherently difficult to poise.[3]
In the most common implementation of this, the tourbillon carriage is carried by the fourth pinion, within a stationary fourth wheel. The escape pinion is engaged with this stationary fourth wheel so when carriage is turned by the fourth pinion the escape wheel will also rotate. The carriage is released and locked with each vibration of the balance.[2]
Double-axis tourbillon
Anthony Randall invented the double-axis tourbillon in January 1977 and subsequently patented it.[4][5] The first working example was later constructed by Richard Good in 1978. In 1980 Anthony Randall made a double-axis tourbillon in a carriage clock, which was located in the (now closed) Time Museum in Rockford, Illinois, US, and was included in their Catalogue of Chronometers.[6]
In 2003, inspired by this invention, the young German watchmaker Thomas Prescher developed for the Thomas Prescher Haute Horlogerie the first flying double-axis tourbillon in a pocket watch and, in 2004, the first flying double-axis tourbillon with constant force in the carriage in a wristwatch. Shown at the Baselworld 2003 and 2004 in Basel, Switzerland.
A characteristic of this tourbillon is that it turns around two axes, both of which rotate once per minute. The whole tourbillon is powered by a special constant-force mechanism, called a remontoire.[7] Prescher invented the constant-force mechanism to equalize the effects of a wound and unwound mainspring, friction, and gravitation. Thereby even force is always supplied to the oscillation regulating system of the double-axis tourbillon. The device incorporates a modified system after a design by Henri Jeanneret.[8]
Double and quadruple tourbillons
Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey launched the brand Greubel Forsey in 2004 with the introduction of their Double Tourbillon 30° (DT30). Both men had been working together since 1992 at Renaud & Papi, where they developed complicated watch movements. The Double Tourbillon 30° features one tourbillon carriage rotating once per minute and inclined at 30°, inside another carriage which rotates once every four minutes. In 2005, Greubel Forsey presented their Quadruple Tourbillon à Différentiel (QDT), using two double-tourbillons working independently. A spherical differential connects the four rotating carriages, distributing torque between two wheels rotating at different speeds.
Triple-axis tourbillon
In 2004, Thomas Prescher developed the first triple-axis tourbillon for the Thomas Prescher Haute Horlogerie[9] with constant force in the carriage in a wristwatch. It was presented at Baselworld 2004 in Basel, Switzerland, in a set of three watches including a single-axis, a double-axis and a triple-axis tourbillon.
The world's unique tri-axial tourbillon movement for wristwatch, with traditional jewel bearings only, was invented by the independent watchmaker Aaron Becsei, from Bexei Watches, in 2007. The Primus wristwatch was presented at the
Flying tourbillon
Rather than being supported by a bridge, or cock, at both the top and bottom, the flying tourbillon is cantilevered, being only supported from one side. The first flying tourbillon was designed by Alfred Helwig, instructor at the German School of Watchmaking, in 1920.[13]
In 1993, Kiu Tai-Yu, a Chinese watchmaker residing in Hong Kong, created a semi-flying tourbillon with only an abbreviated carriage for the escapement wheel and pallet fork, the upper pivot of the balance wheel being supported in a sapphire bridge.[14]
Gyro tourbillon
Jaeger-LeCoultre's first wristwatch tourbillon was introduced in 1993 (though JLC had produced tourbillons prior to that, including the famous observatory competition caliber 170) and in 2004 the company introduced the Gyrotourbillon I. Gyrotourbillon I is a double-axis tourbillon with a perpetual calendar and equation of time, and since then, Jaeger-LeCoultre has gone on to produce several variations on the multi-axis tourbillon theme. In general, these have been fairly thick watches (Gyrotourbillon I is 16mm thick) but with the Reverso Tribute Gyrotourbillon, JLC has produced a thinner and much more wearable version of its multi-axis tourbillon. At 51.1mm x 31mm x 12.4mm.
Caroussel / Karrusel
Not exactly a tourbillon, the caroussel was patented[15] by Bonniksen Bahne in 1984 to avoid the Breguet patent. A caroussel looks like a co-axial tourbillon but instead of having one powertrain like a tourbillon, a caroussel is characterised by two powertrains, one for rotating the cage and one for the escapement.[16]
Modern tourbillon watches
In modern
High-quality tourbillon wristwatches, usually made by the
Modern implementations typically allow the tourbillon to be seen through a window in the watch face. In addition to the decorative effect, a tourbillon can act as a second hand for some watches, if the tourbillon rotates exactly once per minute. Some tourbillons rotate faster than this (Greubel Forsey's 24 second tourbillon for example). Also, many quotidian watches feature their oscillating balance wheel. Sometimes termed, appropriately enough, the "open heart", these are sometimes misrepresented by unscrupulous dealers as a tourbillon (and "tourbillon-style" by ethical ones).
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Jaeger-LeCoultre tourbillon movement watch
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Tourbillon with three gold bridges, Girard-Perregaux
Improved affordability
Several Chinese manufacturers, like
References
- ^ Thomas Reid 'A Treatise on Clock and Watch making' Second Edition p. 256.
- ^ OCLC 949352308.
- ^ Forster, Jack (July 26, 2018). "In-Depth: Does The Tourbillon Have Any Real Benefits In A Wristwatch?". Hodinkee. Archived from the original on 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
- ^ GB 2027232A, Randall, Anthony George, "Timepiece with tourbillon", published 3 August 1978, issued 13 February 1980
- ^ Randall, Anthony G. (September 1981). "The Double Axis Tourbillon". Horological Journal. 124 (3). British Horological Institute: 12–14.
- ISBN 978-0-91294703-7.
- ISBN 978-0-85667-497-6.
- ^ Jeanneret, Henri, "Hemmungsträger für industrielle Apparate mit gleich bleibendem Antrieb" [Inhibition support for industrial equipment with a constant drive], Sonderabdruck aus der schweizerischen technischen Zeitschrift Jahrgang (in German), vol. 144, La Chaux-de-Fonds, CH; Zürich, ZH, CH: Verlag ART. Institut Orell Füssli.
- ^ Triple Axis Tourbillon, CH: Prescher, archived from the original on 2012-02-26, retrieved 2009-09-02.
- ^ About Aaron Becsei, HU: Bexei Watches, archived from the original on 2011-10-21, retrieved 2011-10-21.
- ^ Primus, HU: Bexei Watches, archived from the original on 2011-10-20, retrieved 2011-10-21.
- ^ Gallet, Hervé (2020-04-28). "Et Purnell inventa le Spherion". Le Point (in French). Archived from the original on 2023-02-16. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- ^ "Uhrmacher Helwig", Alfred Helwig (in German), Glasshütte original, archived from the original on 2011-04-08, retrieved 2010-09-17.
- ^ "JX Su", Obituary: Kiu Tai Yu, Chinese Independent Watchmaker, SJX Watches, archived from the original on 2021-11-21, retrieved 2021-11-21.
- ^ "Improvement on balance clocks".
- ^ Summary: BLANCPAIN - the difference between a tourbillon and a carrousel explained by Jeff Kingston
- ^ "Girard-Perregaux's Tourbillon icon". WatchTime (article). August 2006.
- ^ "Chronocentric: Accuracy of fine wristwatches". Archived from the original on 2015-08-19. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
- ^ Conner, Andrew (4 March 2016). "Why do tourbillons cost a small fortune? The movement that's useless, costly and beloved". Gear Patrol. Archived from the original on 16 August 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
- ^ "Current Chinese Developments". Tourbillon. Traction ink. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ "Swiss Made". Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry. Archived from the original on May 23, 2010. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
- ^ Velociphile (August 7, 2005). "New 'Quartz' Crisis Ahead?". Rolex. Watch pro site. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ Gretler, Corinne (28 January 2016). "TAG Heuer to Undercut Rivals With Cheapest Swiss Tourbillon". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
Further reading
- Denny, Mark (June 2010). "The Tourbillon and How It Works". IEEE Control Systems Magazine. 30 (3). S2CID 24169789.