Blancpain introduced the world’s first self-winding tourbillon movement with an eight-day power reserve, Caliber 25, in 1988. The brand now takes its tourbillon technology to the next level with its new Blancpain Villeret Tourbillon, powered by the new Caliber 242, which features automatic winding and a power reserve of 12 days from a single spring barrel. An aperture at 12 o’clock on the grand feu enamel dial (with painted Roman numerals) offers a view of the flying tourbillon cage. The watch is a limited, numbered edition, in either a platinum or rose-gold case.
Aficionados of high-complication watches have recently taken notice of Arnold & Son, which introduced a new triple-threat timepiece at Baselworld. In a first for the brand, the Arnold & Son Royal TEC1 combines a tourbillon, a column-wheel chronograph and an automatic winding system in its sophisticated Caliber A&S8305, one of five entirely new movements it introduced at the fair. In the movement’s unconventional architecture, the tourbillon escapement occupies the entire top portion of the dial, from 10 o’clock to 2 o’clock, in a large aperture that offers a three-dimensional view of the rotating tourbillon cage. The lower portion of the dial is dominated by the chronograph function, with the 60-minutes counter strategically located at 6 o’clock for a balanced look. Three versions will be available, in a rose-gold case with anthracite dial (pictured), a palladium case with silvery white dial, and a 250th anniversary limited edition (of 28) with rose-gold case and blue lacquered guilloché dial.
What are your favorite tourbillon watches? What tourbillons should be added to our list? Let us know in the comments section below. We value your feedback!
This article was originally published on April 15, 2014, and has been updated.
TAG Heuer Monaco
The article states that the belts on the Monaco V4 are .7mm, thinner than a human hair. That is .027 inch. Maybe thinner than elephant hairs, but not human hairs.
Yes, you’re definitely right–a human hair is less than a tenth of a mm thick. (between .08 & .1mm thick)
Hi I have audemars piaguet it was made in the 1990 but I dont know the price of the watch if you can help me to know the price of the watch I will you all the information you need. Yours charbel zod
It proves that the tourbillon is a real mecca for the jeweller’s creativity. The tourbillon was an old fashioned way to increase accuracy of mechanical movements. Now far more accuracy is achieved by quartz watches for just a view dollars. But when it comes to creating luxurious jewellery (luxury watches) as well as prestige and status, nothing beets the tourbillon.