You may have heard of the term ‘tourbillon’ (french for whirlwind or vortex) while searching for fine watches for maybe giving as a Valentine’s Day gift. A timepiece with a tourbillon movement can be a very much treasured present.

Tourbillon wristwatches are much esteemed because of their unique design and appearance. Because the works are of such uncommon design, the design of the watch usually includes a see-through window on the face and an exhibition crystal on the back to enable the owners to study its fascinating movements.

Until the early 1900s, the pocket watch was the main type of gentlemen’s watch. The tourbillon escapement was developed because of a problem with the precision of pocket watches with the usual type of escapements. They were carried, for the most part, vertically in vest watch pockets. Because of quite obscure gravitational effects, changing positions during day and night negatively affected their accuracy. For that reason, the tourbillon escapement was developed.

As mentioned, during daytime, the watches were usually worn vertically in a watch pocket in the vest. But at other times, for example when the time was being noted, or when the watch was removed from the watch pocket and placed on a dresser or table during the day or for the night, the position of the watch was likely to be in a horizontal position instead of upright.

That meant that the orientation of the axis around which the parts were operating relative to gravity was not predictably constant. The changes in the axis orientation was considered to influence the timekeeping ability, as at various times the effect of gravity would be neutral on some components, and either faster or slower on other parts, and then effect all those same components even in a different way in yet other orientations.

Thus, if the was adjusted to keep proper time whilst in the watch pocket, then it would not keep good time when on the nightstand, and if the regulator was adjusted to keep proper time whilst on a table, then it would not keep correct time while in a watch pocket in the vest.

The tourbillon movement counters the minuscule, but important, effects of gravity. It accomplishes this by rotating the whole timing mechanism on a regular basis, usually once a minute. This periodic rotation averages out the gravitational effects on the watches in various positions, and so makes for superior precision.

Numerous parts of extreme accuracy are necessary for tourbillon wristwatches, even more so than for wrist watches with more conventional movements. The watchmaking requirements for tourbillons makes them exceedingly rare and costly, which in turn makes them so extraordinarily appealing to those who can afford them.

Tourbillon movements have been successfully miniaturised so that they can fit into wrist watch cases. This may have come with a price, as many consider that they are most likely no more precise in wrist watch movements than escapements without them. Nevertheless, if you have the money for one, a tourbillon watch could be a magnificent gift. If you can’t afford one, there are lots of luxury timepieces of more typical design, that while still very costly, are usually nowhere nearly as expensive as a tourbillon.

And as a final point, if you want to give a timepiece that can compete in workmanship, design and finish with the exclusive luxury brands, and at substantially less cost, you can find them among lesser known brands after doing some investigation.

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