Education
Tourbillon Explained
The tourbillon is one of watchmaking's most impressive complications—a rotating cage that counteracts gravity's effects on accuracy.
How It Works
The entire escapement and balance wheel rotate in a cage, typically completing one rotation per minute. This averages out positional errors caused by gravity.
The Reality
Modern manufacturing has made tourbillons largely unnecessary for accuracy. Today, they're primarily a demonstration of watchmaking artistry, commanding prices from $50,000 to millions.
Did You Know?
Abraham-Louis Breguet invented the tourbillon in 1795 for pocket watches, which spent long periods in the same position.
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