June 26, 2018 is the 217th anniversary of the patented tourbillon. This is the revolutionary invention of Abraham-Louis Breguet 1747-1823, the father of modern timepieces. And it ranks among the three major contemporary complex functions and still deeply affects the watchmaking industry. To this end, a celebration event called Tourbillon Day will be held at the 101 Breguet boutiques in Zurich, Switzerland, New York, and Taipei. Watch enthusiasts can appreciate a variety of tourbillon watches at once, and appreciate Breguet’s superb Watchmaking.
Breguet 101 boutique presents thirty pieces of heavy tourbillon watches
On June 26, 1801, Abraham Louis Breguet was awarded the patent for a revolutionary mechanical tourbillon. With this chronograph tool that removes the effects of gravity and provides the most precise structure, this important invention highlights the outstanding contribution of Breguet watchmakers to the industry. To celebrate the most important and groundbreaking invention in the history of horology, the Swiss watch industry has specially designated this day as ‘Tourbillon Day’. In the life of Master Breguet, he produced a total of 35 tourbillon watches, less than 10 of which have survived to this day. Tourbillon pocket watch No. 1188, sold to Spanish Prince Don Antonio de Bourbon in 1808, is one of Breguet’s most fascinating works.
Tourbillon Pocket Watch No. 1188 sold to Spanish Prince Don Antonio de Bourbon in 1808 is one of Master Breguet’s most fascinating works
Breguet has two other tourbillon pocket watches with a long history: No. 1176, sold by Master Breguet in 1809, and No. 2567, sold in 1812. Breguet continues to carefully preserve its original historical documents and tourbillon works.
Breguet holds two other tourbillon pocket watches with a long history: Abraham-Louis Breguet No. 1176 (right) and No. 2567 (left), which were sold in 1809 and 1812, respectively. Breguet is intact Preserving the record of each historical workThe birth of the tourbillon Breguet balance spring, Breguet Hands, Parachute, Gong-Spring and tourbillon device seen today (Tourbillon), etc., are all innovative designs of Master Breguet, and have a profound impact on the development of watch technology for future generations. Among them, through the development of the tourbillon, Master Breguet has become the most influential figure in the watchmaking industry; and this revolutionary work allows mechanical watches to provide excellent accuracy and resist gravity. Effect on balance spring. As the pocket watch is in different orientations, the balance wheel operation will be slightly accelerated or slowed down; and when it is in the same posture for a long time, the hairspring is easily deformed by the influence of gravity, which affects the accuracy of the travel time. As early as 1795, Master Breguet began to conceive the best solution; that is, the entire balance spring and escapement were rotated once in a coaxial frame every minute. Through timing rotation, the balance models were different. Positional errors can maintain the original shape of the hairspring. This outstanding design allowed Master Breguet to be awarded a patent for an innovative adjustment device by the French Minister of the Interior on June 26, 1801, named the tourbillon; and the date of the patent right was 9th in the French Republic at the time. Day (Brevet du 7 Messidor An 9)
Abraham Louis Breguet
However, since Master Breguet obtained the patent for the tourbillon in 1801, from the introduction of the first tourbillon watch in 1805 to the death in 1823, only 35 tourbillon watches have been sold. The main reason is that the tourbillon is Hard-to-build precision parts. The key point is that the running tourbillon frame must be horizontal with the substrate, and the balance wheel in the frame must also maintain the optimal horizontal state. At the same time, the weight of the tourbillon frame must be evenly distributed to avoid losing the accuracy of the travel time. The production is extremely difficult. In addition, the weight of the tourbillon frame must be kept light, only a few grams, which was a problem that was insurmountable in the watchmaking industry that was not yet complete in metallurgy.
Original design of tourbillon
Therefore, Master Breguet went through two rounds of experiments (the tourbillon pocket watch with 169 movements was given to the son of London watchmaker John Arnold in 1809, and the tourbillon pocket watch with 282 movements was completed in 1800. Breguet’s son was sold), and the tourbillon was officially put on the market in 1805. And in September 1806 at the National Industrial Products Exhibition in Paris. The product description at the time stated that ‘the tourbillon device can maintain the same accuracy whether it is horizontal or vertical.’
Tourbillon patent certificate. Even though the patent for the tourbillon obtained by Master Breguet is only ten years, the watchmakers who can build the tourbillon in the next hundred years are still rare. The tourbillon created by Master Breguet has a one-, four-, and six-minute rotation design, and is installed in different styles of pocket watches and clocks. The successors of Breguet have never forgotten the invention of Master Breguet, and regard the inheritance of this invention as their responsibility and continue to carry forward. Breguet has opened the door for all top watch brands to launch diverse tourbillon works. Continue history with innovation. History continues. Following the master of Breguet, Breguet adheres to the brand spirit of innovation and heritage, and has continuously launched a number of tourbillon watches for more than 200 years. Breguet has installed a one-minute tourbillon device on the 3355 model. Through the hollow faceplate, the tourbillon’s most beautiful running posture is presented. In addition to the tourbillon watch with complex functions such as perpetual calendar, time equation and chronograph, Breguet also introduced ultra-thin tourbillon, magic crystal tourbillon, sesame chain tourbillon, five-day chain tourbillon and breakthrough traditional Double tourbillon; showing outstanding visual effects and precise operating performance of the tourbillon device
Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat 5367
In 2018, Breguet launched the new Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat 5367 classic series Grand Opening Ultra-thin Tourbillon watch, which interprets Breguet style in an elegant and simple way. This is the first time that the Grandes Complications complex series uses a large open flame enamel face plate, which is decorated with Breguet-style blue steel hands and ensures perfect readability of the hours and minutes. The layout of the watch decorated with Breguet’s Arabic numerals is reminiscent of the classic timepiece created by Master Breguet, who led the design trend of the year with an epoch-making aesthetic point of view. Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat 5367 is only 7.45 mm thick and the movement is only 3 mm thick. Its ring-shaped winding mechanism can clearly show the beauty and engraving art of the movement. All are handmade by Breguet watchmakers in Switzerland. Who is competing? It is hard to imagine the invention of Master Breguet more than 200 years ago, which still affects the trend and development of the watch industry.
Breguet celebrates tourbillon day with masterpieces on display (some styles):
Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Automatique 5367
950 platinum material / 581 automatic winding movement / hour, minute, small seconds display / tourbillon device / big fire enamel face plate / sapphire crystal face, transparent bottom cover / water resistance 30 meters / diameter 42mm / reference price: 1,170,000 RMB (Other rose gold models, reference price: 1,060,000 RMB)
Classique Tourbillon Et Reserve De Marche 5317
18K yellow gold material / 587DR self-winding movement / hour, minute, small seconds display / tourbillon device / power reserve display / sapphire crystal, transparent bottom cover / waterproof 30 meters / diameter 39mm / reference price: 885,000 RMB
Classique Grande Complication 3355PT
950 platinum material / 558SQ1 manual winding movement / eccentric, eccentric minutes, small seconds display / tourbillon device / sapphire crystal, transparent bottom cover / waterproof 30 meters / table diameter 35mm / reference price: 1,102,000 RMB
Tourbillon Messidor 5335
18K Rose Gold Material / 558SQ2 Manual Winding Movement / Eccentricity, Eccentric Minute Display / Mysterious Tourbillon Device / Sapphire Crystal, Transparent Back Cover / Waterproof 30 Meters / 40mm Diameter / Reference Price: 1,110,000 RMB
Marine Equation Marchante 5887
950 platinum material / 581DPE self-winding movement / hour, minute, retrograde date, day of the week, month display / tourbillon device / perpetual calendar function / time equation function / power reserve display / sapphire crystal mirror surface, transparent bottom cover / waterproof 100 Meter / Diameter 43.9mm / Reference price: 1,660,000 RMB
Classique Grande Complication 5347
18K rose gold material / 588 manual winding movement / hour and minute display / dual tourbillon device / sapphire crystal, transparent bottom cover / waterproof 30 meters / 44mm diameter / reference price: 2,720,000 RMB
Tradition 7047
18K yellow gold material / 569 manual winding movement / eccentricity display, tourbillon device / power reserve display / sapphire crystal, transparent bottom cover / waterproof 30 meters / diameter 41mm / reference price: 1,260,000 RMB
Classique Grande Complication 5377
950 platinum material / 581DR self-winding movement / hour, minute, small seconds display / tourbillon device / power reserve display / sapphire crystal, transparent bottom cover / water resistance 30 meters / diameter 42mm / reference price: 1,118,000 RMB
Classique Grandes Complications 3358
18K white gold material / 558.1 manual winding movement / off-centre, eccentric minutes, small seconds display / tourbillon device enamel dial / 74 case diamonds, weighing about 1.33 carats / water resistance 30 meters / diameter 35mm / reference price : 850,000 RMB