The Tourbillon watch mechanism was invented by A.L. Breguet as an
ingenious way of overcoming one of the main problems faced by the makers of mechanical watches - the loss of accuracy due to the effect of the Earth’s gravity.
The Tourbillon mechanism is still considered one of the most complex and sophisticated mechanical innovations in the watch-making industry.
Until recently, the use of the Tourbillon mechanism in wristwatches was almost unheard of. This type of complex engineering was generally reserved for pocket watches that remained in the vertical position much longer and so suffered most from the effect of gravity, meaning they needed frequent adjustment.
But with the ever-increasing popularity of mechanical watches, manufacturers have strived to add more and more technical advances and sophistication to their engineering. Now, more watches than ever before feature the Tourbillon mechanism – but they are still rare! |