Tourbillon Tuesday – 6 Tourbillon Watches You Need To Know About

Tourbillon Tuesday is firmly upon us at Luxe Watches, and what better way to celebrate this by examining what we think is the greatest watches featuring a tourbillon display. In horological terms, a tourbillon is a mechanism in a watch that aims to counter the effects of gravity of the precision of a timepiece. By continuously rotating the entire balance wheel and escapement assembly at a slow rate in order to average out positional errors. In todays watch industry, the tourbillon represents a demonstration of watchmaking virtuosity and go hand-in-hand with some of the most expensive timepieces on the market today. Here are 6 of the very best tourbillon watches that you need to know about.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon

Although any of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept collection could feature on this list, the Concept GMT Tourbillon features additional complications, and just looks stunning. The watch is 44mm in diameter and made of titanium with a white ceramic bezel and impressive open-worked dial. The watch is a work of horological art, and features a second-time zone indicator at 3 o’clock, crown position indicator at 6 o’clock and of course the tourbillon cage at 9 o’clock. The intricate details of this watch serve to stand proof of the quality and dedication that make Audemars Piguet the brand they are. What particularly stands out is the white ceramic central bridge along with the black anodized aluminium bridges that go either side of the central bridge. The watch is finished with a stunning white rubber bracelet that gives an overall appearance of a watch that is straight out of a Sci-Fi movie.

Richard Mille RM 50-03 McLaren F1

It was only natural to include Richard Mille on to this list, and included the latest model to be released by the enigmatic Swiss manufacture. The RM 50-03 is a special collaboration with the famed F1 racing team McLaren and an expression of both parties ability to deliver success time and time again. Looks aside, the watch features some of the most advanced techniques posed in the horological trade. The watch features a crown position indicator at 3 o’clock, a manual winding tourbillon cage in titanium and NTPT carbon at 6 o’clock, a chronograph and chronograph sub-dial at 9 o’clock and a torque indicator at the 12 o’clock position. The case is crafted from a single piece of Graph TPT, a material that is stronger then steel yet incredibly lightweight. The watch is completed on a new Graphene rubber strap that has been developed to minimise the resistance to wear. The timepiece is limited to just 75 pieces and available at Richard Mille boutiques.

Hublot MP-09 Tourbillon Bi-Axis King Gold

Hublot have a certain knack for developing toubillon watches that are worth wearing. The rockstar of the Swiss watch industry certainly showcase tourbillons – and the MP-09 certainly does that. The MP-09 is satin-finished and polished 18K King Gold with sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective treatment and a openworked skeleton dial. With this limited edition statement piece, the timepiece features a tourbillon rotating on two axes inside its own display window, giving maximum exposure to this watch. The watch is completed with a black structured lined rubber strap with a titanium deployment buckle clasp. With this timepiece, it really does feel like if you’ve got it, why not flaunt it.

Zenith El Primero Georges Favre-Jacot Titanium Tourbillon

Zenith watches have not had the deserved recognition of that of some of the more prestigious watch in the industry. For one, the El Primero movement has certainly revolutionised the entire watch industry, serving as the benchmark for precise timekeeping. The Zenith El Primero Georges Favre-Jacot Titanium Tourbillon is a perfect representation of Zenith – technically superb but very much under the radar. The watch features a tourbillon display at 12 o’clock, power reserve indicator at 4 o’clock and a small seconds display at 7 o’clock. The case is 46mm in brushed titanium with a domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective glass and finished with a black hornback crocodile leather strap.

Girard Perregaux Bridges La Esmeralda Tourbillon

The Girard Perregaux La Esmeralda has become a watchmaking icon for all brands and for all ages. It is recognisable as a piece of horological artwork and received many prestigious awards in the meantime. The stunning tourbillon is cased by a 44mm pink gold case and although doesn’t feature a dial, the time display can be seen on the back drop of the iconic three golden bridges with a guilloché engraving pattern around the fabled tourbillon. The watch is powered by a manual self-winding mechanical movement with 60 hours power reserve, powering a conventional minute, hours and seconds display along with powering the tourbillon. This work of art is finished beautifully with black alligator strap with a triple folding clasp made in pink gold.

Patek Philippe Grand Complications Sky Moon Tourbillon Ref 6002G

Although Patek Philippe aren’t renowned for their use of tourbillons, the Patek Philippe Grand Complications Sky Moon Tourbillon 6002G is fabled to be the greatest Patek Philippe watch in existence, and this is not down to the tourbillon. What is incredibly impressive about this watch is the intricate carving and detailing of the 44mm white gold case, as well as the many functions this watch has. The watch is also impressive because it is a double-faced watch; with a perpetual calendar with a retrograde date hand, hours and minutes of mean solar time, day, month and leap year apertures and moon phases on the front and a sidereal time, sky chart, phases and orbit of the moon complication on the reverse. The watch also features a minute repeater function and can also chime two “cathedral” gongs every hour once this is activated. The case, crown, slide pieces, hands and lugs have been entirely hand engraved and an example of the master artistry and expertise of Patek Philippe in the field of horology.