Watch GlossaryTourbillon

According to the watch glossary of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (or FHH), a tourbillon is a system devised and patented by Abraham Louis Breguet, in 1801, to compensate for the errors in timekeeping caused by the impact of gravity on a watch movement. The mechanism is a replacement of the balance wheel with a far more complex tourbillon cage. This complication was a boon back in the day, as gravity severely impacted the functioning of pocket watches that were kept in one position at all times. It is not required in wristwatches, which are not impacted by gravity in the same way. However, since it’s a prestigious complication, developing tourbillon watches has become more about showcasing a watchmaker’s prowess. And for such reasons, even people who appreciate the significance and erstwhile importance of the tourbillon complication do opt for modern watches that feature and present the tourbillon cage through an open-worked section of the dial. A fine example of this is the H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner Tourbillon seen above, that perhaps best sums up the meaning of a tourbillon watch.