In the world of watchmaking, the tourbillon is an unmistakable symbol of craftsmanship and prestige. This complication consists of a rotating structure that contains the balance wheel, hairspring and escapement mechanism, rotating on itself and completing one full rotation in one minute. The main purpose of the tourbillon is to reduce the effect of gravity on the functioning of a mechanical watch, ensuring greater precision. A fascinating complication that is coveted by many watch enthusiasts. But where did this incredible invention originate and what was its original purpose?
The tourbillon has a history that dates back to the late 18th century, thanks to the ingenuity of Abraham-Louis Breguet, a watchmaking genius. He noticed that mechanical watches of his time had a tendency to systematically gain or lose time, a problem caused by the force of gravity. Since watches were commonly carried in pockets, their vertical position meant that the balance wheel and hairspring, the key components for regulating the watch's movement, were affected by gravity, causing them to oscillate irregularly.
Breguet's brilliant intuition was to make the balance wheel oscillate not only vertically, but also on a 360-degree axis, thus compensating for the effect of gravity. In 1801, Breguet filed a patent for the first tourbillon, although this revolutionary innovation was not made public until 1806. Since then, tourbillons have been the subject of constant revisions and improvements by the major watchmaking houses. At the end of the 20th century, the idea emerged that a tourbillon inclined at 30 degrees would be more effective. This led to the introduction of three-axis tourbillons, such as the Jaeger LeCoultre Gyrotourbillon, which further improved the compensation of the gravitational effect.
