Tourbillon??

[bigG]

Was scanning a watch mag at the local borders and noticed a lot of mention of Tourbillon. Hope this is not a dumb question but is this a type of movement or type of watch???, or other. Thanks for any info on this.

[Rockrolex]

See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourbillon

A tourbillon (IPA: [tor bi 'jan], French for "whirlwind") is a type of mechanical clock or watch escapement invented in 1795 by Abraham-Louis Breguet that is designed to counter the effects of gravity and other perturbing forces that can affect the accuracy of a chronometer. This is accomplished by mounting the escapement in a rotating frame, so that the effect of gravity cancels out when the escapement is rotated 180°. The effects of gravity were particularly problematic when pocketwatches were carried in the same pocketed position for most of the day. In a tourbillon, the entire escapement assembly rotates, including balance wheel, escapement wheel, and pallet fork. The rate of rotation varies per design but has generally become standardized at one rotation per minute.
The tourbillon is considered to be one of the most challenging of watch mechanisms to make (although technically not a complication itself) and is valued for its engineering and design principles. In modern watch designs a tourbillon is not required to produce a highly accurate timepiece. Nevertheless, the tourbillon is one of the most valued complications of collector's watches and premium timepieces. In fact, modern implementations typically allow the tourbillon to be seen through a window in the watch face. In addition to enhancing the charm of the piece, the tourbillon acts as a second hand as it rotates once per minute.

[padi56]

Tourbillon escapement


A Tourbillon is nothing more than a posh word for a watch escapement assembly that turns , including the balance wheel,and the pallet fork.
Well this is in MHO on mechanical watches a very expensive toy but the tourbillon looks good spinning in its cage.Truly the watchmakers fine art in making such delicate contraption,but IMHO thats about it.The superiority of the tourbillon becomes evident only in observatory controls where the pieces are tested in one position only,and in a wrist watch IMO offers no advantage to accuracy,and the only thing its got going for it is the novelty factor,seeing it spinning it its cage a very expensive toy.

The tourbillon does not correct position variations; it only prevents their being detected in the usual testing conditions. But when placed on the testing machine, the tourbillon reveals its weaknesses immediately.The tourbillon is in fact an additional mechanism that consumes energy without producing anything except misinformation. It is IMO quite useless in a wrist watch mechanism. The energy it consumes is taken from the reserve destined to the regulator. As a result, the balance with less energy will have reduced advantages. All watches established to function in both manners, with or without the tourbillon, always have smaller balances of less good performance in tourbillon version.

Gravity is one of the main causes of rate variations in watches. By creating the tourbillon, watchmakers thought they was eliminating its effects. It was an error on there part. They succeeded only in masking them a little. If watchmakers could find a way of eliminating the force of gravity on watches,then perhaps they would be on to a winner.I would agree watching the tourbillon spin faster in the tourbillon cage, is quite spectacular in its operation.But as they are now are no better in terms of accuracy than your average Chronometer.And even if they could get rid of the force of gravity,say in a weightless atmosphere.The rate variations would be so little, perhaps a little better than your average Chronometer watch any brand.IMO they are a very expensive,and not really needed in a wrist watch.And are only there well because the watchmaker can make them.