The tourbillon occupies a special place within the pantheon of horological complications. Since its inception over two centuries ago, it has taken different forms, from the overly restrained, classic approach, to the opulently displayed and technically innovative one. Regardless of its execution, no other complication has captivated the imagination of both collectors and watchmakers in quite the same way.  

It is possibly one of the most aesthetically pleasing and easy to grasp, at least on a visual level, complications of all. As the cage regularly rotates at a steady pace, it appears to be doing everything and nothing at the same time. It seems complex, yet simple.

Of course, it’s not just the visual appeal of the tourbillon which has generated the fascination which it enjoys today. Its history is unique in watchmaking, with a single, unarguable point of origin and an evolution over time full of intriguing details. As some may already know, it was invented by Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1795 and patented in 1801. No one before him had conceived of such a device and it would be some time before anyone could improve on it. In fact, it would take Breguet himself an additional four years to produce his first commercial project housing a tourbillon.

 

Three tourbillon watches showing the progression of the complication over time

The progression of the tourbillon, from an unsigned pocket watch movement to the complexity of a Richard Mille RM021.

 

It is only in recent times that the tourb