This is the pinnacle of acoustic artistry. At the push of a slide, the watch chimes the time acoustically through a series of tiny hammers striking coiled gongs. The sound is ethereal, a melody composed of low notes for the hours, high-low chimes for the quarters, and high notes for the minutes. Creating a minute repeater with a clear, resonant, and beautiful tone is one of the most demanding challenges in watchmaking.
Invented by Abraham-Louis Breguet to counter the effects of gravity on a watch's accuracy, the tourbillon is a rotating cage that houses the balance wheel and escapement. While its practical necessity in a wristwatch is debated, its visual and symbolic impact is undeniable. A tourbillon is a hypnotic, orbiting spectacle, a constant reminder of the watchmaker's quest for perfection.
