GPHG 2023: Three Cheers for the Tourbillon Category Nominees!

Creating a flying tourbillon is a challenging task for any watchmaker. This is because the revolving carriage is not supported at its ends and needs all its axes to strike a perfect balance. GPHG 2023 has announced the final nominees for the Tourbillon category. Here are the high achievers:

Arnold & Son Ultrathin Tourbillon Gold

One of the slimmest tourbillons in the world gets a minimal layout. This 41.5 mm red gold watch (Ref. 1UTBR.I01A.C246R) has a silver-opaline dial and a white opal off-set dial at 12 o’clock. The 88-piece limited-edition timepiece gets a redesigned tourbillon carriage in a triangular shape at 6 o’clock while its double-arrow counterpoise represents an anchor. 

The point in the middle serves as a seconds marker as the carriage completes a full rotation in one minute. Powering the watch is the  in-house manual winding Calibre A&S 8200 with four days of power reserve. Finishing the watch is a blue alligator leather strap with a folding buckle. 

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Bovet 1822 Virtuoso XI

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You cannot help but admire this high-end mechanical timepiece. The spinning and the turning of the tourbillon and the details of the gears and bridges offer a spectacular view. Bovet’s Virtuoso XI (Ref. T10SQ002) comes in a 44 mm white gold case with a skeletonised and hand-engraved dial. 

The watch gets a double-sided flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock, a power reserve indicator at 10 o’clock, and a bow at 12 o’clock. Powering the watch is a manual winding mechanical movement with a 10-day power reserve from a single barrel. Finishing the watch is a black leather strap with a pin buckle.

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Bvlgari Octo Roma Striking Papillon Tourbillon

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The timepiece offers its time-viewing experience on a deconstruction platform. This 44 mm titanium watch (Ref. H03131-A) gets an octagonal shape and black DLC coating. The dial has green accents with a tourbillon placed at its centre. 

The hour can be read through a fixed window at noon while the minutes are displayed on a semicircle, alternately traversed by two diamond-shaped hands. Powering the watch is manual winding Calibre BVL348 with 60 hours of power reserve. The watch is finished on an alligator leather, rubber strap with a folding buckle. 

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YT Conical Tourbillon Infinity Sapphires

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A tourbillon counterbalances the effect of gravity when a watch is held in certain positions. The 48 mm pink gold titanium watch (Ref. H03131-A) has a tourbillon featuring six smaller sapphires set in its brackets, whereas the cage is made of titanium. 

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The black-coated brass dial gets 3D black-coated minute markers, beige luminescent hour markers, and an HYT logo at 6 o’clock. Powering the watch is the 701-TC movement with a winder tool, which delivers a power reserve of minimum 40 hours. The watch is finished on a black rubber strap with the option of a brown leather embossed strap, decorated with brown stitching.

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Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Pursuit

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The watch draws inspiration from motor racing. This 49.88 mm titanium watch (Ref. LCF044.T1.RN1) gets a gradient pink with an opaline finish. The bridge of the tourbillon carriage is meticulously decorated by hand. Its pink hues contrast with darker drop-shaped applied hour markers in white gold with ruthenium; white Super-LumiNova offers great visibility. 

The double-balance spring tourbillon carriage is visible through the sapphire crystal caseback and features hand mirror polishing. Powering the watch is the manual winding calibre LF619.01, offering 80 hours of power reserve. Finishing the watch is a titanium integrated bracelet with a folding clasp.

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Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Flying Tourbillon

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Following up on the 25-piece limited edition presented in 2022, this year's Tonda PF Tourbillon (Ref. PFH921-2020002-200182) features a platinum dial in a Milano blue shade. The watch features a 60-second flying tourbillon at 7 o’clock with delta-shaped hands and rhodium-plated hour markers. This opening provides a chance to admire the magic of the perpetually moving regulating organ.

Powering the watch is the self-winding Calibre PF517 with 48 hours of power reserve. Finishing the watch is a platinum bracelet with a platinum folding clasp. The movement gets Parmigiani Fleurier signature circular Côtes de Genève décoration, perlage, and chamfered corners.