Gravity has its pitfalls, especially for watches, because it can lead to inaccuracies in the display. In an attempt to counteract these inaccuracies, the first tourbillon – a French word that translates as ‘whirlwind’ – was developed in the 18th century.
Its function is to offset the gravitational errors in the accuracy of a mechanical watch. It is of equal relevance to both wristwatches and pocket watches because the forces generated by the movement of the wearer’s arm can likewise adversely affect the precision of a timepiece. To minimize these influences, the watch’s balance is mounted in a rotating cage: the tourbillon. This arrangement allows the balance and the escapement to rotate around themselves, and they act independently of the position of the timepiece. The solution is as ingenious as it is complex, and makes the very highest demands on the skill of any watchmaker.