Throwback Sunday: Six tourbillons for when you win the lottery

Let’s daydream a bit. Imagine you struck the lottery. And imagine that you would want to spend a portion of the money to buy a watch with a tourbillon. Perhaps its your first. Perhaps its not the first, but one you’ve been eyeing for a while. What would you pick? Here are our picks: from Breguet, Lange and Greubel Forsey to Ulysse Nardin, Bulgari and Czapek. Here is our list.

But first some criteria, just for fun:

1. Must be able to buy new, so vintage watches are out.
2. Must be off the shelf. No customisations.
3. Must be pure tourbillon only, no other complications. And the tourbillon must be single plane

Ok, with that in place, let’s get on with it:

Editor’s note: we are intentionally very brief in the description as each of the watch section titles will open up to the full hands on review with just one click.

Breguet Tourbillon Extra Plat Automatique 5367

No tourbillon list is complete without at least one Breguet. Afer all Abraham Louis Breguet was credited to have invented the tourbillon. And they still make beautiful ones. In our full hands on review, we asked if the Breguet Tourbillon Extra Plat 5367 (S$211,900) is the most beautiful tourbillon out there? And we think there is a good case to argue so.

Breguet Classique Tourbillon Automatique 5367 is an example of Breguet manufacturing capabilities.

The beautiful white grand feu enamel dial, with the magnificently polished tourbillon bridge stands proud from the dial side. The assymetrically placed tourbillon creates just that bit of drama on the dial side to evoke a heart tugging sensation, but not too much to upset the visual balance. The secret signature completes the mystique. The back shows a movement which is hand engraved in the most restrained and tasteful sense.

A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Tourbillon

We love Lange, especially their interpretations of the chronograph and tourbillon. The 1815 Tourbillon (S$225,000)  is not a new introduction, as it was announced in SIHH 2014, but it is still available, and is a class leader. It remains the only tourbillon in the world with a stop tourbillon mechanism with zero reset.

The SIHH 2014 novelty is impressive in its aesthetic beauty, as well as the technical virtuoso of a stop seconds tourbillon plus a zero reset seconds hand.

A new edition in a grand feu enamel dial was recently announced, See here for details. But we will be carrying a full hands on detailed review on these pages very soon.

Greubel Forsey 24 Secondes Vision

Greubel Forsey is well known for their inclined tourbillons, multi tourbillons and differential d’egalite systems. So our pick for this Throwback is the only plain jane tourbillon in their collection: The 24 Secondes Vision. (€322,000)

Greubel Forsey Tourbillon 24 Secondes Vision now in Red Gold.

But plain jane it is not. The finishing is immaculate, The design and layout is in typical Greubel Forsey fashion, inviting the eye into the watchcape, and then holding on to the attention with a vice like grip.

A new version with a grand feu enamel dial is announced this year, and we will be bringing you the full hands on review soon.

Ulysse Nardin Marine Tourbillon Grand Feu

We dubbed it one of the best value for money tourbillons with grand feu enamel dials out there. Ulysse Nardin asks CHF 28,000 for the Marine Tourbillon Grand Feu. What more can one ask for. Beautiful aesthetics. Magnificent in-house tourbillon movement, manufactured in Switzerland. Grand feu enamel dial made by UN owned Donzé Cardans. Value for money pricing. Nothing else needs to be said. Case closed.

Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra Thin Skeleton Tourbillon Automatic

Bulgari has been riding high on their ultra thin Octo series for the last few years, and swept almost all the prizes for ultrathins to be had. And the newly released Finissimo Ultra Thinn Skeleton Tourbillon Automatic (CHF 120,000) deserves a place on this list. Not only is it the thinnest automatic tourbillon in the market today, a title held by Bulgari since the earlier, non skeletonized Octo Finissimo Ultra Thin Tourbillon Automatic…the Chief Editor himself is partial to the black lacquered dial version.

Czapek Place Vendôme Tourbillon

Our final entry is from the provocative Czapek & Cie. Their Place Vendôme Tourbillon. We are a bit more relaxed with the interpretation of Rule #3, as the Czapek sneaks in a second timezone. But we cannot resist as the price is a very attractive CHF 88,000 in rose gold and a CHF 10k premium for platinum shown on the Chief Editor’s wrist below.

On the wrist, the watch sits nicely and is comfortable. And highly suitable as a dressy piece under bespoke cuffs.

The watch is sober, very well designed and finished to very high levels. And the philosophy of the company just captures our imagination to support the effort.

Concluding Thoughts

What do you think of our selection? Do you have a tourbillon you would want to own, within the rules stated that you would get if you won the lottery? Let us know in the comments section.