Horological Meandering

ThomasM
[PuristS]
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ok, sorry, now wait a minute...

A Ferrai engine can be knocked off and can be made to run.

A Birkin bag can be made to, for all intents and purposes, look like an Hermes original.

A CLASSIC tourbillon still cannot be made (and made to run consistently and reliably, with a stable rate) by screwdriver technicians.

The cheap "knock offs" (Chinese and otherwise) don't look very good on a Witschi...

ETA was able to design and manufacture a "cheap and cheerful" rattrapante, used by such established, reputable brands as IWC, Panerai, and GP, but that takes nothing away from the classical scissor clutch style rattrapantes (epitomized by Venus and Valjoux, but also others. most recently PP and their 5959)

I applaud Chopard/L.U.C. efforts in the development and production of TRADITIONAL, highly accurate tourbillons - every LUC tourbillon comes with COSC certificate, and in most cases, far exceed the COSC standards.

Yes, I know it is popular to diss the tourbillon, and equate the uneven and VERY low cycle motions of the human wrist (except maybe that of a watch on a pornstar making self-pleasuring fetish flicks) to the principles and applications of a tourbillon, but we have to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

In short,

yes, the tourbillon, classical or otherwise, comes with a host of mechanical problems that have to be solved (not the least of which is the start and stop herky jerky motion associated with the Swiss lever escapement)

a great tourbillon, properly designed and adjusted, can be among the most stable, "accurate" timekeepers around, in a wrist watch or pocketwatch. Consistently better than a application specific Chronometre Trials movement? maybe yes, maybe no, but then, we don't see chronometer trials specific movements in mass produced everyman's watch either...(Longines, Peseaux, et al had Trials specific variants, and variants used in "everyman's" watch)

Can a classical "great" tourbillon be not so finely finished? sure, look at the JLC.  Personally, I have no interest in modestly finished tourbillons, even if mechanically sound, but it is possible.  But I have yet to see anyone PRODUCE ONE in any numbers at an "everyman" price (=under $20,000USD)

Do I consider the BNB a "classical great tourbillon?" no.

Dimier/STS? no

Greubel Forsey? Renaud et Papi? GP Three Golden Bridge? AP? Breguet based on HdG? VC based on HdG? Yes.

Sorry, a bit limited on time, but I didn't want to let this thread meander off into reinforcing tourbillon bashing myths.

Obviously, nothing personal to MKVC, Craig, and others who don't believe in tourbillons and the tooth fairy...

;-)

TM