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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Glossary · Complication

Tourbillon

A rotating carriage for the escapement, intended to average out positional error caused by gravity.

Explanation

Patented by Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1801, the tourbillon addresses rate variation between vertical positions in a watch that is carried, rather than laid flat like a clock. Its practical benefit in wristwatches is debated; it survives today chiefly as a display of technical mastery.