Harry Winston continue their narrative of the tourbillon... here's No.4
New from Harry Winston, the Histoire de Tourbillon 4.
Once considered a complex horological achievement, the tourbillon continues to be tweaked, fiddled with, developed and advanced so much so that the indication of time becomes almost a nonessential feature of some tourbillon wristwatches, such is the compelling allure of their panorama - and none scream "look at me" more than a multi-axis mechanism showcased through its own section of bulging sapphire crystal.
In its Haute Horlogerie portfolio, Harry Winston have been providing their own narrative of the tourbillon through their "Histoire de Tourbillon" collection, a limited edition series of complex timepieces featuring modernistic aesthetics. The fourth, which I feature here, is perhaps tamer that its predecessor, but it still offers a daring perspective - a cushion-shaped case made from white gold and zalium with some unexpected sculpting on the side, a combination of polished finishing and DLC coating, and some vibrant orange and blue touches, subtle but highly effective.
This is an extraordinarily multi dimensional dial, layer upon layer of recessed indications build up to the crescendo that is the tri-axial tourbillon: three cages, three rotational speeds, set at three different angles.
The upper cage performs its revolution once every 300 seconds, allowing the wearer or envious on-looker plenty of time to enjoy the spectacle. Beneath it the other cages revolve at once per 75 seconds and once per 45 seconds respectively.
The movement which provides this activity is the in-house calibre HW4501, a handwound mechanism giving 50 hours of power reserve through twin barrels, one of which has in-built anti-tension intelligence.
Like the other pieces in the series, the Harry Winston Histoire de Tourbillon will be limited to just 20 pieces.
More?.... "a flash of spinning blue and steel blades, appearing like a dozen close-quarter swordfights in miniature" check out our review of the Opus 12.