You’ve just bought your first high-end watch with an automatic movement. The jeweler assured you that all you need to do is set it once, wear it daily, and it will keep perfect time. You’re thrilled to wear it and love the idea of never having to think about batteries or constantly resetting your watch. However, after a few days, you notice it's not keeping time as precisely as expected. At first, it's a few minutes behind, and then, a few days later, it’s even more off. Confusion quickly turns to frustration. How could this be? This is an expensive, handcrafted, automatic mechanical movement. You invested good money in this luxury! Fortunately, your jeweler is not only an expert in watches but also knowledgeable about the physics behind them. You return to the store, and he explains exactly why it’s not keeping perfect time and why we should actually be grateful for this.

Your jeweler explains that lucky for us, gravity exists. We could not live on Earth without it. The sun's gravity keeps Earth in orbit around it. It holds down our atmosphere and the air we need to breathe. But it’s also what causes our mechanical watches to start to be out of time after a few days. Gravity influences the balance wheel and hairspring in a watch, causing variations in timekeeping accuracy depending on the position of the watch. For instance, a watch may run slightly faster or slower when it is lying flat versus when it is standing upright. Gravity can also affect isochronism. Isochronism is the consistency of the oscillations of the balance wheel. Gravity can affect isochronism by causing slight changes in the amplitude of the balance wheel's oscillations, leading to deviations in timekeeping accuracy. Gravity can also increase friction in the gear train and other moving parts of the watch, especially when the watch is in certain positions. This increased friction can lead to greater wear over time and can affect the accuracy and longevity of the watch.

Anybody still with me? 🤣 I promise, this is as technical as we’re going to get.

The good news is that this is a problem that watchmakers have already solved for us. To counteract the effects of gravity, particularly the positional variance, some high-end mechanical watches incorporate a tourbillon mechanism. A tourbillon mounts the escapement and balance wheel in a rotating cage, which continuously changes the position of these components relative to gravity. This rotation averages out positional errors and improves accuracy.

Long story short, a tourbillon is a really cool mechanism that works against gravity to keep perfect time. If you want to impress your watch friends, now you know why, and I’m sure you’ll be the life of the party with these fun facts under your belt! But to most people, it’s just something really cool to look at. That part isn’t lost on me. I love to be able to see all the mechanical bits of a watch. I think that’s why I’m so partial to skeleton watches. But if you’re looking for something that is a bit of a best of both worlds, the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Flying Tourbillon 26730TI is perfect. It does a really great job of marrying the classical sophistication of a modern Audemars Piguet shape and style with the more edgy, mechanical nature of an exposed tourbillon complication.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Flying Tourbillon 26730TI:

Let’s dive a bit deeper into this extraordinary timepiece. The Royal Oak collection has always been a symbol of innovation and design excellence, and the Flying Tourbillon 26730TI is no exception. Housed in a lightweight titanium case, this watch features the iconic octagonal bezel with hexagonal screws, a hallmark of Audemars Piguet's design language.

What sets the 26730TI apart is its flying tourbillon. Unlike a traditional tourbillon, a flying tourbillon is supported only from the bottom, giving it the appearance of floating within the movement. This not only enhances the visual spectacle but also reduces the friction on the mechanism, contributing to its timekeeping precision.

The dial of the 26730TI is an open-worked marvel, revealing the intricate mechanics beneath. The sandblasted smoked blue dial and the movement architecture are not just functional but also artistically designed, creating a sense of depth and complexity. The tourbillon at 6 o'clock becomes the focal point, mesmerizing with its constant rotation.

Despite its technical prowess, the watch remains incredibly wearable, thanks to its 41mm case size and the ergonomic design of the Royal Oak bracelet. The combination of brushed and polished finishes on the titanium surfaces adds a sophisticated touch, ensuring that this watch is as much a piece of jewelry as it is a technical instrument.

This watch is flat-out cool if you ask me. What do you think? Is a tourbillon overkill? For those who appreciate the art and science of watchmaking, the tourbillon is a testament to human ingenuity and craftsmanship. It’s a feature that not only enhances the accuracy of the watch but also serves as a constant reminder of the complexity and beauty of mechanical timekeeping.