Latest news with #tourbillon
Forbes
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Louis Erard And Konstantin Chaykin Introduce The Time Eater Tourbillon
Time Eeater Tourbillon Louis Erard and independent Russian watchmaker Konstantin Chaykin have released a new variation of their collaborative Time Eater design, this time featuring a tourbillon complication. The release includes two limited editions, each built around a manually wound, regulator-style movement with a 60-second tourbillon and 100-hour power reserve. Wrist shot Both versions retain the recognizable features of the original Time Eater, including the offbeat animated dial layout. Time is displayed with a rotating hour disc at 12 o'clock, a central minutes hand, and a seconds hand integrated into a subdial at 6 o'clock. A red tongue-shaped hand marks the seconds, housed within a stylized open mouth that forms the tourbillon aperture. The design remains intentionally unconventional, combining mechanical complexity with Chaykin's signature visual storytelling. Side view The green version, limited to 78 pieces and sold by Louis Erard, uses a polished 42mm stainless steel case and is paired with a black toad leather strap. The blue version, limited to 28 pieces and sold exclusively by Chaykin, comes on a grained calf leather strap. Both models share the same case architecture, sapphire crystals front and back, and water resistance rated to 5 bar. Inside is the Caliber BCP T02, a hand-wound movement operating at 3 Hz. The tourbillon cage completes one rotation per minute and is visible through the dial cutout at 6 o'clock. Decoration includes circular Côtes de Genève across the movement plates and bridges. Each version is priced at CHF 19,900 before tax.
Forbes
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Ulysse Nardin Releases Limited Edition Blast Sparkling Rainbow
THE BLAST SPARKLING RAINBOW Ulysse Nardin has introduced a new limited edition version of its angular Blast series: the Blast Sparkling Rainbow. Limited to just eight pieces, this gem-set variant brings a trending jewellery-forward expression to the brand's already experimental skeletonised tourbillon platform. The new release builds on the core identity of the Blast, which first debuted in 2020. Characterised by its sharp, stealth-inspired case and exposed mechanical layout, the watch uses Ulysse Nardin's integrated UN-172 movement. Developed in-house, the calibre features a flying tourbillon at 6 o'clock and a visible platinum micro-rotor at 12. Constructed with a silicon escapement and hairspring, the automatic movement offers a 72-hour power reserve and runs at a frequency of 18,000 vph. Gem setting This Sparkling Rainbow version retains the original 45mm case size but is crafted from white gold and set with a total of 211 invisibly set sapphires. These stones span the full colour spectrum and appear across the case, bezel, dial, crown and clasp, adding up to 13.33 carats in total. The sapphires are arranged using a traditional 'mystery setting' technique, in which each stone is supported from underneath, allowing for a seamless and luminous surface with no visible prongs or spaces. Close up While the watch remains visually tied to the architectural design of the Blast, the addition of coloured stones transforms the appearance entirely. The transition between hues is especially subtle, achieved through meticulous stone selection and over 85 unique cuts to ensure a smooth, continuous gradient. Functionally, the Sparkling Rainbow version remains consistent with prior models. Timekeeping is straightforward with hours shown on the skeletonised dial in the form of rectangular rainbow markers, and with the tourbillon located near the bottom of the dial. The integrated white rubber strap is secured by a white gold deployant buckle, also gem-set to match the rest of the watch. The Ulysse Nardin Blast Sparkling Rainbow is priced at CHF 451,700 and is limited to 8 numbered pieces.
Khaleej Times
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
IWC Schaffhausen unveils 2 new Big Pilot's watches inspired by 'The Little Prince'
The tourbillon is the most ethereal of complications. It wraps time in drama, sheathing the escapement in a rotating cage that completes a delicate pirouette once every minute. Originally conceived to counteract gravity's pull on the regulating organ, it has since transcended its technical mandate, becoming both a feat of mechanical ingenuity and a spectacle of motion. It suspends time, freezes it mid-breath, and sends it floating across nothingness. In that spinning cage, timekeeping becomes a mesmerising performance – a dance of time against time itself. And it is this very spirit of suspension and weightless wonder that IWC Schaffhausen captures in its latest duo of celestial tributes to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's fable, The Little Prince — an enduring tale of wonder, love, and the invisible truths that matter most. The Big Pilot's Watch Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon Le Petit Prince and the Big Pilot's Watch 43 Tourbillon Le Petit Prince are lyrical time machines, imbued with literary soul and powered by some of the most sophisticated mechanical movements IWC has ever created. Let's begin with the more commanding of the duo — the 46.5mm Perpetual Calendar Tourbillon. Cloaked in a deep, almost galactic blue ceramic — a first for a Le Petit Prince edition — the case is anchored by flashes of 18-carat gold at the crown and case back. The contrast is deliberate: regal gold against the stillness of night-sky blue, a prelude to the performance within. This limited edition of 100 pieces doesn't just carry two high complications — it elevates them. At 12 o'clock, the flying minute tourbillon — a feat of engineering assembled from 82 parts yet weighing less than a gram — floats like a delicate dancer. Below, an unusually emotive perpetual calendar unfolds its quiet drama. Instead of a conventional moon phase, we're gifted an image of the Little Prince on his asteroid — a detail as poignant as it is whimsical. It's a love letter to childhood nostalgia, rendered in gears and wheels. The movement driving this spectacle, the 51950 calibre, is a mechanical saga — 447 components beating in synchrony, crowned by a rotor shaped like the Little Prince himself, poised on his tiny planet amid a field of wild baobabs. Even the power reserve of seven days feels like a generous indulgence, as if the watch itself understands that good stories must never be hurried. Its companion, the 43mm Tourbillon in platinum, is a masterclass in restraint and refinement. Smaller in stature but no less commanding, its cool brilliance is perfectly matched to the blue sunray dial and luminous rhodium-plated markers. The tourbillon sits at 6 o'clock, turning softly like an unspoken thought drifting towards expression. The proprietary Diamond Shell coating within the 82905 calibre allows energy to flow like a well-told tale — frictionless and effortless — delivering an 80-hour power reserve. This watch is quiet confidence incarnate. The platinum sings in a register only connoisseurs hear. And through the transparent case back, the familiar figure of the Little Prince reappears as ornament and spirit. In these two new Big Pilots, IWC beautifully channels nostalgia, memory, and technical virtuosity into wearable prose. More than tributes to The Little Prince, these watches feel like quiet arguments with its most famous line —that what is essential is invisible to the eye. Because here, in the spinning stillness of a tourbillon, the truly essential is visible, pulsing at 28,800 vibrations per hour.
Associated Press
01-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Seagull Watch Announces Premium Line Launch and Signals Shift Toward Global High-End Market
GENEVA, June 1, 2025 -- At global luxury watch fairs like Baselworld and Watches & Wonders, Swiss and German brands dominate the spotlight with six-figure timepieces boasting intricate complications. Yet conspicuously absent are Chinese mechanical watches—despite their ability to deliver comparable technical feats at a fraction of the cost. The reason? A stark contrast in pricing strategies, rooted in manufacturing efficiency and market positioning, has created an invisible barrier for brands like Tianjin Seagull, China's leading mechanical watchmaker. The Price Paradox: When Affordability Becomes a Liability Take the tourbillon, a mechanism invented in 1801 to counteract gravity's effects on pocket watches. Swiss brands like Patek Philippe and Breguet price their tourbillons from $100,000 to over $1 million, framing them as symbols of exclusivity. By contrast, Seagull's tourbillon watches start at just $1,400 (RMB 10,000) and cap at $35,000 for limited-edition models like the 18K rose gold 'Double Axis' tourbillon. Similarly, Seagull's split-seconds chronograph—a complication requiring over 300 components—retails for $3,400 (RMB 23,800), while Swiss equivalents from brands like Patek Philippe or Lange & Söhne command prices exceeding $200,000. This pricing disparity stems from China's industrial ecosystem. Seagull leverages decades of vertical integration, producing everything from hairsprings to escapements in-house. For instance, its ST19 chronograph movement—a derivative of the Swiss Venus 175—has been manufactured domestically since the 1960s, slashing production costs. Additionally, labor costs in Tianjin, Seagull's home base, are significantly lower than in Switzerland's Jura region, where luxury brands face stringent labor regulations and high wages. Technical Breakthroughs vs. Brand Legacy Seagull's engineering prowess is undeniable. The ST1961 split-seconds chronograph movement, for example, features a column wheel and horizontal clutch—a design philosophy shared with Patek Philippe's $2 million Ref. 5370. While Swiss brands emphasize hand-finishing and decorative techniques like anglage, Seagull prioritizes functional precision. Its tourbillons, such as the ST8030 calibre, achieve a 72-hour power reserve and a 28,800 vph frequency, rivaling Swiss counterparts in performance. Yet technical parity hasn't translated to global recognition. At the 2024 Geneva Watch Exhibition, Seagull's $598,000 'Double Axis' tourbillon—a masterpiece with two rotating cages—was overshadowed by Swiss novelties. Industry insiders attribute this to entrenched perceptions. 'Luxury watches are about heritage and storytelling,' notes a veteran horologist. 'Seagull's 70-year history pales against Switzerland's 300-year dominance, making it harder to justify premium positioning'. Market Dynamics: The Luxury Sector's Catch-22 Swiss giants like Swatch Group and Richemont have long cultivated an image of scarcity. Limited editions, artisanal marketing, and controlled distribution sustain high margins. Seagull, meanwhile, targets accessibility. Its $4,980 '1963' chronograph—a reissue of China's first aviation watch—sells tens of thousands of units annually, appealing to enthusiasts seeking value. However, this volume-driven approach clashes with the luxury sector's exclusivity ethos. The result is a paradox: Seagull's affordability undermines its prestige. While Swiss brands profit from aspirational pricing, Seagull's $3,400 split-seconds chronograph—though mechanically superior to many $50,000 Swiss models—struggles to penetrate high-end retailers. Compounding this, geopolitical tensions and tariffs further complicate Western market entry. A Path Forward: Bridging the Perception Gap Seagull's recent forays into hybrid designs hint at a strategy shift. The 2025 'Dragon's Echo' model, combining a tourbillon, perpetual calendar, and minute repeater, targets collectors at $150,000—a bold step toward premium positioning. Collaborations with independent Swiss watchmakers could also enhance credibility. Moreover, younger consumers increasingly prioritize value over legacy. As noted in Swatch Group's 2024 earnings report, mid-tier Swiss brands like Tissot are gaining traction in China, while ultra-luxury sales slump. Seagull's challenge lies in balancing its mass-market roots with aspirational storytelling—perhaps by highlighting innovations like its patented (weight-adjustable balance wheel) or its role in China's space program. Conclusion: The Silent Disruption China's watchmaking revolution is unfolding quietly. While Seagull's absence from global exhibitions reflects today's market realities, its technical achievements and disruptive pricing signal a broader shift. As one collector remarked, 'Why pay for a Swiss logo when Seagull offers the same mechanics at 5% of the cost?' The answer, for now, lies in the intangible allure of tradition—but the tides may yet turn. For further details on Seagull's innovations, visit Website: AliExpress: Amazon: Contact Info: Name: Lynne Lin Email: Send Email Organization: Beijing Ttime Network Co.,Ltd Website: Release ID: 89161325 If there are any errors, inconsistencies, or queries arising from the content contained within this press release that require attention or if you need assistance with a press release takedown, we kindly request that you inform us immediately by contacting [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our reliable team will be available to promptly respond within 8 hours, taking proactive measures to rectify any identified issues or providing guidance on the removal process. Ensuring accurate and dependable information is our top priority.
Forbes
26-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Hublot Introduces The Square Bang Tourbillon 4-Day Power Reserve
Square Bang Tourbillon Hublot isn't shy about pushing geometry where most brands tend to settle for tried and true designs. The brand's newest release, the Square Bang Tourbillon 4-Day Power Reserve, marks the first time a tourbillon has appeared in its square-shaped Big Bang line, and this isn't just a matter of fitting an existing movement into a new silhouette. The entire architecture has been redesigned from the ground up, with bridges, layout, and components structured to match the case's square proportions. Skeletonized movement The new model runs on the manually wound MHUB6023, a fully skeletonized in-house movement developed specifically for this release. All 174 components are arranged in clean, right-angled symmetry, with square and rectangular bridges finished in a mix of matte and satin surfaces to emphasize depth. At 6 o'clock, the flying tourbillon beats away with a silicon escapement for added resistance to magnetic fields and temperature swings. The large mainspring barrel at 12 o'clock delivers a 96-hour power reserve, tracked by a linear indicator at 9. Rather than making minor tweaks to existing designs, Hublot has committed entirely to this brand new experimental restructuring. Every primary function is distributed across the watch in unique fashion: winding on the right, power reserve on the left, barrel up top, tourbillon below. The effect is balanced and striking, with each corner contributing visually and mechanically to the watch's function. Macro view The 42mm case is made entirely from 3D carbon, a composite material with a vertical and horizontal weave pattern. The strap itself is integrated with Hublot's 'One-Click' quick-release system and finished with a ceramic and titanium deployant clasp. Case thickness comes in at 13.2mm, and water resistance is rated to 30 meters. The dial is openworked sapphire, offering a full view of the movement suspended within the case. Like the rest of the watch, the design is minimal but sharp, clearly prioritizing architectural impact over dial furniture. For a time-only tourbillon watch, there's a lot to look at.
