A little bird sent us these images Swatch’s upcoming Tourbillon collection, the Turn to Her and Turn to Him. I don’t have much information but I do know that Swatch used to make automatic mechanical movements but stopped some time in this decade. This new movement appears to use a rotating cage to move the balance wheel in a full rotation around the central stalk, a design decision which differs from the standard stationary tourbillon cage.
This looks like a limited edition movement and the guy’s model is beefier than the iced-up ladies’ model. It seems to come in a limited, numbered edition and may be similar to the special edition tourbillon sold quite a while ago.
UPDATE – It looks like it will cost $8000
Photo Gallery by Picturesurf
A tourbillon is a rotating cage that turns a balance wheel to offset the effects of gravity. It’s been quite popular of late but Chines manufacturers have essentially perfected the low-cost tourbillon and with the economy it may be a good idea to convince the world at large that a turby is the right way to go for your next watch. Here’s a demo of a Glashutte model.
Call me a traditionalist, but the words tourbillon and swatch should not appear in the same sentence. I can’t see any way that this doesn’t look cheap and silly on any person wearing one, regardless of price.
So you are basing your comment solely on the name of the watch along with its price? If it cost more, it must be better right? Give me a break….base your comments on something other than elitism.
You sir are a victim of effective advertising.
Girls, girls, let’s not fight. You can BOTH have a tourbillon!
@JB: Heh.
@Jason: no, I’m just saying that if you want an accurate watch, get a quartz one and not a tourbillon of any sort. And if you want a classy watch, get anything but a Swatch. A Swatch can be fun and fashionable, but it will never be anything but a cheap watch. Putting a tourbillon in a Swatch is like lipstick on a pig.
I wouldn’t pay $8000 for a Swatch, let alone any watch these days, but I do not think that Swatch is the most horrible brand out there. Their metal watches are actually designed and made pretty well, and I have owned a couple over time and never had any major issues with them. They have their fans and this may appeal to some of them, but $8k for a Swatch is a bit much…almost laughable.
What if this was a Breguet or Omega tourbillon?
Well, guess what, Swatch Group owns both (as well as Tissot, Hamilton, Rado, Longines, and many others.) They also own ETA and therefore make the mechanical movement for MOST Swiss watches (including for very exclusive brands who rebrand the movement).
So if you hate on this watch because of the Swatch name, you are nothing but a brand-whore.
Exactly my point….
Ownership interest is a funny thing.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like the look of the watch and wouldn’t purchase it however, the name Swatch doesn’t keep me from liking it.
It is just like Ferrari owned by Fiat group. If they tell you Fiat carries Ferrari engine, you would not pay the price of Ferrari for a Fiat.