Harry Winston’s Histoire de Tourbillon series has been an ongoing project of the company since 2009, when Histoire de Tourbillon 1 was released in a limited edition of 20 pieces. The concept behind the series is quite similar to that behind the Opus series: starting with a mechanical watch, explore the limits of watchmaking without limits (in this case, especially the tourbillon), and see how far you can go design and mechanical Complexity can be pushed. This concept is not, and does not necessarily mean to break new ground in high-precision timekeeping itself, but to make something so eye-catching visually, mechanically, and aesthetically that it becomes its own reason for existence, rather than attracting. Function as a reason.
Histoire de Tourbillon 10 is the last of the series; in 2009, a new HODINKEE did not cover the first chapter, but as the series develops, we have been following up, multi-axis, oblique axis and dual multi-axis tourbillons All appear in various models. Histoire de Tourbillon 10 is claimed to be the first watch with four tourbillons and four independent balance wheels. As far as we know, Harry Winston’s statement is accurate-although there have been four tourbillons before (from Gao Perfus, for example) Although there have been watches with four balance wheels (from Roger Dubuis’ Quatuor) before, no one had put four balance wheels in four separate tourbillon frames before that middle.
The tourbillon cage rotates every 36 seconds (all clockwise) (this is faster than the standard 60 seconds in most other tourbillon watches, although there can be different speeds depending on the transmission; for example, Breguet made four Minutes tourbillon life), the balance oscillates at a frequency of 21,600 vph/3 Hz. Energy costs are quite high; this watch is powered by two pairs of rapidly rotating barrels, which provide a 55-hour power reserve, which seems low for these size watches-the rectangular case is 53.30 mm x 39.10 mm , The thickness is 17.60 mm-until you remember that they have to drive four tourbillons after all.
The four tourbillons inevitably run at four slightly different rates, so the four rates are averaged to produce a single output for time display; this is done with three differentials. The speed of each pair of tourbillons is averaged by the first two differentials to produce two speeds, and these two differentials are further averaged by the third differential to produce the final output of the hour and minute hands (without the second hand). Over the years, Harry Winston copy has produced tourbillons with different speeds for the Histoire de Tourbillon series (for example, Histoire de Tourbillon 4 is a three-axis tourbillon with three concentric frames that rotate from the outermost to the innermost for 5 minutes and 75 seconds and 45 seconds) but 36 seconds is the rotation speed of the double tourbillon in Histoire de Tourbillon 1 (the tourbillon system is designed by Gao Perfuss), so there is a certain symmetry in completing the story in this way.
Generally speaking, these are six-figure watches, the number is very small-ten to twenty pieces per issue, more or less-and Histoire de Tourbillon 10 will also be a limited edition, ten pieces of platinum and ten pieces of platinum , There is also a “Winstonium”, which is a proprietary platinum alloy.
There is an interesting phenomenon in evolutionary biology called Fisher’s loss of control, which is related to the evolution of exaggerated secondary sexual characteristics-especially in the males of species such as peacocks, the gorgeous and excessive male decoration indicates that the females of this species have more Good reproductive health; the concept is that things like peacock feathers basically read, “If I could waste so much metabolic energy on making feathers five times longer than my body, imagine I would shake more, Ahem, intimate thing.” I thought about this phenomenon when I checked Histoire de Tourbillon 10 (and when I checked other similarly extroverted efforts in the ultra-high-end modern watchmaking industry), because watchmaking is not the same as any Like other luxury craftsmanship, it also responds to the pressure of evolution,
The same is true for Histoire de Tourbillon 10. Nowadays, it is easy for people to judge a watch by a single standard, and it is also very tempting to set a single standard as personal taste. However, Histoire de Tourbillon is both a watch and a watch (the brand omits the hands completely or makes the watch in any Under the circumstances, it is impossible to read and simply follow the phenomenon of this natural conclusion, clearly understand).
Of course, the tourbillon was originally used to assist timekeeping, and throughout the history of watchmaking, since Breguet invented it in the early 19th century, it has always stood on a certain experimental basis. Its basic principle is theoretically reasonable (as far as I know). In fact, it does produce an average velocity for all vertical positions; similarly, at least when paired with a pocket watch and an escapement that does not require oil, its authority No less than the late George Daniels thought it was worth it.
In the watch, things are less clear, but the visual entertainment value of the tourbillon still exists, regardless of any functional advantages. If you want, you can demonstrate the timing advantages provided by the four tourbillons, four different oscillator systems, and produce an average of two averages as output. I think at this time in the 21st century, this watch is all about Visually dazzling, rather than producing closer speeds (I will always remember to ask Stephen Fauci about the advantages of the multi-tourbillon system in terms of rate stability. His answer is, “…it is always very important to get more It’s more difficult than you lose.”) .buy watches online
However, I commend Harry Winston for his attention to details related to watches used as chronometers in history-all four hairsprings are wound with Phillips, with free hairsprings and adjustable mass balance.
Moreover, I still appreciate the fact that although almost everyone seems to be returning to reflexive classicism and retro fashion (the stock of beige lume in Switzerland must be very low now), Harry Winston is still loyal to some of its more impeccable extroverts. surface. (Although I miss the Opus series.) I have seen all Histoire de Tourbillon watches, and all Opus timepieces (from a purely practical point of view, they are usually very unstable, although they are always interesting in concept, Even if their work is not so reliable) launched in the past ten years, I would love to see the last chapter of this series. The customer of this kind of thing may be someone asking the price to represent the rounding error on their annual dry cleaning bill, but this is a kind of horological entertainment, reminiscent of the more vigorous period of the mechanical watchmaking renaissance-unexpectedly, except for the current watchmaking In addition to the retro trend in the design, it is also a form of nostalgia.
Base
Brand: Harry Winston
Model: Histoire de Tourbillon 10
Dimensions: 53.30mm x 39.10mm x 17.60mm
Case material: platinum, rose gold; unique Winstonium platinum single piece
Dial: Integrated synthetic sapphire
Water resistance: 30 meters/3 bar
Strap/Bracelet: Black alligator leather strap, rose gold or platinum pin buckle; 18k rose gold or platinum thread stitching
sports
Movement: HW4702
Function: hour, minute, power reserve indicator on the movement board
Dimensions: 45.0 mm x 32.0 mm x 12.85 mm (measured from tourbillon bridge)
Power reserve: 55 hours on the chain
: Manual
Frequency: 3Hz (21,600 vph)
Jewelry: 95
Total number of components: 673 components, of which 78 are for each tourbillon
Additional details: F our tourbillon, which rotates every 36 seconds; four balance wheels with Phillips terminal curve and Geneva-type studs; two pairs of fast-rotating main barrels.