====== Purnell ======

{{wst>menue|Purnell}}

**Purnell** (originally **Cécil Purnell**) is a high-end independent watchmaker known for producing "Only [[Tourbillons]]".

===== Cécil Purnell =====
Cécil Purnell was a World War I veteran who taught himself watchmaking and repaired watches throughout his life. His grandson, Jonathan Purnell, was a watch dealer starting in the 1970s, and founded Cécil Purnell SA using his grandfather's name in [[2006]] in partnership with Stéphane Valsamides and Marcel Lachat. Purnell showed an in-house [[tourbillon]] movement in [[2009]] but was unable to bring his concept to production. He turned to [[Magma Concept]] to develop a new tourbillon movement, and this was first shown in [[2010]].

The **Cécil Purnell** brand was launched at [[BaselWorld]] in [[2011]] with the slogan, "Only Tourbillon" stating the mission. The watch was modern, with an [[openworked]] movement, transparent dial, and [[open heart]] [[tourbillon]] at 6 00. Two designs were created, the Classique with a conventional round case and the La Croix with an unusual cross-shaped bezel and rubber strap. The watches began at CHF 90,000.

Cécil Purnell launched a new collection in December [[2012]] including the Lady Lacroix with a translucent enamel dial. A [[GMT]] watch, the "Paradigm Shift", was added in late [[2014]] featuring an independent hour subdial at 12 00 and bi-tourbillon design that would be replicated and updated by Purnell 6 years later. In [[2016]], Cécil Purnell introduced a tri-axial tourbillon model with [[world time]] displayed on a hemispherical globe and [[moon phase]] on a hemispherical moon. The Carillon Minute Repeater was shown at [[BaselWorld]] in [[2016]] as well.

The brand was able to sell about 700 examples but was not successful financially. No new product was launched after [[2016]].

===== Purnell =====

{{wst>image_cr|Purnell|Escape II Absolute Sapphire}}

Cécil Purnell was re-named **C. Purnell** in early [[2019]] with the release of the Spherion [[triple-axis tourbillon]]. Developed by [[Eric Coudray]] and [[TEC Ebauches]], the watch retained the "Cécil Purnell" name on the cut-out bezel for a time before showing "C. Purnell." This new team laid the foundation for continuing operation. The triple-axis tourbillon became the Purnell Escape I.

Maurizio Mazzocchi joined the company in October [[2019]] and re-launched the brand as **Purnell** at [[Watches and Wonders]] in [[2020]] with an all-new product. Developed with [[Eric Coudray]], the Escape II featured two spherical devices located in the bottom half of the dial which combine to be a single [[tourbillon]]. Coudray had previously developed the [[Gyrotourbillon]] for [[Jaeger-LeCoultre]], but the Purnell features a so-called [[Potter escapement]], which places the [[balance]] in one cage and the [[escapement]] in the other.

The original La Croix and Escape I was removed from the company's listings in late 2020, as was mention of the former Cécil Purnell brand, as the company was now focused entirely on the Purnell Escape II.

===== Weblinks =====
  * [[https://purnellwatches.com/|purnellwatches.com]], official site

{{tag>Watch_brands Watch_brands_Switzerland}}