Flying tourbillon
Glashütte Original Alfred Helwig Tourbillon 2
with flying tourbillon
© Glashütte Original
A flying tourbillon is a watch movement complication.
The tourbillon was invented and built by the French Abraham-Louis Breguet and patented in 1801.
The so-called “Flying Tourbillon” was invented in about 1920 by Alfred Helwig, a specialist teacher at the German Watchmaker School Glashütte. It is said to be flying because it is only supported on one side - that is, there is no top bridge, and it is only anchored at the bottom.
Video
- Glashütte Original Flying Tourbillon Video - educational film