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Triple-Axis Tourbillon
The triple-axis tourbillon is a highly complicated tourbillon variant.
The Triple-Axis Tourbillon by Thomas Prescher
Thomas Prescher Triple Axis Tourbillon Regulator
© Thomas Prescher
The 2004 triple axis tourbillon developed by Thomas Prescher is a further development of his double-axis tourbillons. The tourbillon here rotates around three axes instead of two.
In the Triple Axis Tourbillon Regulator model, the first and second axes each rotate at 1/min, and the third axis rotates at 1/h around its own axis. Like the double-axis tourbillon, the whole tourbillon is equipped with a constant-force mechanism.
About the history of this invention
After Richard Good, inspired by the work of A. G. Randal in the 1980s, was the first to incorporate a tourbillon with three axes in a table clock, Thomas Prescher had already made notes and drawings in the sketchbook from his apprentice days to be able to apply such a tourbillon mechanism in a wristwatch.
Driven by the success of his pocket watches, Prescher set out to further scale down the multi-axis mechanism. He overcame the challenge and added a third axis so that it rotated once an hour. For a long time, the creation of such a tourbillon was considered impossible. On the one hand, the height seemed too high for practical use, and on the other hand, not enough impulse could be applied to the balance because of the weight of the additional components. However, a whole series of completely new construction ideas by Thomas Prescher finally solved all the problems mentioned.
The importance of such a complicated watch is rather to be found in the creation of “art for art's sake” than in a further improvement of rate values.
A triple-axis tourbillon, with its spiral movement, occupies many more positions in space than the single- and double-axis designs. Precisely because of the unobstructed view, the tourbillon seems to float almost freely in the air on the three flying axes.
Such a triple-axis tourbillon is not only a technical masterpiece of watchmaking craftsmanship, but first and foremost a work of art that draws our gaze – an enchantingly magical time sculpture.
Source: Tourbillon-Geschichte, www.prescher.ch
Franck Muller Revolution 3 Tourbillon
© Franck Muller
The Revolution 3 Tourbillon by Franck Muller
In the same year 2004, Franck Muller had made the move from two to three tourbillon axes with his Revolution 3 Tourbillon model, also an evolution of the double-axis tourbillon Revolution 2.
The Gyro Tourbillon
It is also worth mentioning the Gyro-Tourbillon concept newly developed by Jaeger-LeCoultre and also presented 2004. See Jaeger-LeCoultre Gyrotourbillon 1 and Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Gyrotourbillon 2.