Released earlier in the year the Cabestan Triple Axis Tourbillon has a design thats inspired by the catamaran: its shape resembling the two parallel floating sections these unique vessels have. It is the first watch to be completely designed and developed by Eric Coudray.
Coudray is very knowledgeable on the subject of tourbillons having been behind the development and tuning of the Gyrotourbillon for Jaeger-LeCoultre and also responsible for realizing the concept of Vianney Halters Cabestan Winch.
What is a Triple Axis Tourbillon?
The simple answer is a tourbillon that rotates on three axes. But the evolution of the triple axis tourbillon starts in 1977 when British independent watchmaker Anthony Randall first submitted a patent for the invention of a tourbillon with two axes which was then realized in 1980 by employing it into a clock.
It was first down-scaled for use in a wristwatch in 2003 by master watchmaker Thomas Prescher, and the following year he created the first Triple Axis Tourbillon watch. In the Cabestan Triple Axis Tourbillon all three tourbillons rotate at different speeds, at 60, 19, and 17 seconds.
An amazingly complex watch, the Cabestan Triple Axis Tourbillons has a manual-winding movement comprising a whopping 1,044 individually hand-assembled components and provides a power reserve of 50 hours.
The Triple Axis Tourbillon’s entire construction is so unique, its difficult to tell where the case ends and where the sapphire crystal begins. Although entirely unconventional in appearance the Triple Axis Tourbillon does use the traditional hands and dial to indicate the time instead of the brand’s signature rotating drums. The face has been set at an angle facing the wearer for extreme legibility.
The case itself is 50.25 mm wide by 45.5 mm long and 22.3 mm at its thickest and its retail price is 250,000 Swiss francs.
You can read more about it at the Cabestan site.
Cabestan Triple Axis Tourbillon TECHNICAL DATA
Movement
Caliber CAB EC 17, manually wound with Swiss lever escapement,
Total of 1044 components fully assembled and regulated by hand
Frequency: 21 600 alt/h or 3 Hz, Breguet-style overcoil, Geneva stud
Flying triple axis tourbillon regulated at 6 positions:
Ø Axis 1: 1 rotation in 60 seconds
Ø Axis 2: 1 rotation in 19 seconds
Ø Axis 3: 1 rotation in 17 seconds
Fusée-and-Chain driven
Stainless steel chain 204 mm long composed of 305 links and 202 rivets,
Time-setting and winding with a 2 position crown
Manual finishing of all components: beveling, polishing, drawing and circular finishing
Power reserve: 50 hours
Display
Hours, minutes, seconds
Case
One sapphire tube tooled and finished by hand,
Framed by 2 closing doors in 5N rose gold, 3N yellow gold, palladium white gold, brushed or polished natural titanium, titanium black PVD, and platinum, perforated with sapphire crystal windows
One individual crown with 2 positions for winding and time setting
Size: 50.25mm (l) x 45.50 mm (L) [48.30 mm including crown] x 22.30 mm (h)
Water resistant
Straps
Straps in high quality alligator with handmade edges, folded back and sewn, calfskin, peccary leather and stylish rubber
Accessories
Handmade storage case
Booklet with ownership certificate, instructions and guarantee
