Conceptualizing the difference between a regular tourbillon and a flying tourbillon is really quite simple. Imagine for one moment a stick symbolizing the tourbillon cage. Hold this stick with both hands, one palm placed at each end of the stick. The right hand is the bridge on the dial side; the left is the bridge on the movement side, depicting the positioning of a standard tourbillon. Now it’s clear how one hand (the one representing the bridge on the dial side) gets in the way of a clear view of what is underneath it - a miraculously filigreed work of mechanical art.

To conceptualize the cantilevered flying tourbillon, which is only secured to the plate on one side, hold the same stick at the bottom end, between the index and thumb of one hand. You see that the stick is entirely supported at one end, with two points of contact at its base. This affords a clear view of the top of the stick, which represents the flying tourbillon’s carriage. In order to underscore this effect, Thomas Prescher chose a very fine stem with two conical gears to transfer energy instead of the usual connection of wheel on wheel. Now there is nothing to hinder a free view of the tourbillon. Keeping hold of your stick on one end, now rotate your lower arm to emulate the second axis and then turn your whole body around if you are interested in illustrating the third axis.

A flying tourbillon is much more difficult to make than a simple, fully bridged version. If you actually performed the conceptual experiment described above, then you will have immediately noticed that the stick held at one end can be easily moved by outside forces compared to the stick held between two hands, which is a far more stable construction. This rather simple conceptualization accurately conveys one of the main difficulties of flying tourbillon construction: balance. A revolving carriage that is not supported at its outer extremities needs especially good balance of all axes as they relate to one another. This is a technical challenge, especially with regard to the double and triple axis flying tourbillons since these parts weigh just mere fractions of a gram. The competence required to achieve this miniscule mechanical wonder is truly exceptional, not to mention the accuracy required of the watchmaker’s hand and eye.

Minorva flying tourbillon watches: