Six of the Very Best Tourbillon Watches of 2022 – So Far

There’s been no shortage of truly spectacular watches this year, but I doubt we have seen the end of it. Companies spread out releases across the entire 12 months, so who knows what splendour could be lurking on the horizon. Going through some of the novelties presented in 2022, we grouped together six stunning watches all fitted with a tourbillon escapement. While it may not be the only complication in each one, there’s just something so very soothing about that distinct whirlwind motion.

Chopard L.U.C. Full Strike Tourbillon

In the past few years, Chopard has shown an unprecedented advance in the field of striking mechanisms. The award-winning Full Strike concept, where the sapphire crystal on top is an integral, monobloc component with sapphire gongs, was like nothing anybody had ever seen before. The result is a crisper, stronger sound that travels outside of the case further thanks to the monobloc construction. The new Chopard L.U.C. Full Strike Tourbillon introduced during Watches & Wonders ups the complexity even further. Set in an 18k Fairmined gold case, with a slate grey dial revealing the important elements of the movement, it is an absolute stunner of a watch!

For more information, please visit Chopard.com.

Quick Facts – 42.5mm x 12.58mm – 18k ethical rose gold case and crown – integrated strikework pusher – sapphire crystal front and back – 18k rose gold dial with ruthenium grey finish – hand-applied guilloché pattern – applied Roman numerals – exposed repeater mechanism and tourbillon – Dauphine-fusée hour and minute hands – power reserve and strikework power reserve indication – calibre L.U.C. 08.02-L, in-house – 568 components – 28,800vph – 61 jewels – 50h power reserve – patented monobloc sapphire crystal gongs – hours, minutes, seconds on the tourbillon, stop-seconds and minute repeater, double power reserve indicator –  COSC-certified chronometer – Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark – limited to 20 numbered pieces – EUR 377,000

Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Flying Tourbillon

The Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF collection has been a real surprise, and a refined breath of fresh air among the luxury sports watches with an integrated design. The design is very appealing, and with a wide range of materials and complications, there’s plenty to choose from. On the more luxurious end of the spectrum is the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Flying Tourbillon. It comes with a full platinum case, bezel and bracelet, so it has quite a bit of heft to it. The dial is sandblasted platinum and reveals the flying tourbillon escapement through an offset aperture. The ultra-thin in-house calibre PF517 is also driven by a platinum micro-rotor.

For more information, please visit Parmigiani.com.

Quick Facts – 42mm x 8.6mm – 950 platinum case – knurled platinum bezel – screw-down crown – sapphire crystal front and back – 100m water-resistant – platinum sandblasted dial – 18k gold ruthenium-plated indices – 18k gold ruthenium-plated hands – flying tourbillon aperture – calibre PF517, in-house – micro-rotor automatic – 207 parts – 29 jewels – 21,600vph – 48h power reserve – hours, minutes, one-minute flying tourbillon escapement – platinum guilloché micro-rotor – platinum bracelet – limited to 25 pieces – CHF 140,000

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon 26730

In what is a celebratory year for Audemars Piguet (the Royal Oak turned 50) the brand does not disappoint when it comes to novelties. New for 2022 is a trio of Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon 26730 models in steel, titanium or pink gold. Each one carries the subtle design evolutions for this year, including the 50-year rotor and AP’s latest generation calibre 2950. What’s also important to note is that the steel and pink gold model both have a smoked blue Grande Tapisserie dial, while the titanium version comes with a sandblasted blue dial. The flying tourbillon escapement is revealed through the aperture at 6 o’clock, with the rest of the movement visible from the back.

For more information, please visit AudemarsPiguet.com.

Quick Facts – 41mm x 10.6mm – steel, titanium or pink gold case – sapphire crystals front and back – screw-locked crown – 50m water-resistant – smoked blue GrandeTapisserie dial or sandblasted blue dial (titanium only) – white or pink gold applied indices and hands – calibre 2950, in-house – automatic winding – 270 components – 27 jewels – 21,600vph – 65h power reserve – hours, minutes, one-minute flying tourbillon – steel, titanium or pink gold bracelet – EUR 169,000 (steel), EUR 175,200 (titanium) or EUR 192,400 (gold)

Vacheron Constantin Overseas Tourbillon Skeleton 6000V

The Overseas by Vacheron Constantin is another true horological icon and one that comes in many guises. One of the most complex models in the current line-up is the Overseas Tourbillon Skeleton 6000V, displaying the prowess of the Maison in both watchmaking and artistic expression. Nestled under a sapphire crystal dial, the entire movement has been skeletonised, visually integrating the tourbillon escapement instead of having to cut a hole in the dial. Available in titanium or pink gold, it features all the hallmarks of the Overseas. It’s also quite versatile as it comes with matching bracelets or optional leather and rubber straps.

For more information, please visit Vacheron-Constantin.com.

Quick Facts – 42.5mm x 10.39mm – pink gold or titanium case – soft-iron inner case – signature notched bezel – sapphire crystal front and back – 50m water-resistant – sapphire dial – pink or white gold indices and hands – calibre 216 SQ, in-house – skeletonised construction – Hallmark of Geneva – automatic winding with peripheral rotor – 30 jewels – 18,000vph – 80h power reserve – hours, minutes, small seconds on tourbillon escapement – pink gold or titanium bracelet or rubber or leather strap with quick-exchange – folding clasp with comfort-adjustment – EUR 126,000 (titanium) or EUR 147,000 (pink gold)

Grand Seiko Kodo Constant-Force Tourbillon SLGT003

When Grand Seiko flexes its muscles, you can expect something spectacular to happen. And with the Kodo Constant-Force Tourbillon SLGT003 that is exactly how things went down. Back in 2020, Grand Seiko released an unprecedented movement prototype, the Grand Seiko T0. It was the first tourbillon movement by Grand Seiko and one that has now found its way into the Kodo. As its name suggests, it is integrated with a constant-force mechanism and mounted on a single axis. To reveal the mechanical ingenuity, the entire movement and dial have been skeletonised. The platinum and titanium case features hollowed lugs, Zaratsu polishing and a boxed sapphire crystal on top.

For more information, please visit Grand-Seiko.com.

Quick Facts – 43.8mm x 12.9mm – platinum 950 and Brilliant Hard Titanium case – brushed and Zaratsu-polished – box-shaped sapphire crystal with see-through caseback – 100m water-resistant – openworked dial – sub-dial for hours and minutes – integrated constant-force mechanism and tourbillon at 6 o’clock – power reserve indicator at 8 o’clock – Grand Seiko calibre 9SR1 – manual wound constant-force tourbillon – 340 components – 28,800vph – 72h power reserve – limited edition of 20 pieces – EUR 370,000

Vincent Deprez Tourbillon Classic Souscription Edition

A tourbillon watch of a whole different order is the incredible Vincent Deprez Tourbillon Classic Souscription Edition. This is traditional, handmade watchmaking in the noblest sense of the word, as our Managing Editor Brice stated when we first wrote about it. And it is watches like this that are at the heart of MONOCHROME watches’ existence. Following a career at Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe, he couldn’t resist the urge to embark on his own. His first watch is made with hand-operated tools only, as he creates bridges, plates, wheels, the tourbillon cage and more, all on his own. Only a few parts are outsourced, but everything is meticulously finished by Vincent himself. With an off-centred enamel dial, the emphasis is on the tourbillon suspended under a slender black-polished bridge.

For more information, please visit VincentDeprez.watch.

Quick Facts – 39mm x 11.3mm – 316L stainless steel case, brushed and polished – sapphire crystal front and back – 30m water-resistant – oven-fired enamel dial in blue or cream – handmade with traditional techniques – handmade in-house movement – hand-wound – 15 jewels – 18,000vph – 52h power reserve – one-minute tourbillon escapement – Breguet overcoil – hours, minutes, seconds on the tourbillon – ostrich leather strap with steel pin buckle – 20 pieces in total, 10 in steel for Souscription Edition – CHF 89,500 (excl. taxes)