Sylvain Pinaud Unveils the new Tourbillon 30-Second

Independent watchmaker Sylvain Pinaud launched his first timepiece, a monopusher chronograph, in 2018, followed by the Origin, a time-only watch, in 2021. Over the past few years, his work has earned recognition with connoisseurs and within the watchmaking industry, with several awards at the prestigious GPHG. For the 2026 Geneva Watch Week, it is time for him to present his take on one of horology’s greatest classics: the tourbillon.

Born into a family of watchmakers, Pinaud’s path seemed almost predestined. Son of a watchmaker, immersed in horology from an early age, he pursued formal training at the renowned Lycée Edgar Faure in Morteau – an institution that has produced many figures of the new wave of independent watchmaking. Graduating in 1998, he began his professional journey working for others, in particular in Geneva for Franck Muller. Yet rather than following a conventional industrial trajectory, Pinaud gravitated toward restoration and the creation of complications, disciplines that would sharpen his technical expertise and his knowledge of traditional watchmaking. Establishing in Sainte-Croix, he contributed to various projects, including work connected to Carl F. Bucherer, who had just acquired THA, the movement manufacturer once associated with masters such as François-Paul Journe, Denis Flageollet, and Vianney Halter. These years proved formative, allowing Pinaud to refine his craft over nearly two decades before stepping into the spotlight under his own name.

That moment came in 2018 with the unveiling of his first watch, a mono-pusher chronograph. A formidable undertaking for a single watchmaker, this chronograph was conceived and executed with an artisanal approach. Its construction and finishing drew attention, earning Pinaud the title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France the same year. A later reinterpretation of the piece, developed in collaboration with Massena LAB, would go on to receive recognition as the best chronograph at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG 2024). In 2021, Pinaud introduced the Origin, a three-hand watch that further defined his aesthetic language. With its asymmetrical dial layout and prominent balance positioned at six o’clock, the piece emphasised chronometry while maintaining a distinctive visual identity… and in 2022, Pinaud was awarded the Horological Revelation prize at the GPHG.

Now, in 2026, Sylvain no longer works by himself with a team of close to 10 people in his Sainte-Croix workshop. On the occasion of the watchmaking week surrounding Watches and Wonders, Sylvain Pinaud presents his latest creation: a tourbillon watch that builds upon the design codes and artisanal approach of the Origin while introducing an additional level of technical complexity. 

At first glance, the watch retains the Origin asymmetrical elegance. The case has been slightly refined, measuring 39 mm in diameter—down from 40 mm for the Origin. Yet the true evolution lies within. As its name obviously suggests, the watch is regulated by a tourbillon escapement that deserves a close look. Rather than adopting a conventional one-minute tourbillon, Pinaud has opted for a 30-second rotation, a relatively uncommon choice. This faster cadence imparts a striking dynamism to the movement. Pinaud deliberately avoided placing a seconds hand directly on the tourbillon cage. Instead, he has kept his asymmetrical dial architecture by integrating a separate seconds indication in a large 11 mm counter that provides better readability than with a second indicated by the cage. Additionally, its 60-second rotation creates an intriguing interplay with the tourbillon’s 30-second revolution. 

To cope with the fast rotation of the tourbillon, the cage is made of titanium, with allowed for a 20% weight reduction. Its 9.1mm balance features variable inertia and Phillips terminal curve. The power reserve of this hand-wound movement is comfortable with up to 100 hours of autonomy.

Another noteworthy feature is particularly relevant for a tourbillon / chronometric instrument. The Sylvain Pinaud Tourbillon is fitted with a zero-reset mechanism. When the crown is pulled out for time-setting, the seconds hand instantly returns to zero thanks to a heart-shaped cam (while the tourbillon keeps beating). Upon pushing the crown back in, the mechanism is released, and the seconds hand resumes its motion. 

The Sylvain Pinaud Tourbillon is initially offered in three limited series of ten pieces each. One titanium version features a full titanium movement, lending a more contemporary and technical character. The other two are crafted in platinum with a maillechort (German silver) movement, except for the beautifully executed gold barrel bridge on the reverse side. Price is set at CHF 180,000 (excl. taxes).

For more details, please visit sylvain-pinaud.com