This question should tell you why you should never even consider a tourbillon. Hell, even chronographs are more delicate and more expensive in terms of time to complete service and cash to get serviced to maintain. I think tourbillons just end up in safes for the most part.

 

I wear mine regularly. Though to be honest I bought mine for everything BUT the tourbillon. I'd be much happier if they didn't put one in. Though I wouldn't go hiking with it.

 

Tourbillions require more parts, and a more complex interaction of parts so they will inherently be less durable compared to simpler movements.

Like all mechanical things there are differences between manufacturers and designs so there is a range in durability, so I don't think its possible to assign some kind of percentage to answer OP's "by how much" question.

There are some tourbillions made to be "daily wearers." TAG and Horage are two brands that come to mind when I think of workhorse tourbillions.

 

They do cost a lot because they are a way for watch manufacturers to 'show their skills'. Tourbillons are not difficult to make, but they do have more parts (and thus more attention to manufacturing tolerances). In addition, many watch manufacturers use the tourbillon as a show-off piece, where they can exhibit their finishing skills.

If you want an affordable Tourbillon, buy a Sugess for 750$. That will either quench your desire for one immediately, or inflame it. In terms of durability: what precisely do you mean? Are you taking it on a roller coaster, or to the gun range perhaps? If you just wear it 'to the office and back', you'll be fine. A tourbillon isn't more or less fragile; it all depends on the manufacturer.

I'd say fork out the 750 for a Sugess and let us know how you feel. Lots of people seem to like them, but it does destroy the fantasy that a tourbillon is somehow more special of a complication than others. It's not...it's just a complication that is unnecessary in a wristwatch that is continually changing its position.

 

They do cost a lot because they are a way for watch manufacturers to 'show their skills'. Tourbillons are not difficult to make, but they do have more parts (and thus more attention to manufacturing tolerances). In addition, many watch manufacturers use the tourbillon as a show-off piece, where they can exhibit their finishing skills.

If you want an affordable Tourbillon, buy a Sugess for 750$. That will either quench your desire for one immediately, or inflame it. In terms of durability: what precisely do you mean? Are you taking it on a roller coaster, or to the gun range perhaps? If you just wear it 'to the office and back', you'll be fine. A tourbillon isn't more or less fragile; it all depends on the manufacturer.

I'd say fork out the 750 for a Sugess and let us know how you feel. Lots of people seem to like them, but it does destroy the fantasy that a tourbillon is somehow more special of a complication than others. It's not...it's just a complication that is unnecessary in a wristwatch that is continually changing its position.

Aragon just released an automatic tourbillon yesterday. $650.

 

I don't know the comparison or any comparison. That said, Aventi advertises their new A13 at 5000g shock resistance. I'd love one, but $14k is a bit out of reach for me still.

As for the rest, I seem to remember reading that they do have some higher form of durability to shock depending on whose making ir, but I feel like if you do break something it will be more expensive to fix...

 

It’s got more moving parts than a standard watch so it stands to reason that it will be proportionally less robust.

 

Just my shallow opinion. Mechanical watch is fragile in general. You drop it on a hard floor, it could become inaccurate or just stopped running. I have chinese made tourbillon diver from Aragon, it is fairly accurate and has a mesmerising rotating part that carries some components turning at the rate seemingly like a second hand. It looks fragile as the rotating parts seem to rest on its pivot. So I would never want to drop it on any surface.

 

Should be just as robust as any other watch.

All watches are fragile to a certain degree anyway.......

 

I would say that watches with tourbillons are probably, in general and on average, less robust than non-tourbillon watches, in general and on average. Mostly because watches with tourbillons, as with many (but not all) higher end watches, are likely designed with, for example, less shock resistance than watches generally on average. But, there may be watches with tourbillons that defy this generalization and are quite robust, as much so as many watches, in general.

I think you really have to look at the specifics of the watch or watches you may be interested in, or, if you want a watch with a tourbillon that is relatively robust, look for watches that meet those criteria. Generalizations are just that, and there are almost always exceptions.

Maybe you are looking for something like this,

Hands-On: The Angelus U50 Diver Tourbillon

Intricate indie watchmaking crosses genres for a dip in the deep end.

www.hodinkee.com

(although, I haven't researched this particular watch or how robust it is beyond water resistance)

 

The more complicated the watch, the more parts it has - hence higher focus on service and less toughness. But the interesting thing is that more complexity often means higher price. Higher price - means more ability to get it serviced or fixed.
Whether chronograph, perpetual calendar, tourbillon, or all 3 - there are more things that can get damaged. But at the same time tourbillons are not meant as divers or field watches or any beater.

 

The more complicated the watch, the more parts it has - hence higher focus on service and less toughness.

I don’t see that more parts equal less toughness. That’s just too simple.

A well engineered, precisely calculated and tested movement with more parts can for sure be more tough than a movement with less parts that is just not as good executed. The later one hypothetically sees more wear, has more pressure because it is not as good executed. It’s just not that simple, it depends on the engineering.

I don’t own a Tourbillon. I‘ve also never broken one. I am considering one and that’s what brought me back to this old thread; but does anyone in here apart from @ffritz has actual experience with one? Thanks for sharing it.

 

Who here has experience with the TAG. I was thinking of getting the blue one that is out of stock - they say until August. But I would be rough with it.

ali

 

OP, what's fragile will be your wallet when you get the first servicing bill.

 

I wouldn't go big wave surfing with a tourbillion, WR aside. But I got a funny feeling it can survive the average day of office life and Saturday errands.

 

I thought the whole purpose of a tourbillion was to keep better time under more extreme positions? No?

 

No, see above posts. TLDR: Better time for pocket watches always in the same position.

 

I was wondering what TAG would charge for the service of their tourbillon watches so I emailed them. Everybody said it costs a fortune, whatever that means. It would be a level 5 service, $200 for a partial maintenance and $695 for a full service:

"Dear Ali Haas,

TAG Heuer does not make a Tourbillion that will fit this criteria of swimming & showering my apologies. This Tourbillion is a group 5 of the attached service price-list.

Best regards,

Willie F.
TAG Heuer Support
866-260-0460"

Note the answer to my additional inquiry about water tightness. Despite being water resistant to 100m they do not want anyone to shower with the watch. 'Water resistance to 300 feet but no diving, swimming nor showering???
Sad.

ali

 

Chinese tourbillion watches are cheap enough some of you can wear it as a beater watch. $280 everyday price for this tourbillion. You don't have to worry about future servicing costs because you can just buy brand new one cheaper than the hassle of dealing with service centers.

295.62US $ 61% OFF|AESOP Flying Tourbillon Skeleton Mechanical Luxury Watches Waterproof Wristwatches Watch Brand For Men Movement Sapphire 2022|Mechanical Watches| - AliExpress

 

Servicing costs have always put me off, and surely it’s gonna be more fragile than your average watch?

@Archer will pop by and tell us the answer to that question.