top of page
IMG_5129_edited.jpg

Triple Axis Tourbillon
 

The creation of a set of three types of tourbillons required Prescher to invent a third individual construction. Inspired by Randall’s work, Richard Good became the first clockmaker to add a triple axis tourbillon to a carriage clock in the 1980s. Thomas Prescher took out his old apprenticeship notebooks containing his sketches and interpretation of Good’s work in creating a triple axis tourbillon carriage clock. He wanted to modify this for use in a wristwatch.

 

Spurred on by the success of his pocket watches, Prescher set to work further miniaturizing these multiple axis mechanics. He met the challenge and added a third axis that revolved once every hour. The construction of such a tourbillon wristwatch was considered long impossible: it was thought that the movement height would be too great for practical use and that the weight of the additional components would not let enough energy get through to the balance. However, Prescher found a number of solutions to address these issues.

 

The meaning of such a complicated timepiece is much more art for art’s sake than the search for any improvement of a rate. A triple axis tourbillon with its spiral-shaped movement takes up far more room in the space of a case than either the single or the double axis tourbillons. It is especially the unencumbered view that makes the tourbillon seem to hover in the air on its three flying axes.

 

A triple axis tourbillon is not only a technical masterpiece of the art of watchmaking, but it is above all a piece of art that draws our eyes to it—magically—a kinetic sculpture of time.

Technical Details

Special features

· Flying tourbillon construction on all axes

· Movement, Caliber TP 3W6A.3, designed and constructed in-house

· First triple axis tourbillon wristwatch with constant force mechanism in the carriage

· Tourbillon is secured in a specially designed flexible spring to absorb shocks

01

Movement Information

Diameter

Height

Number of components

Weight of smallest screw used

Number of jewels

Frequency

Number of spring barrels

Plates and bridges

Balance wheel

Balance spring

Power reserve

Number of subdials

Functions

37 mm

6.46 mm

327

0.0009 grams

47

21,600 beats per hour (3 Hz)

two

gold-plated brass, hand-engraved with Guilloché Triangulair

copper-beryllium CuBe2

flat hairspring

40 hours

two

hours, minutes, seconds

03

Distribution of Bearing Jewels (First Axis)

First axis 

Balance

Escapement

Constant force mechanism

Axis

Second axis

Flying arm

Third axis

Drive mechanisme

Setting mechanisme

Movement

Time indication system

Drive mechanism

 

5

4

4

2

 

2

​

4

4

 

10

10

02

Tourbillon

Number of axes:

Height of tourbillon rotation

Revolution time:

Constant force mechanism

System of constant force

Constant force reloading

Diameter of balance wheel

Diameter of cage

Tourbillon weight first axis

Weight of first and second axes

Weight of first, second, and

third axes with ball bearing

three

12.2 mm

one minute

on first axis in tourbillon cage

inertia acceleration according to Jaenneret

6 times per second

9.5 mm

13.4 mm

0.347 grams

0.766 grams

​

2.879 grams

04

Case Details

Case

Crystal

​

​

Dial

​

​​​​

​

Height

Water resistance

Strap

Buckle

platinum 950 or 18-karat gold

convex sapphire crystal on front and back, anti-reflective on both sides, hand-engraved with individual number​

​

1.2 mm solid silver, hand guilloché with Guilloché Triangulair
18-karat gold applied indexes
18-karat gold dauphine-style hands
18-karat gold hand-engraved name and number plate

12.3 mm

1 ATM (10 meters)

hand-cut and –sewn black alligator skin uppers and lowers

platinum 950 or 18-karat gold

bottom of page