Why This Obsolete Mechanism Makes Watches More Expensive | So Expensive | Business Insider
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- Опубліковано 21 лис 2024
- A tourbillon (French for "whirlwind") is a centuries-old mechanism built inside some of the world's most expensive watches. It was originally designed to improve the accuracy of pocket watches by rotating the escapement and balance wheel to help counter the effects of gravity.
Today, collectors consider tourbillon watches works of fine art. The construction and assembly of the mechanism is very time-consuming and requires extreme precision and patience. Tourbillon watches' complex design, combined with their limited production, contributes to their exclusivity and high price tags.
Remy Cools, an independent watchmaker based near Lake Annecy in France, is working on his second limited-edition release of 36 tourbillon watches, called the Tourbillon Atelier, which will sell for about $172,000 each.
On the lower end, you may find some entry-level tourbillon watches for $30,000. However, most tourbillon watches from reputable brands range from $100,000 to several million dollars.
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Why This Obsolete Mechanism Makes Watches More Expensive | So Expensive | Business Insider
The fact this man is building all of this from raw material to working parts and knows how to do all the design machine set up and the machining itself with all the different machines is simply amazing.
Not as amazing in the grand scheme of things as the ones made even 5 decades ago. Yeah the pieces are better overall but there’s not as much craftsmanship in them as there used to be. It still takes a sharp eye and steady hand but the people that made pieces without CNC were so much more skilled. I can build a lot of stuff with CAD and a 3D printer but I’d be lost if someone wanted something done manually
It's just interesting to me how he afforded those millions of dollars worth of equipment just starting out.
@@AustinMichael from investors maybe?
@@CarbonRevo91 Agreed. The old artesian of watch making was truly on a different level
Can't believe it sometimes takes more time putting in the settings that actually machining the part. If my cheap 3D printer can be modified to accept settings saved on my PC, why cant a really expensive CNC machine do the same.
what I find truly amazing is that watchmakers centuries ago were able to not only design this movement, but produce them without any of the modern machinery available today.
also, how Egyptian managed to build the pyramid millennia ago without laser cutting machines and 3D printers
@@v3leLots of time and lots of slaves. Lots of death and trial and error, combined with existing technology and techniques.
Yeah now they shouldn’t cost much but you know these swiss watch companies know how to sell a 1000$ watch for 20000$ 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 it’s an ‘ART’ after all 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
And they were able to create them without the outrageous price?
@@johnlucas6683 there actually isnt really evidence it was slaves and very unlikely it was simply due to the precision needed. only well trained, skilled workers could have built things to the tolerances that they did. it was more likely a well paying job and big honor to be a part of the construction. slave labor may have been used for transporting raw goods and helping keep the skilled laborers fed and working, but its extremely unlikely slaves were the ones doing the actual construction part. "slaves built the pyramids" is basically just a meme that people repeat because they heard it repeated to them. they didnt exactly leave behind thousands of tiktok videos of them dancing on the job so we can see who was doing what so a lot of guessing involved. i dont think we even know who actually built them or why. they werent just tombs, we've found the tombs full of mummies and other things showing they were specifically tombs but pyramids are very different and have a lot of strange features that we dont know the true purposes of. like all of the shafts leading out. was it so "the soul could escape to the afterlife"? no idea. only guesses. its all very fascinating stuff. especially the secrets of the sphinx. there are rooms that very few have been into to document and all sorts of additional mysteries about its purpose and when it was made. we may never know for sure, especially not when egypt keeps a tight grip on studying these things, not allowing too many people to really go in there and explore and search for clues.
I’m broke just looking at that watch
At least you know the time.🤣
Chinese made tourbillon are very reasonable
Business Insider is just paid promotion. These watch brands are hurting for customers
Sorry to hear that
@@robertposteschild2353 ? Why?
I know it's largely irrelevant to the 'value' of a watch, but having a tourbillon in the movement doesn't add anywhere close to the cost recovery that a watchmaker would lead you to believe. A mechanical chronograph movement is vastly more complex than a tri-hand watch with a tourbillon, it's just used as a luxury marker these days really.
Definitely agree. In addition, I don't disregard Remy's skill and achievement, but let's be real. He is also using CNC for a lot of the main larger parts. This isn't something truly fully hand made like you would have seen from Louis Breguet, George Danields, etc. I know even companies such as Vacheron are using CNC now days, and there's nothing wrong with that. However, if a customer is going to be paying, let's say $100,000 because of the art and craftsmanship, as it's being marketed, I'd think it shouldn't be that way.
Just my preference, at least. There are many more lesser-known independents who do the same, but for a fraction of the price.
Semi-related to this, there is a documentary on independent watchmakers (I think I watched it on Netflix) and they show the makers using hand-tools and single purpose machines to make everything. The watches sell for over 100k, but they will make a single watch that may have taken over a year to make, waaaay more of an art piece that anything that can be produced in semi-mass market, even if it is Luxury
Yeah, chronograph movements are exceptionally hard to design. But you can get stock ones for a few hundred bucks, I think.
@@ginzo666 Yeah, I have a couple of manual chronographs and tourbillons, price between 300-400 each but they are mass produced rather than being from an independant watchmaker
@@theflyingsloth I bought a swiss made Tourbillion watch for $11k
Only problem it's a Tag Huer. It's a nice watch though. Bought myself a Nomos as well. Next watch I'll buy is a 38mm Aqua Terra co axial with the blue dial and blue rubber strap. Going to sell my Tudor black bay pro.
My favourite watch is my Longines master with day/night blue dial....or my Grand Seiko SBGA301
A quartz oscillator is at least a few magnitudes more accurate than traditional mechanical movement. Yet mechanical watches are valued higher. Accuracy never had anything to do with the price. A tourbillon takes more work, therefore is more exclusive, hence priced higher.
There's also the fact that a mechanical watch can last 100 years. Quartz watches will never last that long, so it's harder to justify spending 6+ figures on them. The amount of work probably matters more, though.
@@WinterAyars they are both capable of last extremely long times. lots of the original quartz and electric watches are still floating around. and similar to 100+ year old mechanical watches, worn parts need replaced from time to time. neglect and misuse will kill any watch. knowledge, skill and maintenance will keep any watch ticking along for many many years.
@@WinterAyarsidk with fewer moving parts (sometimes none) I'd think they could last even longer
You're not paying for the actual precision in the end product.
What you are most likely paying for is the incredible amount of manual work, care to detailand overall perfection that goes into them.
You'd not nearly pay as much for a similar watch, if it came from an automated production line,
even if they were made from the same materials and would undergo vigorous quality checks.
@@SuperMrgentleman The problem is electrical circuitry. Eventually it will corrode to a level that cannot be cleaned or repaired, only replaced. If it's something special it's possible no real replacement would be available. Special coatings and things like that can help reduce corrosion but it's the inevitable end of electrical circuitry like that. Mechanical parts will also corrode, but if properly cared for they can survive for a long time.
The Chinese Tongji movement at 12:33 was not the best example to use for this kind of work lol. Amazing talent, way to go Remy!
lmao i had the same thought when i saw that
Saw that too! $2 throw away movement complete with the scratchy finish just to cap off all the hyperbole! I wonder if whoever put this together was playing a watchmaker insider joke, or really didn't know otherwise.
I was going to say, I used to have that exact watch when I was in highschool, $10 off ebay.
They go under the Winner, Forsining and Jaragar brands most often but I'm happy to say I've definitely moved up in the world since then, couple of manual chronos and tourbillons in the collection. YOu never notice the quality difference until you put them side by side with the chinese standard movements, just wow
they don't even mention Breguet tourbillon, but Tongji? =))
Lol I only recognized that because I have a vintage style pocket watch with that movement.
Amazing how Remy has mastered this art at such a young age. Amazing
Using CNC ??? .... lol ...
@@kebeleteeek4227he could clearly do it by hand if he wanted
@@kebeleteeek4227 And what do you think every single other major watchmaker uses? They all use modern tech...
@@kebeleteeek4227 are you stupid?
Superb work! I'm lucky to say that my job is"Angleur " in one of the oldest Switzerland's watchmakers. Beveling is a time consuming and delicate procedure,but like all other surface treatments (like perlage,satinage,cerclage,guillochage,côtes de Genève etc) the aestetic of a mechanical watch is largely improved.
Does it even have a practical use like this video claims? I feel like oftentimes they just make things up instead of highlighting things for what they are, artistry for the sake of it. Which is commendable enough!
What’s amazing is these little parts were manufactured hundreds of years ago in older mechanical watches without CNC machines.
It took 32 master craftsmen to complete one single watch. Not to mention this being done at a time where electricity and machines didn't exist. Even the fundamental tools of watchmaking were created by these early pioneers in the field. It's truly incredible, and the technology behind how they work is also extremely impressive. The market is dramatically shrinking, and it's likely that in another 50 years or so, no one will make them.
Or until the recent past by the very greatest of watchmakers like George Daniels.
I love that salesperson at the end. Yes push those independents!
You're so gullible
Its only a tourbillon if it comes from the tourbillon region of France, otherwise its called "sparkling watch spring"
Yes I know they are not in France.
Actually the guy in the video is in France!
Lol 😂
😂
There's no region called "tourbillon" in France, "tourbillon" means whirlwind.
@@raphanunu6912Its a joke playing on the "campaign region of France"
I have never had steady hands. I am amazed at the dexterity of these people.
One of the few luxuries I actually can see the value behind. These things are works of art. Also that Remy guy is incredible, to know how to do it from step one to the end, on multiple machines, is impressive.
lol, it's just an oversized kitsch.
The luxury part is the brand and marketing. You can get a Chinese watch with a tourbillion for $300. Swiss watches charge 5 figures + for it because they can, not because that’s what it’s worth
To these young kids dedicating themselves to the craft: KUDOS & RESPECT.
I didn't see any young kids ....
Ugh I absolutely love timepieces. I have such fond memories of watching my late fiance winding his watches, polishing them, and going with him to watch retailers to get new ones. Hearing them talk shop and use jargon, that I didn't know at the time, was so cool. And now I have such a huge appreciation for the craftsmanship.
That said, some prices are absolutely insane. But simultaneously I understand why to some degree. Like if you think about what these watches can do, some of them being able to show planet alignments and star tracking without any electornic computing components is mindblowing. That's such insane engineering
It's like or is kinetic art that came about due to its ability to tell time.
My most sincere condolences.
Show planet alignments? Surly you’re joking 🙃
@@richard09able Look up the Van Cleef and Arpels Midnight Planetarium. Shows the real time alignment of our solar system using only gears and escapement. It is however a $230,000 watch bahah
@@fuferito thank you so much, he was a great guy. I was never a watch person before we were together. Now I absolutely love them and have such an appreciation for the quality, skill and exorbitant amount of time it takes to craft them to this level
these are he types of ceos i respect, the ones that still are enthusiastic for the craft
I have been collecting medium to high end watches for a while, but after watching this presentation I feel like a serf.
What is the most money you spent on a watch?
LOL, I'm with you.
@@boohere2 $5.52 I'm guessing
What is considered medium to high end? I've been collecting rolexes and I would still consider them mostly low end luxury whereas PP and AP would likely be closer to medium and RM being high end.
I guess you have been buying "no fakes" up to "decent" watches instead then.
Mechanical engineering really is an art form.
But I'll stick with my Casio haha.
Better wearing a Casio than a fake luxury watch lol
Casio are awesome. MTG, MRG, GWG are fantastic, beautiful and useful watches !
You can get Chinese tourbillons for $500. Obviously they aren’t hand finished but still decently accurate
frfrnocap still got my calculator watch
God tier
To say he sculpts the pieces himself, then immediately say he uses a CNC machine only proves the people writing the script for this video have no idea what they are talking about.
Watches aren't expensive because of the Tourbillon (which can be nowadays found in $1000 watches), but because of several other factors like the hand engraving, hand-beveling, and the sheer number of watches produced by a specific brand. Independent watchmakers will charge higher because of limited resources available to them, in addition to lack of manpower. Larger corporate brands will be able to mass-produce commercial pieces at a relatively cheaper price, but can't be compared to the extreme high-end pieces in terms of finishing and handcrafting processes.
The main reason they're expensive is the marketing budget and the wholesale and retail markups. Nothing to do with the costs of production.
@@eurovnik Yeah, basically it's rich people shit.
Would the man hours of finishing and handcrafting processes cost $200k+? Maybe $1K but I don't think $200K+. A Patek Philippe costs $200K+ because people are willing to pay $200K+
@@gregoryp203too simplistic. If you're a guy like that you've paid for your education to keep this tradition going, payed or paying rent for your studio. Paying for all that machinery which I'm sure isn't cheap. Paying for all the materials. Paying his employee for all her hours of work. Paying utilities on the space your in. And then on top of that your paying for daily life. The rent or mortgage where he lives, his food, clothing, transportation etc. And then hopefully if he's lucky, be able to have some money on top of that to enjoy his life and save for the future.
When you support things like this you are literally keeping a traditional art form alive. These people should be making great money doing this because it's not easy.
This idea that things should only be the cost of the process and materials and nothing more is really ignorant.
@@eurovnik While that's true for brands like Rolex, for smaller watch brands who genuinely make these watches by hand, that isn't true at all-- and there are more artisan brands than you think.
I have a after market tourbillon, meaning I move my wrist watch in a few different direction throughout the day and achieve the same accuracy of a tourbillon.:)
So are these perpetual machines or need a battery?
10:51 Remy will be unhappy that they did not clean the glass properly :D
I had to give this video a Thumb-Down, because it is riddled with misinformation. This video is mistaken on _many_ points:
1. No, hair springs do not move in the way shown in your animation; instead, they expand-only when rotating one direction, and contract-only when rotating the other direction. This is because one end is fixed to the fixed balance cock whereas the other end is fixed to the rotating balance wheel.
2. No, hair springs to do interface with the escape wheel. Instead, hair springs apply bidirectional torques to a balance wheel, which turns an impulse jewel, which nudges a pallet fork, which interfaces with the escape wheel. It is the jewels of the pallet fork striking the teeth of the escape wheel which creates the “tick, tock, tick, tock” sound of escapement-based clocks and watches.
3. No, tourbillons are not “obsolete”; they serve the same purpose they always did.
4. No, mechanical pocket watches have not been replaced by mechanical wrist watches. Instead, most people opt for smartphones and/or quartz-timed electronic wrist watches for their time-keeping. But all four kinds of time-keeping devices (mechanical pocket watches, mechanical wrist watches, electronic wrist watches, smartphones) are still in common use, along with many others.
5. No, “modern wrist watches” are not primarily mechanical; most of them are electronic with no moving parts.
6. No, wrist watches do not “primarily sit horizontally”. Firstly, they don't “sit”; people move around! And secondly, they don't spend all their time in the same position; people have their wrists in _many different positions_ throughout their busy work days.
7. No, tourbillons are not “for accuracy”; people who need high accuracy use smartphones or internet-connected computers; either will tell time to within 0.1 second of UTC. Instead, tourbillons are for accuracy _within the universe of mechanical time pieces_ , and for the joy of owning, looking at, and using a beautifully-engineered mechanical marvel. People don't spend $300,000 on a Grand Seiko Kodo or $8,000 on Horage Tourbillon 1 for split-second accuracy (they could get much better accuracy from a $15 Casio); instead, people buy those watches because of their beauty, and because of their all-mechanical steampunk mystique, and because they manage to eke-out 1-second-per-day accuracy from purely-mechanical systems containing no modern high-technology parts at all. Just because nearly everything these days is made of plastic and controlled by electronics doesn't mean one's watch needs to be; _that_ is the whole point of mechanical time pieces and tourbillons.
8. No, tweezers are not “pliers”; anyone who has used either tweezers _or_ pliers should know better than that.
9. No, it is _not_ true that “tourbillons do not make timepieces more accurate [than they would be without them]”. Tourbillons increase accuracy by decreasing the slowing-down or speeding-up effects of the vector of gravity, by constantly _changing_ the vector of gravity relative to the balance wheel, thus causing those effects to mostly “cancel out”.
10. No, the sapphire crystals (two, not one) on a tourbillon (or any other balance wheel) are not visual “highlights”; instead, they are necessary functional parts of any rotating watch part requiring ultra-low friction. They are used because sapphire is the second-hardest substance on Earth after diamond, and hence brass-on-sapphire lubricated with a tiny drop of synthetic oil provides a near-zero-friction pivot. Thus the description “21 jewels” engraved on a watch is not bragging about jewelry, but rather, bragging about low friction.
I'm not a watchmaker, but even *_I_* as a collector and hobbyist can see those 10 obvious blunders in your video; a professional watchmaker would probably see many more errors and be even more emphatic in pointing them out. So, I suggest doing more research before making and posting videos, because this one wasn't very good (it's riddled with errors).
on point number 9, the reason its not required in a wristwatch is because of what you said in point number 6, peoples hands move about all the time, this is doing exactly what the tourbillon is there for
@@randomcow505 : Well, there is that, yes: random movement reduces (but doesn't eliminate) the usefulness of tourbillons in wrist watches. (For one thing, a tourbillon improves accuracy during those times when the wearer is _not_ moving or the watch is _not_ being worn.)
However, that brings up error #11 in the video: it uses the opposite of a good argument against tourbillons, saying (absurdly) that "wrist watches are always horizontal [wrong], therefore tourbillons in wrist watches are useless [non sequitur; that's exactly when tourbillons would be _most_ useful in wrist watches: for people who sit in a fixed position all day]".
But then, if I were to actually _dig_ (instead of just mentioning the 10 obvious errors I immediately saw), I could probably find many more errors in this video. It really wasn't very well thought-out.
I, too, am only a collector of watches. My most recent perchance being my first automatic. I have since become fascinated by how they work, so when I saw this video, it immediately caught my interest. After watching and coming to the comments, I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who thought there were several parts of this video that seemed inaccurate or misleading. Your comment pointed out pretty much everything i was questioning. I'd also like to point out that acknowledging the skill and craftsmanship of this gentleman is wonderful, but you can have a tourbillon movement for hundreds (if not potentially cheaper). You're by no means required to spend hundreds of thousands.
In point 2 you say, that " It is the jewels of the pallet fork striking the teeth of the escape wheel... ", but infact the teeth of the escape wheel strike the pallets of the pallet fork and not the other way around. This is an important distinction to make because the power comes from the escape wheel in this situation.
Also in point 10 you talk about brass-on-sapphire when in fact it is always steel-on-ruby (the stones are ruby in 99% of cases).
Calm down son, it’s just a video.
You can buy a $5 million watch but you can't buy time.😅
Sure you can. Other people’s time.
The life extension researchers are trying to make it possibe to "buy time" by fighting off aging and death.
@@gregorymalchuk272 And Ray Kurzweil is sure to be the first to make it work.
r/Im14AndThisIsDeep
But $5 million watch means your time is good compare to other cheap people 😂
Interesting information but honestly the part I replayed the most was 2:33 - 2:39 those vista shots are incredible.
I favoured 3:26-3:29, it's just incredible how small these parts are.
@@Visionery1 fair enough, the intricacies are incredible particularly the parts that are some by hand are just crazy to me.
Because it looks cool the end
I stare at motherboard resistors the way watch enthusiasts stare at tourbillions.
How have I not seen this great video before now. The whole video was set out so well and with the sales lady's passion and showcasing Remys skills was like icing on the cake. Many thanks for sharing.
Respect for these craftsmen .🎉🎉🎉
Shocked at the price of the watch. !!!
😮😮😮
My grandfather was a watchmaker after his service as a Navy SeaBee during WWII. He worked for the first official Rolex repair shop here in Pensacola FL. He had a shop behind his house where he often worked at home. As a boy I was completely fascinated by all the equipment, parts, machines, and even the smell of the solvents. Sadly, he passed away when I was 10 before I could learn anything from him about his trade. I often wonder if I would have followed him into this work had he lived longer. RIP Pop!
For that price it better predict my future
Oh it totally does. It predicts the buyer will figure out that he overpaid for a mechanical watch, that a cheap digital quartz watch will still actually keep more accurate time for a fraction of the cost. Usually about the time the buyer also realizes he can't risk wearing a high-end watch on the street as it would be a huge payday for any mugger.
It doesn’t but don’t be sad man
It’s an ‘art’ after all 😂😂😂😂😂
i never really liked watches myself, but i've always been extremely fascinated by how things work, and watching something as beautifully crafted and functional as these tourbillon makes me want a watch just to admire as a piece of amazing engineering and art.
So many errors I stopped counting.
"Modern wristwatches primarily sit horizontally." rotfl
They do unless you're standing/walking all day
@@EinfachFredhaftGaming They don't, and that's why tourbillon has become obsolete. Your wrist, arm and hand movement IS the new tourbillon, compensating gravity. Do you walk with a 90° angled arm to keep wrist horizontal ? LOL
A lot of *these* wristwatches, worth thousands, *do* sit horizontally, because a collector just has them sitting in a box for most of their lives...
@@ivolol but then they are not running unless he keeps winding them
@MasterSam85 tourbillons never actually improved the accuracy of pocket watches. The idea was purely hypothetical and, in reality, entirely impractical and useless
I'd love to see Wristwatch Revival work on one of these things...
I get all the expensive materials, the fabulous craftsmanship, the time and dedication required to make such stunning items but I don't think those insane prices are justified. Half a million? Five million? You buy those watches when you don't know what to do with all the money you have.
Yeah, like, if I wanted a mechanical watch thingy, I'd probably go for a cheaper but premium chinese watch...
I mean, it's not like all of China is mass-production stuff, there are some companies that can even rival Japanese qualities (well, historically that's... ironic).
veblen gods.
Any watch over $500 is an excuse to cover up your insecurities by flaunting your wealth.
@@NefariousElasticityThat’s a bit harsh 😂 Many people can do with a nice watch with excess income, like how everyone doesn’t have to ride in a $1,500 1989 Toyota Corona
As long as humans are here, something will take the vanity spot. I would say paintings have even less of a reason to be so valuable as it is genuinely based off the painter’s fame, subjective beauty while costing about $50 max materials wise, and maybe about $1,000~$5,000 in labour.
Im a Filipino watch maker i repaired a tourbillon j&co very satisfying and self fulfilling 😊 im happy and proud to be the one who repaired it.
I love how the narrator pronounces "tourbillon"
The narrator says “tur-BUHB-bee-yon”, which is admittedly wrong (should be “tur-bee-YON”). But at least she doesn't say “tour-BEEL-eee-uhn” as most people do. 😕
Thank you! 🤗
For whatever reason, this beautiful, complicated, fascinating, enchanting, mesmerising device is still made in watches
Compare to a high-end computer chip made in a Taiwan fab. Millions of even tinier features designed and built by thousands of people and priced for the masses. But the moving parts (electrons) are too small for the eye to see and the net cost using mass production is accessible to almost anyone, so it doesn't get the same kind of attention as an expensive piece of art. (I work in that industry on the machines that test them for quality.)
I work in aerospace and turbine engines are literally worth their weight in gold. But most people will never understand what goes into building or maintaining a modern turbine, so it's not going to be seen as "art".
Just like art , some wines , some fancy foods it's expensive because people decide it is, not for some intrinsic value
What astounds me is that you can find quartz watches for less than 10€ that are actually more precise than these watches. It's an extraordinary feat of engineering and technological progress that we could evolve such an important device to be so cheap and accurate
You can also buy a Quartz with accuracy of less than 1s/year like the Citizen 0100 for $17k
you can also travel with a bike instead of a car, they are cheap and offer higher miledge. you can also eat at dinner instead of a hotel.
@@Entertainment-or the A060 movement, accurate to +/- 5 seconds a year, perpetual calendar until February 2100, Zaratsu polished, and solar powered with a power reserve of 18 months all for $2k or less with titanium options running about $3k. I think the circle jerk for mechanical watches is overrated. “Oh but the engineering” as if Citizen didn’t put any engineering into these movements
@@Entertainment-at that price, I'm sure you can find rubidium oscillator GNSS synchronized master clock for better accuracy than the Citizen you mentioned.
@@bltzcstrnx It won’t fit on your wrist tho. But if you do want atomic clock synchronisation, a $100 radio-controlled Casio Wave Scepter will do.
The watches are $50 usd from Temu
This whole video is assuming that people buy expensive watches for performance. And that functionality is what makes watches expensive. Exhibit A: apple watch
Shut up and watch the damn video
Well, in term of functionality to price ratio Apple watches are still a few hundred time better than really expensive mechanical watches, they actually do have a few functionalities and thwy cost less than a car
D-d-did you not watch the video? That's horseshit.
You can tell that Kelly lady is really passionate about what she does!
there is nothing like a mechanical watch, with a tourbillon. i remember looking the one my dad had, and just being amazed by the action of the watch. sure i wouldnt spend half a mill myself on one, but that doesnt make them any less cool.
what watch is it?
😂😂😂😂😂😂 overrated overpriced crap
@@pyruvicsynthase5879 it was something that started with a b, i always thought it was cool as crap. my dad was in the military and did pretty well. but he never told how much that watch was, so i assumed it was expensive.
@@bluenick4577 maybe to you, not to me. it takes real skill to make one, i can appreciate that. i wouldnt payore than 2k for one myself, but those 500k 1mill watches hold, even some cheaper ones do. my down payment on my house actually came from, 1 of two submariner rolexes, my grandfather left me. something as simple as a watch he paid 2k for netted me 24k.
it is not only about the precision and time keeping. It is about the finishing and craftsmanship, which does alto take time, skill, study, concentration and effort... this increases also the price of the watch.
Nothing but toys, though we love them
To some people they are just about having it.
For every "so expensive" video, the reason is always either:
1) it's done manually
2) volume is low, demand is high
Whether the product is actually accurate or does its job well is completely irrelevant.
How did you guys animate the escapement wrong. I mean really, did you not have a person who knows how a watch works look at this?
What would be cool is not having to watch 4 minutes of ads for 12 minutes of content. Enshittification of this platform is real.
misleading title, the mechanism was never obsolete.
A true modern innovation, the Seiko spring drive, which essentially is a perpetual movement, that makes it's own electricity, and is therefore basically as accurate as a quartz watch, is way more complex than a tourbillon. You can get one starting at around $3K, and to me, would be way more impressive to have on my wrist.
The Chinese have now brought this complication to the masses for well under 1k.
High-end watch makers are taking a piss with some of their prices now. The handmade parts are exceptional, but their prices have increased so much in only 3-4 years that it's largely margin.
Yeah, but the finishing on Chinese movements isn't very good. Not to mention the QC sucks and don't even talk about customer service. Not saying these Swiss watchmakers on the high end aren't price gouging but a lot more goes into the manufacturing process. Plus the designs are always original.
@@UnburdenedByWhatHasBeenyou are just another ‘scammed’ customer 😂😂😂😂😂 they shouldn’t cost more than 1k but you know people are willing to pay 10k so why not? 😂😂😂😂😂
@bluenick4577 if the average pay for a watchmaker in Switzerland is CHF 77,000 ($85k a year) and the average pay for a Chinese assembly line worker is $12k a year. The only people getting ripped off are those on the assembly line putting stamped brass movements together with little to no grease. I've never owned a Swiss watch that has taken a shit within a year of ownership. The same can't be said for the handful of Chinese watches I've owned. I owned a "Pagani" fake GMT master and an indice fell off in about a week. I bought a Seagul 1963 and the movement took a shit within a month. You get what you pay for. That much is evident 13 years into this hobby. Watch some watchmaker videos on YT where they disassemble these Chinese clones and you will see where the money is saved.
@bluenick4577 $85k a year on average for a watchmaker in Switzerland. $12k year on average for an assembly line worker putting together stamped brass Swiss clones with little to no grease in Chi-nuh. Who's getting scammed? 😆
@_Napoletano_ idk any, but the lowest price Chinese watches who use plated brass anymore. 316l steel is extremely cheap, and China makes a ton of the world's supply domestically. I'd suggest you compare a Swiss watch with a higher quality Chinese watch. Chinese watches are really good and can easily match the quality of the 5k and under bracket. It's the reason even Rolex, etc are being cloned to such a high degree. These watches even fool industry veterans and even ADs. I've seen an AD get fooled with a patek clone. You have to think, the Swiss aren't doing anything that can't be done by a craftsman in any country.
12:20...that's an incredible level of decoration of any watch I've ever seen
Bro who is this kid his pops had to have some serious cash to support all that kit in that workshop. Good for him tho, its pretty cool. And Remi Cools? What a cool fkn name bro!
i think its important to add that the patek philippe did not sell for 5.8 million because it has a tourbillion, you can get a 3 thousand dollar watch with a tourbillion, it sold for that much mostly cause of its limited existence (Patek Grand Complications are supremely rare and only produced a couple times a year and only offered to Patek's most loyal costumers) and the other part of it is that it is Patek's most complicated watch they have ever made, it has a minute repeater (tells you the time using sound), the tourbillion of course, a perpetual calendar with retrograde date hand, celestial, moon age, hours and minutes of mean solar time, Day, month, leap year by hands. Reverse side: sidereal time, sky chart, phases and orbit of the moon. and of course the IMMENSE amount of craftmanship and dedication it took to produce it. THAT is why someone was willing to pay 5.8 million dollars for it
Whaat watch can you get for 3000 with a tourbillion??
These are the kinds of videos I can just get lost in. Reminds me of the old program on HDNet that showcased watches in what was then among the first of it's kind 1080p programming that was publicly broadcast. The exquisite craftsmanship and artistry in time pieces with modern intricate complications and aesthetics are a wonder to behold.
Everytime the narrator say tourbillon, a revolution is happening in France.
If you have $1000, $1 mean noting to you, same as the billionaire, 1 million mean noting to them.
I'm struggling if I spend a dollar it's way different
That's noted. Thanks.
So if you owe a million to a billonaire he wont do anything?
The watc itself isn't worth buying for me but the mechanics and mechanisms that constitutes the watch is really worth studying researching for me as an engineering student
As an engineering student you should be studying the future not the past 😂😂😂😂
The more this lady talks, the more french she gets
Did you know that the tourbillon was invented by Abraham-Louis Breguet, one of the most influential watchmakers of all time? He also created the first wristwatch, the first perpetual calendar, and the first shock protection device for watches. He was so respected that he was appointed the official watchmaker of the French royal court and Napoleon Bonaparte. Another interesting thing to note is that he was the one who introduced the Breguet overcoil, the slight elevation of the outermost coil of the hairspring that improves the accuracy and stability of the balance wheel.
I think the tourbillon is not only a technical marvel, but also a symbol of the artistry and innovation of watchmaking. It’s a testament to the human spirit and the pursuit of excellence. I admire Remy and Clémence for their dedication and talent, and I hope to see more of their creations in the future. Thank you for this informative and inspiring video!
No one who is buying an expensive watch is doing so for uts accurate timekeeping...
Not at all. Other than a Seiko Spring Drive, a cheap quartz Timex will keep more accurate time. But the cheap Timex isn't art and for some isn't as enjoyable.
It's like hotels. Motel 6 offers a bed, TV, dressers, chair, AC, and a bathroom with a tub/shower, sink, toilet, and might even offer free WiFi and some sort of free breakfast. The Four Seasons also offers most of those things, sans free WiFi and free breakfast and will cost 10x more per night. So why stay at the Four Seasons? the details. and yes, details matter.
@@grayrabbit2211😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 what? You mean atomic time and solar power is not an art? 😂😂😂😂 sounds like you’re still stuck in 1800s
It’s all about the precision and practice. 30 years ago I was this young man…. I applaud you.
Imagine before CNC machining, all that used to be made by hand.
It still is made by hand my friend. The expensive ones are not made with CNC milling.
@@baronhelmut2701The majority of the industry even the Independent side is CNC manufacturing now. There are very few still doing true handmade 👍🏼
To heck with collecting precision watches. Collect the precision CNC machines that make the precision watches.
@@k7jeb Unfortunately the _C_ in C NC stands for Computer, which means perishable. I've repaired quite a few "old" CNC machines which were no longer supported the manufacturer or even 3rd parties. I'm just dumb enough to not be willing to give up on these old relics. Even if they're still running DOS, Win 3.1, etc.
@@grayrabbit2211 As the user of a 14-year-old computer running Windows 7, I heartily agree!
A total marvel of engineering and precision fabrication. Hope this will never be replaced by electronics.
They cost about 1000$ but sell you for 20000$ 😂😂😂😂😂
And plus you know those cheap ‘electronics’ are way more high tech than any 15.000$ mechanical watch 😂 Oh man don’t forget atomic time keeping and solar power 😂😂😂😂😂 they are about 100$ so go look up one
I want the narrator to read me bed time story book where it only could contain the word "Tourbillon"
🙊
Have always loved watches and clocks. The older, smaller ones before all went to batteries are so interesting. I guess the fact that the pieces all work together and are so delicate yet work so well is amazing. I collect older small ones, none are expensive, but love the design differences. Even some old cheap ones are beautiful. Great video. History of watches is cool.
Pure-mechanical watches and clocks are still made by many companies. The watch I wear on a daily basis is a Seiko HRPE77, made in 2023, which I purchased for $250 new. It has a clear back so the movement is clearly visible.
I wasn't financial free until my 40’s and I’m still in my 40’s, bought my third house already, earn on a monthly through passive income, and got 4 out of 5 goals, just hope it encourages someone's that it doesn’t matter if you don’t have any of them right now, you can start TODAY regardless your age INVEST and change your future! Investing in the financial market is a grand choice I made.
wanted to trade, but I got discouraged with the market price fluctuations
Can you recommend a guide for me?
I knew someone would mention Chrissy Barymoer, he is perfect in helping beginners grow. I would not recommend anyone else.
Since my aunty introduced me to Prof Chrissy Barymoer,I can't help but to thank God,I have made so much that I can't mention
Even with my less knowledge on this Bit-coin, I have been blessed with his strategies
Always enjoy your narration.
Thanks so much! 🤗
tfw no French watchmaker gf 😢
It STILL improves the accuracy of a mechanical watch. A simple tourbillion ( circular ) really only helps a pocket watch as they are carried vertically. A 3 axis tourbillion improves the accuracy of a wrist watch, but makes the watch bulky. So, sorry, they STILL work. They just aren’t as accurate as a cellphone or a smart watch that updates its time via Wi-Fi or cellular connection multiple times per day to an atomic clock standard.
But today they are just bragging rights for folks with more money than sense. I really wish the super rich were more interested in doing something more meaningful with their riches than rubbing their friends’ noses in their wealth.
Kelly is always great to listen to
This video is somewhat out-of date. 5-10 years ago all of this would be relevant, however, I own a skeletonised flying tourbillon watch which cost me < £500. The emergence of such high quality and intricate pieces from China has already started to depress the cost of tourbillons in the luxury markets...
Because rich people have been arbitrarily convinced that they should want a watch with such a mechanism? That's the literal only reason. No matter how artisanal it is, if rich people haven't been duped into wanting it, it wouldn't be worth that much
$457,000 watch being heat treated with a .99 BIC lighter, I love it
Just because it's "obsolete" doesn't mean it's meaningless. The very creation of the tourbillon requires precise skills, and knowledge on how to build one, balance and correctly wind it. It's craftsmanship, it's art. And art can never be obsolete.
EDIT for typo.
obsolete, not "obsolet"
Technically quarts watches have make any new analogue watches obsolete the entire industry quite literally is hanging onky by arts,craftsmanship and other non practical factors
@@robertposteschild2353Thanks! Guess I mixed up german with english again 😅
@@1989NihilI see many people say that art are mostly used for money laundering.
@@bltzcstrnxMay that be, but that's not the fault of Art per se. Being used for money laundering does not take away from the skills the artist had to painstakingly aquire throughout their lives to create a master piece. It's the fault of people who do not appreciate a piece of art for its own sake, but rather for its moneytary value.
This is impressive man. I don't get impressed easily but this made me.
This is not obsolete, as it can work non stop for decades. "Obsolete" is a definition that fits smart watches better, since they need to be replaced every few years, wether because of software, or because of a dead and irreplaceable battery.
Great narration.
Thank you! 🤗
12:32 Did you catch this? WTF is this?
A Chinese knock-off. I noticed it, too. The finishing is horrible!
There’s more artists who do much more precisely or precision works but it’s more about branding and marketing.
They be expensive just because they CAN be and it's a bragging right.
They're expensive because it's miniature mechanical art that's incredibly expensive to make.
Now i get why Hip Hop heads go crazy for this watch
"Every time you pick a time piece, no matter what the price is, you're looking at a piece of art."
We all know exactly why some art is expensive. Bloated valuation way above its intrinsic value plus a connection to something which might or might not be related to money laundering. 10:53
Thank you Business Insider for such an incredible video
Calling the turbillion obsolete is like saying a magnetic compass or a wood burning fire place are obsolete.
Or a perfectly painted portrait in oil paints, in an era of iPhone cameras and photoshop.
Not really. A fireplace can still warm you up. A magnetic compass can still show you the way. The tourbillon, however, makes no practical difference for you when put in a wristwatch.
Try to understand what obsolete actually meant its obsolete cause other methods have been developed or makes this mechanism unnecessary to achieve the same outcome
A tourbillion is specifically designed to compensate gravity in a pocket watch that'll always sit in the same position. It's fully obsolete in a wristwatch.
That's kind of the charm of it, but it's definitely obsolete.
It’s actually brilliant ingenuity, extreme skill,craftsmanship, and availability to many people who truly appreciate how complex these ( mechanical engines) that fit onto your wrist can tell time with extremely precise accuracy using spring tension as a power source.
Sounds like you’re still stuck in 1800s 😂😂😂😂😂😂 grow out of it man
You’re amazed by a ‘spring’ we have satellites now man wake up 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Ursula is selling watches now
Lol. I thought that too!
The pronunciation of "tourbillon"=10/10
TBH every 15$ Casio is more accurate than these watches, the people buying them are not caring about accuracy.
As far as I know, there is nothing like this in the U.S. I wish we had some of these technical schools.
This is the avacado toast of the boomer.
A fool and his money are soon parted.
Reminds me of the problem early communication satellites had when rewinding magnetic tapes, the rewinding motor caused a reverse spin of the satellite.
I wish those fancy watch wearers valued the work of the world's laborers more.
Can’t beat gold polished Roman numerals that sparkle like jewels in the sunlight. Loving the sun ray dial man that pops! AMZWATCH watches. What a beautiful subtle piece.
my two cents: he just made this presentation to make it look like it's handcrafted, but then all is made by machine with no need to intervention
The narrator is giving big croissant energy
My G-Shock is more valuable 💪
Try harder, kid
The Wenger on my wrist right now that my dad gave to me is priceless.