EXCLUSIVELY
TOURBILLON
Every Bianchet timepiece is built around a single mechanical principle: the tourbillon. Making it the foundation of our entire collection​. Each movement is developed and produced in-house, allowing full control over the architecture, performance, and finishing.
The Origin of the Tourbillon
At the end of the eighteenth century, mechanical watches were worn almost exclusively in a vertical position, kept close to the body in a waistcoat pocket. In this orientation, gravity acted continuously on the balance wheel and escapement, introducing small but persistent rate variations that even the most accomplished watchmakers of the era could not overcome.
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In 1801, Abraham-Louis Breguet patented his answer to this problem. His invention placed the balance wheel, escapement, and their supporting components inside a rotating carriage that turned continuously on its own axis, averaging out the effects of gravity over time and bringing a new level of consistency to the rate of the watch.
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The construction demanded an entirely different order of manufacturing precision. The rotating cage had to be perfectly poised, and every component within it assembled with a level of accuracy that left no margin for error. A tourbillon even fractionally out of balance would perform worse than the problem it was designed to solve. For this reason, they were produced in very limited numbers and reserved for the most prestigious commissions.
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Over the centuries that followed, the tourbillon grew from a technical response into one of the most revered constructions in haute horlogerie. Today it represents something that transcends its original purpose, uniting precision, architectural beauty, and continuous motion at the very heart of the movement.
In-House Tourbillon Manufacture
Every Bianchet movement is developed entirely from the ground up. Rather than adapting an existing calibre, each one is conceived as a complete construction, with the mainplate, bridges, gear train, escapement, balance wheel, and tourbillon carriage all designed in relation to one another from the outset.
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Production takes place within the atelier, across a process that combines precision machining with sustained hand craftsmanship. The components are first machined on CNC equipment, emerging as raw titanium parts held to exacting tolerances. From there, they pass to the hand bevellers, who apply the cerclage decoration and finish every surface by hand before a single part reaches the assembly bench.
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Titanium is among the most demanding materials to work with at this scale, less forgiving and more resistant than the alloys more commonly found in fine watchmaking. At Bianchet, it was chosen precisely for those qualities. The performance it delivers justifies every additional hour it demands.
Quality Control
Every component that arrives at the atelier is inspected before it enters the process. Parts that do not meet Bianchet's specifications are returned to the supplier without exception. Once the movement is assembled, it undergoes a full battery of mechanical testing. The automatic rotor is tested over 12 hours of continuous winding, and the barrel is verified across its full 60-hour power reserve.
Rate accuracy is measured in six positions across three dimensions, with every movement held to a standard of plus or minus 4 seconds per day. The completed watch then undergoes a final quality assessment in which every surface, every finish, and every mechanical function is evaluated. Any imperfection means the piece goes back. No watch leaves the atelier until it is considered complete in every respect.
A Singular Commitment
Dedicating an entire manufacture to a single complication creates a very different kind of watchmaking. At Bianchet, every calibre grows from the same mechanical foundation, with the bridges, gear train, and tourbillon carriage refined from one generation to the next. Each new movement builds on the experience of previous ones, gradually strengthening performance, reliability, and visual clarity.
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Over time, this focused approach produces a coherent family of movements linked by shared proportions, structural solutions, and a consistent architectural language. The tourbillon sits at the centre of every calibre Bianchet conceives, the reference point from which every decision is measured and every proportion is drawn.
This singular direction gives Bianchet a clear mechanical identity. Every timepiece reflects the same commitment, and that commitment is visible in everything.
Flying Tourbillon
IN-HOUSE
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Bianchet tourbillon movements embody the Maison’s quest for technical excellence and artistic precision. Using noble materials, every caliber is finished by hand and engineered to withstand extreme conditions.
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Born to defy gravity, the tourbillon mechanism invented by Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1795 is considered the most prestigious Haute Horlogerie complication.
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The flying tourbillon rotates without any visible bridge, as if suspended in the air. mirroring humanity’s ongoing quest to transcend limitations and achieve new heights.
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This complex mechanism requires a high level of expertise and precision to develop and remains a symbol of horological excellence to this day.
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ARCHITECTURE
TITANIUM
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Crafted entirely from Grade 5 Titanium, including the bridges of the tourbillon cage, the architecture of Bianchet tourbillon movements forms a durable, resilient, and non-magnetic structure.
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Every caliber is elegantly decorated, finished by hand, and assembled in Bianchet's atelier in Switzerland.
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