The new watches unveiled at Baselworld have gotten everyone's attention. There are watches already in the collection that are equally deserving of attention, like this 8-days tourbillon in platinum, which just arrived at an authorised dealer yesterday.





This is the first time I handled this particular model in platinum, previously I had only seen it in rose gold and white gold. The heft and sheen of the platinum is incredible, and the perfectly finished tourbillon and its three-pronged seconds hand stand out because of the monochromatic colour of the rest of the watch.



Like the other complication Daniel Roth watches, the 8-days tourbillon uses a fired enamel dial. Such dials are devilishly difficult to produce, involving skill as well as a painfully high rejection rate of up to 50-60% in some cases. The 8 Day Tourbillon dial comprises of two pieces of enamel; pieces of the dial must fit perfectly, not to mention have perfect consistency of texture and colour.



The 8-day tourbillon is housed in a flip case, so the watch can be opened for viewing of the date and power reserve functions on the case back.

The carriage that holds the case can be customised according to a client's specifications, with either an engraving or a miniature enamel portrait. Click here for an example of an enamelled carriage. The standard carriage without any customisation is as shown below.



But of course the highlight of the watch is the tourbillon. In most tourbillon watches the tourbillon escapement sits in an aperture in the dial, in contrast the tourbillon escapement in this 8-day toubillon sits in its own little space, supported by a perfectly finished steel bridge, giving the wearer a clear, unobstructed view of the 'whirlwind'.

Two parting shots...





  - SJX