- Flying tourbillon
The flying tourbillon is a variation of the
tourbillon pioneered byAbraham-Louis Breguet . Rather than being supported by a bridge, or cock, at both the top and bottom, it is cantilevered, being only supported from one side. The first flyingtourbillon was designed by Alfred Helwig, instructor at the German School of Watchmaking, in 1920 [http://www.glashuette-original.com/meisterschaft/unvergaenglich/alfred_helwig/uhrmacher_helwig/] .In 1993, Kiu Tai-Yu, a Chinese watchmaker who resides in Hong Kong created a semi-flying
tourbillon with only an abbreviated carriage for theescapement wheel andpallet fork , the upper pivot of thebalance wheel being supported in a sapphire bridge. Some mistakenly believe this to be the world's firsttourbillon watch with neither bridge nor carriage.External links
* [http://www.glashuette-original.com/meisterschaft/unvergaenglich/alfred_helwig/uhrmacher_helwig/ Article on Alfred Helwig by the modern Glashutte-Original company]
* [http://www.tp178.com/jd/uber-comp/artikel_4_4.html Article on the world's most complicated wristwatch, centering on the flying tourbillon]
* [http://kultuhr.net/store/information.php?info_id=5 External Article about new, 'affordable' Flying Tourbillons on the market]
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