Chinese Tourbillons?

[Burkhard Rasch]

Hi Friends,I don´t usualy post in the wrist watch forum because my focus lies in clocks,but:I intend to buy a Tourbillon watch just because I want to have one example of that rare feature.As I´m the head of a family to feed I cannot afford a high quality swiss "original" for more than 20.000€ but I´ve decided to have a wristwatch Tourbillon from the far east.I know that I cannot expect either exellent results of accuracy nor durability,but besides that:I´ve leaned that there are at least 3 different calibers of these.They can be recognized by their different backplates often seen through the glazed back.Does anybody of You have personal experiance with one type or the other,either owning one or having repaired one?Is there one better than the other?Can a recommendation be given or is one as good(or bad)as the other.Anny comments wellcome,TIA
Burkhard

[Burkhard Rasch]

Come on friends,don´t tell me nobody of You surendered to the attraction of a Tourbillon for-let´s say 500 bucks?Realy nobody?
Burkhard

[doug sinclair]

Apparently the British Horology Institute recently offered one of these to its members for an attractive price ($ 650.00 Cdn.). A friend of mine bought one. He quite likes it. Speaking personally, I would no sooner buy one of these than I would any replica watch! And considering the number of failed replica watches that come my way for servicing (which I turn down, by the way), chances are that just might be $ 650.00 wasted! That's my read. Now, Burkhard has asked for opinions from those who have actually BOUGHT one! Anybody?

[Burkhard Rasch]

Thanks,Doug!I´ve gathered info in the mean time from various sources:The former president of the DGC has three of them and is quiet content.A verry experianced watchmaker had the idea that the chinese use verry soft steel for shafts and pinions,so increasing the number of pinions out of a CNC-machine per hour and saving the cutting tools.He also said they wouldn´t harden/temper them,saving production cost that way.Therefor the low price.What do You think of that?Anyone worked on chinese low price wristwatches?
Burkhard

[s. smith]

I don,t own one of these but my advice is stay away from them,,I would instead but a swiss made one..

[mflynn]

I don't know the first thing about Chinese Tourbillons, but I have seen a fair number of "tourbillon" watches on ebay that aren't really tourbillons. They have a little spinning wheel visible on the face that is supposed to look like one, while the escapement is hidden from view. Just make sure you don't accidentally buy one of those. The people who sell them don't usually make the distinction.


By the way Doug, I'm glad to hear that you don't service knock offs. I'm always surprised when I hear someone on this fourm discuss fixing fake Rolexes. It's good to see someone with your ethics and integrity here.

[R.G.B.]

I've seen the Seagull movement models go in the $200 dollar range on occasion. I've been tempted but always decide against at the last moment.

[watch_art]

there's more good info about chinese tourbys out there than you can even imagine. and they're pretty good quality from what i understand. not that i could afford one, or want one even if i had the money...

http://www.usseagull.com/tourbillon.htm

http://www.perpetual-watch.com/tourbillon.html

http://www.perpetual-watch.com/Tourbillon2.html

[Burkhard Rasch]

great links,watch art,thanks again!
The automatic looks realy good,perhaps I should give way to that temptation...
Burkhard

[watch_art]

you can get some seagull movements in some alpha watches, too. sometimes miyota, sometimes chinese made movements (which are pretty nice in their own right).
they're 'homages' of course, but still pretty nice and pretty affordable.

http://alphawatchusa.com/

have fun!