"In the flesh." GO novelties '06, pt. 6: Regulator Tourbillon

This piece certainly was the highlight of this year's series of GO novelties. there is barely anything to add to the press release published in out News Central, other than that it is breathtaking in reality.

This watch is extremely difficult to capture appropriately in pictures. Especially the black-in-black stripe pattern, that is such an important design feature on the dial, is barely visible in the pics. As Dr. M?ller informed us, the series production watches will have this pattern standing out more prominently, to enhance the three dimensional appearance of the dial.

Observers of GO product lines immediately noted that the tourbillon is not a flying one, but held by two bridges, like a conventional tourbillon. Some even expressed a certain disconcertement that Glash?tte Original is using a "cheaper" construction now, after firmly pursueing the tradition of flying tourbillons.

Back 100 years ago, producing a flying tourbillon might indeed have been a step above a conventionally bridged tourbillon, due to the difficulties to secure the construction against shocks. However, I firmly believe that nowadays, as a result of modern construction technologies, this difference has vanished. Appropriately made, finished and regulated, certainly both constructions are equally expensive. Therefore, I think the reason why GO chose this new tourbillon to be under a bridge is purely aesthetical: The curved bridge perfectly mirrors the arc of the retrograde jumping hour, and in my opinion, a flying tourbillon in this case would not look nearly as good as the bridged one does.

With best regards,
Marcus