orage started accepting pre-orders for its Tourbillon 1 on March 1st of 2020. For this the brand was working with movement manufacturer La Joux-Perret in La Chaux-de-Fonds and a handful of prototypes were finished for photographing and customer events. This partnership unfortunately fell through. Eventually, in the middle of a global pandemic, Horage designed and produced its very own tourbillon movement in just 8 months.

The pre-orders for this first Tourbillon 1 series will officially close on September 1st. Horage still has the first 5 prototypes from La Joux-Perret and wondered what to do with them. After all, they’re still good movements – Swiss tourbillons in fact... so the brand decided to case three of them up and make a few watch enthusiasts very happy.

Rather than sell these unique timepieces at Tourbillon 1 prices to help recoup the cost of the movements, Horage decided to use this opportunity to give back. The brand is now accepting donations of $1 or more and donators will be entered in a chance to win 1 of 3 prototype tourbillons. All proceeds will be used to help out the next generation of watchmakers with tuition.

The Tourbillon 1 had already broken the Swiss price barrier with a price of 7,490 CHF, the lowest for an in-house Swiss tourbillon. “Now it’s time to do it again with the Tourbillon $1”, states the brand. Headquartered in Biel/Bienne, the company originated in 2007 when husband and wife founders Andreas Felsl and Tzuyu Huang began discussing a new watch brand.

Prototype specifications include 21 jewels, 4 Hz (28,800 vph) and a 70-hour power reserve. The flying tourbillon with silicon escapement sits in a large 14mm aperture at 6 o’clock, while the mainspring is clearly visible at the top and doubles as an approximate power reserve indicator. The case is 41mm in diameter and 11.8 mm in height, and is machined from 904L stainless steel in lieu of the more common 316L. This is more corrosion resistant and provides a superior sheen when polished.

There are sapphire crystals front and back, and the brand’s specially designed dial grids are displayed on both sides (integrated with the movement itself). These grids have open and closed “windows” that either reveal the skeletonized movement or are closed and recessed with a bead-blasted finish. All edges are beveled at a 30-degree angle and polished. The grid design was inspired by the Horage logo.

The design of the first watch began in 2008 and was presented at Baselworld 2009. Since then, three movements have been produced and include a micro-rotor and tourbillon. Sourcing, logistics, design, engineering, assembly and marketing take place at the Biel/Bienne facilities with external support from remote team members the world over.

Visit Horage’s dedicated website to learn more on this initiative

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Dimensions: 41 mm diameter and 11.8 mm height (lug-to-lug 47.8 mm)
• Material: 904L stainless steel case, sapphire crystals front and back with anti-reflective coatings
• Crown: Signed with unique knurling, doesn’t screw down
• Water resistance: 100 metres
• Movement: La Joux-Perret flying tourbillon
• Jewels: 21
• Frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 vph)
• Power reserve: 70 hours
• Escapement: Silicon escape wheel and anchor
• Mainspring: Single barrel, manual winding
• Features: Central hours and minutes, flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock
• Strap: To be chosen by the winners