One is good. Two is better. If we think along these lines, soon we will reach four but for more on that, check out a little horological humour on that subject in the cover story. That digression aside, once you get to four tourbillons you find yourself in the company of the Harry Winston Histoire de Tourbillon 10. This very special timepiece elicited a collective gasp when it was revealed to journalists during Swatch Group’s Time to Move press event. And when the room is silent, you can almost hear the (relatively) gigantic movement’s drumming hum.

This rectangular watch marks the 10^th anniversary of the whirlwind collection. It makes history by being the first Harry Winston watch to employ four tourbillons. Arranged in symmetrical order, each individual tourbillon completes one rotation in 36 seconds, not 60 seconds as per the norm, and also counter-clockwise. Three differentials connect them together. The first connects the two on the left, the second connects those on the right, and the third averages time information from the two and delivers it to the hands. In total, the movement brings together 673 components to make all this magic happen.

That’s the how of the Histoire de Tourbillon 10. As for the why of it, we’ll go out on a limb and say probably for the challenge. There’s a lot we look forward to learning about the watch, especially with regards to that mind-boggling counterclockwise spin; a regular tourbillon spins clockwise, and by virtue of completing a circuit in 60 seconds, can sometimes indicate running seconds. No reason has been offered for this curiosity at the moment. Instead, a lot of information is offered about the dial, which is quite nice to look at. That’s not useful here of course as you only have pictures to look at.

Histoire de Tourbillon 10 has a massive case that measures 53.3mm wide x 39.1mm tall, and is made of either white gold (10 pieces), rose gold (10 pieces) or Winstonium (piece unique). The latter is easily distinguished by having two tourbillon bridges in blue, and we understand it to be a platinum alloy of some kind. The power reserve for this hand-winding watch is 55 hours, which is rather impressive given the energy demands of all those tourbillons.

Harry Winston Histoire de Tourbillon 10 Price and Specs

Movement Manual-winding calibre HW4702 with four tourbillons, and power reserve indicator; 55-hour power reserve

Case 53.3mmx39.1mm in white gold, rose gold or Winstonium; water-resistant to 30m

Strap Black alligator

Price N.A.