Articles
How a Tourbillon Is Made
Follow the work behind a tourbillon, from movement design and hand assembly to adjustment, quality checks and the support that matters after purchase.
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A tourbillon begins before a watchmaker places the first part on the bench. It starts with a design that must reconcile the movement’s dimensions, energy supply, indications and regulating mechanism. A beautiful rotating carriage still has to function as part of a complete watch.
Designing the movement
The layout determines how power travels from the mainspring through the train and escapement, and how the tourbillon will be supported and displayed. The case, dial and hands must leave room for the mechanism to operate. Adding a function or changing the construction can create further design and testing work.
Making and finishing the components
Precision machinery makes it possible to produce small parts consistently. Skilled finishing and inspection prepare them for assembly, while decoration gives chosen surfaces their character. Hand-built watchmaking combines those activities: it does not require every component to have been cut with a hand tool.
The factory photograph illustrates the equipment side of the process. Precision machinery and hand assembly serve different roles: consistent components still need to be checked, fitted and adjusted as a working movement.
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Assembly and adjustment
Under magnification, a watchmaker fits and checks the components. A tourbillon carriage brings moving parts into a particularly confined space, so alignment, freedom of movement and appropriate lubrication matter. Assembly is followed by adjustment; an apparently complete mechanism must still be assessed in operation.
The dial and hands are fitted, and the movement is cased. At every stage, the work has to preserve clearance and functionality. A striking dial should not obstruct the mechanism it was designed to reveal.
Quality control is a process
Dimensional, functional and visual checks answer different questions. Timing tests assess how the movement performs, while water-resistance testing addresses the assembled case’s protection. The relevant checks and acceptance criteria belong to the manufacturer and model; a decorative finish or visible tourbillon is not itself a test certificate.
The close inspection shown here is one stage in a longer sequence. Function, appearance and running performance answer different questions, so quality control needs defined checks for the model rather than a single visual judgement.
The work should also allow problems to be investigated. When a fault appears, access to the movement’s drawings, production knowledge and qualified technicians helps a service team identify the cause and assess a suitable repair. A workshop’s value is therefore connected to what happens after the watch is sold.
Why manufacturing support matters over time
A watch intended to become a keepsake needs a realistic route to maintenance. Before buying, ask where servicing takes place, how estimates are approved and what happens if a component is no longer available. Keeping the reference, purchase documents and service history helps preserve both the object and its story.
At Memorigin
Hong Kong tourbillon brand Memorigin has its own movement development and manufacturing capability. Its watches are assembled by hand and quality-checked at the Memorigin Hong Kong R&D Centre, connecting design and production knowledge with the technicians responsible for inspection and repair.
That connection is part of the brand’s commitment to a continuing relationship with an owner. Its published service process includes examination, an estimate where applicable and testing after repair. Manufacturing defects are addressed under the applicable warranty terms. Caring for a watch over the years is a shared undertaking, supported by skilled people and clear service arrangements, rather than a one-time transaction.
