Cabestan Winch Tourbillon Vertical Watch & Upcoming New Release

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed)
Jan 26th 2010 at 6:01PM

Last week I had some one on one time with every one's favorite winch wound tourbillon watch, the Cabestan. The mechanics of the Cabestan Winch Tourbillon Vertical watch are as impressive as its finishing. In Cabestan's employ is a truly remarkable watch maker who ensure that the entire system looks and works beautifully. Plus, the Cabestan was designed by the heralded watch designer Jean-Francois Ruchonnet.

The most recent Cabestan Winch Tourbillon Vertical watch has some differences from the original that came out a few years ago. Notable is the removal of the winch. Instead, to stream line the look and feel of the watch, the winch is including as a separate part - and is very complex and interesting in its own right. You attach the winch device to the watch to wind it. One of the most notable things about the Cabestan is just how small it is. Not that it is little, but you'd imagine it was massive in size when it is actually very wearable. This is also a testament to the ingenuity of the watch maker. And of course the watch is very cool.

Looking inside the watch you have two sapphire crystals through which you can see the vertically mounted tourbillon (lower right hand corner) that doubles as the seconds indicator, the hours and minutes, and a power reserve indicator on the mainspring barrel. As a means of power transfer, the watch relies on a fusee and chain complication that uses a tiny hand-make chain. The watch is truly a remarkable horological machine.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Cabestan Nostromo watch

Next for Cabestan is a new watch called the Nostromo. I sat down with Cabestan CEO Timothy Bovard who told me all about it. The name is taken from the ship in the original Alien movie. Similar in theme to the Winch Tourbillon Vertical watch, the Nostromo will actually be lower priced. Around 150,000 Swiss France as opposed to about 325,000 Swiss Francs for the original watch. The Nostromo will use one large sapphire crystal. It retains all the same functions but offers a new interpretation of the theme (see the design mock-up image below). Instead of a fusee and chain, it has a unique drive-shaft system that transfers power from the mainspring to the movement. Instead of a winch for winding, it will have a pop-out crown that goes back into the case when not being used. The sides of the case have sapphire crystals on them which will provide a view into the movement. Being sci-fi inspired, the watch "transforms" at night. The movement (as well as on the strap) has select areas that are coated with SuperLumiNova, allowing the watch to glow like a space-age visitor at night. I look forward to seeing the Nostromo soon.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: Cabestan, Nostromo, tourbillon, vertical, watch, Winch