Franck Muller Tourbillon Lady: The World's Smallest Tourbillon

With the introduction of the Tourbillon Lady in its Cintree Curvex collection, famed Swiss watch brand Franck Muller can add to its list of accomplishments the creation of the smallest tourbillon escapement in existence.

The Franck Muller Tourbillon Lady watch showcases a manually wound movement comprised of 172 hand-finished components.  Notable for its dual spring barrels which give it an 80-hour power reserve, the movement's star complication is a one-minute tourbillon whose circumference measures a scant 11.60mm.  Tourbillon escapements are notorious for their intricacy, and such a small execution only adds to the difficultly placed upon the watchmaker.  Of course, such challenges are relished by the house of Franck Muller, which has made a name for itself as a specialist in the most exclusive haute horlogerie executions.  Balance wheel frequency is 18,000 alternations per hour.   

Despite the impressive technique embodied in the mechanical movement, the Franck Muller Tourbillon Lady is an extremely appealing watch, whose design is charming and extremely feminine.  Presented in 18K white gold, the elegant tonneau-shaped timepiece features a white-lacquered dial with a guilloche pattern and luscious red hands and stylized Arabic numerals.  The tourbillon carriage bears a whimsically-shaped heart, which completes a revolution each minute and serves as a small seconds indicator.  

The Franck Muller Tourbillon Lady watch is completed by a red strap in hand-sewn alligator and a white gold tang buckle.   Sapphire crystals are fitted to both sides of the timepiece.