What is "tourbillon"

n. A rotating frame, containing the escapement of a clock or watch, that attempts to compensate for the effects of gravity.

In horology, a tourbillon (; "whirlwind") is an addition to the mechanics of a watch escapement. Developed around 1795 and patented by the French-Swiss watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet on June 26, 1801, a tourbillon aims to counter the effects of gravity by mounting the escapement and balance wheel in a rotating cage, to negate the effect of gravity when the timepiece (thus the escapement) is stuck in a certain position. By continuously rotating the entire balance wheel/escapement assembly at a slow rate (typically about one revolution per minute), positional errors are averaged out.

Originally an attempt to improve accuracy, tourbillons are still included in some expensive modern watches as a novelty and demonstration of watchmaking virtuosity. The mechanism is usually exposed on the watch's face to show it off.

Tourbillon is the French for whirlwind, it may refer to:

• Château de Tourbillon, a castle in Sion, Switzerland
• Tourbillon, a type of mechanical clock or watch escapement
• Tourbillon (band), a Japanese band
• Tourbillon (brand), a chain of shops owned by the Swatch Group
• Tourbillon (horse), French champion racehorse sire

Tourbillon are shops owned by The Swatch Group. Mainly based in Switzerland, they sell high range manufactured watches and jewellery. They officially represent Breguet, Blancpain, Jaquet Droz, Glashütte Original, Leon Hatot, Omega and Swatch.

is a Japanese musical project formed in 2005 by Luna Sea members Ryuichi Kawamura (vocals) and Inoran (guitar), and D-Loop member Hiroaki "H. Hayama" Hayama (keyboards).

They reached the number three position on the Oricon Singles Weekly Ranking Chart with " Break the Chain", the opening theme of the TV tokusatsu series Kamen Rider Kiva. The group ended activities in 2008 shortly after its release.

Tourbillon reunited for a 10th anniversary concert at the Tokyo International Forum on November 27, 2015 and three performances at different Zepp venues throughout December. The compilation album The Decade - 10th Anniversary Best was released on November 25, 2015 and includes three new songs. One of these new songs, "Colorless Images", was released as a single on February 24, 2016 and used as the theme song of Kamen Rider: Battride War Genesis.

Tourbillon (1928–1954) was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and Champion sire.