The tourbillon regulator : Defying the forces of Nature — RICHARD MILLE

Originally developed for pocket watches, the tourbillon complication was designed to counteract the effects of gravity, as these timepieces were positioned upright in a pocket. The tourbillon is a specialised type of escapement – a mechanism responsible for regulating the release of energy from the watch's mainspring. The escapement, which regulates timekeeping, consists of a hairspring, a balance wheel, and a pallet fork. In a tourbillon regulator, these components are mounted in a rotating cage that completes a full revolution every 60 seconds to counteract the effects of gravity.