Jacob & Co, Bugatti's luxury watch partner, has released a Tourbillon wristwatch to celebrate the launch of the new car also called the Bugatti Tourbillon. This means we have a weird situation where the Bugatti Tourbillon is named after the Bugatti Tourbillon. Which is named after the tourbillon in the Bugatti Tourbillon.
It's a luxury watch and a supercar that have the same name. We'll talk about the car first, of course. The Tourbillon is the latest generation of the hyper car that may draw its lineage from the legendary 2005 Veyron. The fastest production car in the world at its inception. Compared to the Veyron or Chiron, the Tourbillon is sharper and more angular. With a central fin extending from the grille to the tail lights.
It's a menacing monster with a new, naturally aspirated V16 engine producing 1,000 horsepower. In addition, 3 electric motors provide an additional 800 horsepower, making it the most powerful Bugatti in history. Along with hybrid driving capabilities. All of these can take the car to 445 km/h (about 277 mph).
Of greater importance for watch enthusiasts is the fact that the instrument panel is analogue. It is made by Swiss watchmakers with over 600 components. It looks fantastic in motion - unless you blink and miss it.
Speaking of things that look fantastic in motion, let's shift our attention from the Bugatti Tourbillon to the Bugatti Tourbillon. In the Jacob & Co. It's a very different genre compared to previous collaborations like the Chiron. It has a kite-like shape and measures 52mm x 44mm x 15mm in black titanium PVD. Across the top of the watch there are three individual dials. On the left is the namesake tourbillon, in the centre is a retrograde hours and minutes indication and on the right is a retrograde power reserve movement and automatic power reserve indication.
The automation power reserve refers to the mechanism that occupies most of the surface of the watch, an automation that works with the V16 engine block and is made of transparent sapphire crystal.
When activated, the thin crankshaft rotates and the 16 cylinders fire, mimicking the real car engine. No detail has been missed and even includes multiple exhausts.
As for the specifications of the mechanism, it is the JCAM55 with manual winding and a 48-hour power reserve. It is visible through the exhibition cover, which is skeletonized in a way that resembles the rear window of a car. The automatic power reserve lasts for 20 activations, with each activation lasting 20 seconds - meaning the car can go from 0-200km/h or so before running out of power, as it has a 0-248km/h time of 25 seconds.
All that remains is price and availability and the Jacob & Co. Bugatti Tourbillon is limited to 150 pieces and is priced at $340,000 (about £269,000). Interestingly, J&C. has stated that the total production of the model will never exceed 250, as that is the number of cars Bugatti aims to build, meaning there are 100 watches left uncounted. So expect this model in other colors and materials in the future. In case you're wondering, the car itself costs £3.2 million.
Source: oracleoftime.com
