Watch of the Week: Blancpain L-Evolution Tourbillon Carrousel

Starting a new series on Haute Time in which we will highlight each week a watch from the current collection of a great brand. So what better way to call this series then “Watch of the Week”? First up is the Blancpain L-Evolution Tourbillon Carrousel, a watch this is unique in multiple ways.

While having two, or even more, timekeeping regulators in a single watch is not that unusual anymore, this Blancpain L-Evolution unites two different types of regulators in a single watch: the tourbillon and the more exotic carrousel. The aim of both is the same: to eliminate the influence that gravity has on the movement. The tourbillon, visible between ten and twelve o’clock, achieves this by putting the escapement and the balance wheel in a rotating cage. The carrousel, visible between four and six o’clock, is slightly different with the balance wheel doing its work in a cage, which not rotates on the seconds wheel, as a tourbillon, but rather has its own gear for this.

Each of the timekeeping regulators has a mainspring barrel of its own, yet thanks to the ingenuity of Blancpain’s watchmakers, both can be wound simultaneously, and contribute to the watch generous power reserve of 168 hours. Blancpain also fitted the L-Evolution a differential that can average the running rate of both the tourbillon, as well as the carrousel, while a second differential combines the power reserve of both barrels and displays this on the back of the watch.

While unique by itself, what makes this watch even more special is that Blancpain used these complications it in, what is basically a sports watch. Luminova filled numerals, a very technical looking dial, and although the case is made from platinum, it makes quite a bold statement. Also, the matt, structured finish of the bridges, gives a clear signal that this watch is not meant to be a safe-queen. While Blancpain fits the L-Evolution Tourbillon Carrousel with an alligator strap, it doesn’t take much imagination to see that a strap made from a high-tech fiber would look very much at home as well on this unique watch.

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