Is A $250 Tourbillon Worth Buying And How Does It Differ To A Carrousel?

[@johnro6659]

NICE vid, I have yet to buy a Tourbillon. When I first started collecting watches back in the 70s a Tourbillon was just unaffordable. In recent years I have seen them come down to very affordable price points but yet to buy one. I would wear either one in your video. I will have to do some searching for one to add to my collection, I know a few people who own watches with Chinese made Tourbillon movements and they are all very pleased with their watches and I consider them watch snobs who always push Swiss made watches.

[@Izou96]

Okay after some digging i found the movement maker, it is basically a heavily modded 8215, if u search hard enough in google, u can find the company name is shenzen zhikeda technology, some named it sanyin w20, in the catalog they could even mod nh35, 9015 and 8215 to a 6 o'clock moonphase or a separated 2 digit date with a 24 hour dial for nh35, its crazy what the china watchmaker could do

[@rebel5775]

Can you explain in more simple terms please

[@iamtheshaker]

Thanks for the clarification Gary. I read up on it a few months ago and came to the same conclusion about the Chinese movements (that they are indeed tourbillons and not carrousels). I think the confusion stems from ignorant people trying to dismiss these movements

[@SidBonkers51]

People or should that be snobs who say "oh Chinese is it, it'll only last ****'s" make me laugh, they just cant grasp that almost everything in there home, car and life is now made in the far east or made from components that were made in the far east. Yes some Chinese watches are cheap fashion watches that aren't great but the Chinese are also capable of making some great watches too and at very affordable prices too. I know these same people will think I'm mad but likewise I think they are made for spending £4K on say a Tudor watch that will lose more than the cost of one of these Aesops as soon as you leave the showroom. Tell me I'm mad or wrong, you choose?

[@statlerwaldorf7130]

I bought the GIV hand wind one and it's been excellent, no issues at all with it and people just love looking at it!

[@TomasWatchReviews]

that one with stars looks incredible..

[@mahboobahmad9743]

Hi Gary, fab video as usual. Really liking these tourbillion movements, however, not to keen on the dials. Please buy that grey one so we can all get a good look at it as it a good potential purchase.

[@AlexanderB.]

Excellent stuff! I really enjoyed watching the macro footage and listening to your explanation Gary! I'm digging the aventurine dial watch but that recent watch is rather weird. Edit: I believe I did spot newer versions of this sparkly dial watch with centered pinion in the middle of the dial. What keeps me from buying it is the fact that it's rather large at 42.5 mm.

[@mrmagoo.3678]

ahhh.. glad you did the difference between these, been wondering what it was... Thanks Gary.

[@VIPAVEL]

Great video interesting watch! Will you make an update for them?

[@allyw7405]

Personally, it’s as exciting as a roundabout. +7s, crown came out after 2/3 weeks ownership, seller accepted return. Black case scratches easy, recommend silver option.

[@mrmagoo.3678]

really? lol.. oh.. thanks for the heads up.

[@sandyw9357]

Personally your comment is as useless as your knowledge on crowns. Firstly 7s is rather good! 2ndly the crown is threaded in, so you either didn’t know that, are lying, or it would’ve broken anyways due to your lack of misunderstanding. There’s a 90 day back guarantee. Sure you won’t get the QC of a Lange & Sohne who take apart the entire watch after building it, but you are also not paying $50k+ you are paying $250. You also get a 1 year warranty (Rolex is only 2). Nowadays cheap Chinese manafacturers who replicate engineering cannot survive as it’s more cut throat than ever with reviews, the internet, social media, 20x as many Chinese companies, decades of experience etc that they could go out of business very quick. Plus Aesop, san Martin, sugess, seagull and red star are some of the best brands there are. Don’t be hatin

[@sandyw9357]

lol it either would have come out the first time or not at all… it doesn’t unscrew randomly after a first attempt to wind 😂

[@mikesheehan5946]

Super cool complication, great dimensions and crazy price. I love that they've gone all out on the tourbillion. Sets them apart from the rest

[@normandbissonnette8865]

I agree with your choice, if I were to purchase one of these I would get the grey dial watch.

[@uaziz7]

I have the aventurine watch and love it!

[@williamchandra726]

Chinese made watches are getting better and better. Better materials, better movement. A lot of are well made. Bringing excitement to collectors .

[@gunnerman1880]

Guys like you let us know if these kinda watches are money burners or not and for that price with a tourbillon movement i wouldn't think they were any good and would never consider purchasing. But I've seen your video and review and they don't seem to bad. At 1st i thought the right one was cool but looked under whelming when you look at the inside and the left just a good looking piece, but then when i saw the right on your wrist at the end i thought that looks cool. 😊

[@theronwolf3296]

I do like the clear through look of the second one, but that star is a bit wacky. Would be nice as a straight up skeleton (I have a Miyota standards skeleton in a foI do like the clear through look of the second one, but that star is a bit wacky. Would be nice as a straight up skeleton

[@MCMTL]

No mention of the Agelocer Tourbillon?

[@ilikewatches]

Why would I?

[@GodSeekingAthiest1]

​@@ilikewatchesWell you wouldn't unless the Chinese pay you to

[@Afzaalmalik-69-PTi]

whats the branda or modle number of stars watch?

[@Wozurd]

Hi mate! Amazing video, I’ve just bought this watch from you, I’m going to be bastardising it and putting it in a vintage Swiss dive homage case set I’ve got, I think it will be great fun, I’ll update you when I can for you to see!

[@nevermore5158]

2 years left. What can you tell now? How they working? Are you satisfied with these watches?

[@birdshenanigans8506]

Hi mate, a year has passed by so how do you feel about me buying an AESOP Tourbillon, is it a good idea? ❤

[@frenstcht]

Thanks!

[@michaelj8793]

I love that china offers these watch movements Pieces of art for any watch collector Because I don't think any of us will actually own a swiss one You dont buy these for accuracy or taking them for a swim or any other sports for that matter I have a couple from US companies and love them Great video my friend 👍

[@nickhayes4169]

How is the watch running now? I'm thinking about buying one for my son.

[@garybliss5673]

Yes, a very interesting review on an interesting, if quirky, topic. i have an Orient skeleton which meets my needs for a "conversation starter" mechanical watch . . . although so far my customized Datejust and bronze Oris Sixty Five homages seem to have it beat on that score. My central problem with the tourbillon is simply that the complication doesn't do anything constructive; it is indeed complexity for its own sake. Our mid-market Chinese three hander movements seem remarkably durable and "fit for purpose" to me (insofar as any mechanical watch can be in this age) and i my hard economist's heart can't seem to be persuaded to go for no-benefit complication. So i am fascinated by them and thank you for the video . . . but shall pass by.

[@1SlipperyPenguin]

It’s a year later how’s it running?

[@y0shi556]

That skeletonized watch you are wearing looks so cool and masculine. I do not think it's a copied homage design am I right?

[@tobyclayton2597]

What nobody seems to talk about is servicing. How much does a full service cost?

[@ilikekaek]

At that price if you realy need to service it because it breaks, you just buy another one...its cheaper than the price of servicing/repairs

[@toegunn4905]

People complaining that it isn't as well finished a other tourbillons. Like okay? An NH35 is no 3230, but its also 1/10th the cost. At $250 you can buy a lot of way worse novelties, and it might be a novelty, but its an interesting thing to have. I'm buying a Seagull 1965 because I have about a $150 interest in mechanical chronographs. I'm waiting for a Chinese manufacturer to stick a cheap tourbillon in an oversized sapphire case and sell it for under $1000. I'm sure it's coming, and it will be cool, but also something I would never spend over $1000 on.

[@FullJikama]

This version you bought has a flying tourbillon, I’m noticing some have carrousel and other flying

[@MustangDesudiroz]

i wnat one its mesmerizing

[@misterrottweiler]

I haven’t decided yet about buying one of those, but I owned previously a nautec no limit watch with the same movement as the first, and it worked flawlessly for the 3-4 years I had it, and I bought it preowned. Back then such a watch was around £800 so costs have dropped a lot, but I think the assumption they will break simply because the movements are Chinese is a bit of an outdated notion. Of these two featured I actually prefer the square one.

[@frankyz007]

tourbillon or carrousel the difference is not completely clear for me. which one is the most accurate and valuable ? may be you Can explain that to us in another video? thanks for your very interesting job on watches présentations that i follow as much as i Can!!!

[@wilderbeestmcc6539]

What about the exhibition case back🙈🇬🇧

[@demetrisgrigas4810]

Not keen on these watches but the teal one has a really mesmerizing effect! The 6th one

[@baronbristow8764]

Disposable or worth servicing?

[@ilikewatches]

Worth servicing I think…if the price is right…

[@prospect_joe9813]

Where'd you get that clock?

[@prospect_joe9813]

Nevermind, I found it on amazon

[@88BlueKeys4U]

Both watches shown here are clearly tourbillons (won't 'hack', have a static center gear behind the escapement). I own a few China tourbis, but am STILL hunting down a real CAROUSEL style movement with a low sticker price, AliX is the best source for such watches. How to identify and find a true carousel made in China? Which of the Chinese manufacturers (PTS, Seagull, DG..) has carousel type movements on the market these days? In which brands and models are they installed? A simple two-hand watch is OK, my other watches have plenty of extra complications. The position of the balancer (center or off-center) clearly is NOT a good indicator of the escapement type. All is about the power feed to the rotating cage: central on a tourbillon, from the side on carousels. Thanks for showing yours, these movements are always fun to "watch" (pun!).

[@juniorjohnson5961]

Thanks Gary 🙏 I'll have to rewatch I'm still confused about the difference between the two complications I've been waiting for someone to explain .

[@dinizbortolotto]

Hi Junior! See links in my comment on this video. ;-)

[@social3ngin33rin]

I didn't know there was a tool that identified crystal/glass!!! What is this tool called? What are the smallest tourbillion and carrousel watches? I prefer for my watches not to be too big.

[@stevemoon2136]

Not sure what's more impressive, it's price or the fact it's still working after 18 months. JK. Definitely prefer the style of the square model but nots its size. Definitely needs to be a smaller for a dress style watch.

[@toffeepie1878]

These can't be serviced (my guess) so they are pretty much disposable should they break - they look cool and for the price you can't really argue can you

[@davepoole5582]

Nice.

[@davidcrandall4958]

I am not able to buy from Ali express! I don't have the technology nor do I have the money to pay the import taxes and other fees incurred to get it to where I live! I

[@philspencelayh5464]

No need for Tourbillon or carousel or chronograph either so if you enjoy it, why not?

[@rrich52806]

Only $230...now

[@phat4fresh]

Just wow.

[@Hurtone]

A tourbillon is very useful for a pocket watch that sits in the pocket in the same direction all day. It is rather useless, albeit beautiful, on a wrist watch.

[@rachidvanheyningen]

A mechanical watch is rather useless these days, what’s your point?

[@Mgoblagulkablong]

Just found this customer review on the San Martin official store - quote: "Will be wearing it for a p*rn casting - Thank you very much!" Edit: also out of all watches it was on their field watch lol

[@nightvoyager1]

I feel pity for those who move away from watches aying thats Chinese. But my experience says that Chinese made watches has come a long way. And aboit service, Any good horologist or a professional jeweller can service an automatic watch. Service requirement is only once in 5 years max. I have lots of unique automaric plus tourbillion wTches from china. They all work soectacular. + - few seconds I dont mind afterall its auto.

[@kobusvanrensburg4092]

I don't particularly like it, neither would I buy one. However, the fact that it even exists at this price-point is amazing!

[@reezevlog]

question is…how r we gonna get this service..?

[@mirasga]

Buy a new one

[@sl8ight_yt]

The square one with the big lume star on it is one of the ugliest watches I've ever seen haha

[@rimas.kalpokas]

Unconvinced. Just looked up in google the Blancpain Tourbillon Carousel watch. That thing, as the name suggests, has both complications, and the carousel one looks very close to the starry Aesop you showed. I do not think there is any disadvantage to either one of these grand complications. The sole reason carousel exists is that Breguet’s patents had to be worked around by other watchmaker, Bonniksen :)

[@WatchesOnWood]

if they took that planetary design off the dial, i think it would be spot on with that sparkly "aventurine" dial

[@diegomadrigal5658]

boring mf

[@petethegreek9864]

Definitely the one on the left is the prettier watch out of the two but neither one is my cup of tea.. I really don’t get skeleton watches I like to glance at my watch for the time not have to study it for five minutes to work it out

[@NathanChisholm041]

You dont buy skeleton watches for the easy of use its to admire the movement! Get a Seiko 5! Its a much better deal...

[@scatterbrain9490]

👍

[@RockerfellerRothchild1776]

worst strap EVER!!!!!! had to switch it out ...its impossible to put on!!!

[@grahambawden4060]

Not keen on these type of watches. Don't see the need for a tourbillon/carousel in a wrist watch other than to look showy. Given the accuracy 🤣achieved by these two I wouldn't waste my money.👎👎👎⌚😴

[@NathanChisholm041]

Nearly $500 smackers here in Australia there's no way in hell this watch is worth $500aud! While its nice to look at these Aliexpress watches have really jumped up in price over the years and aren't worth it anymore for a brandless watch! I just bought a stunning Seiko chrono with sapphire for $320 aud from creation watches. A far better option.