Cases have arrived!! Another big step forward for Mission Tourbillon as our cases and case backs have arrived for us to share with you. For those of you just joining the conversation or those that might have missed one of our previous posts we will give you a little overview on case options available.
We had earlier communicated an option of either a titanium or stainless steel case. From the successes of our other HORAGE watches we know there are those that prefer titanium over stainless and vice versa. The suggestion of titanium grade 5 has been made to provide a very light tourbillon and this material in our opinion matches the low profile case as well all know tourbillons can become quite thick. For those that love stainless we of course made it an option, but not just any stainless, we have decided to work with 904L which is the same stainless steel used in our Omnium watches and of course the stainless steel Rolex has marketed as a premium option over 316 grade stainless steel.
Taking things a step further we have come up with either a polished or brushed version of the case in both material choices. It is the bezel that is showing the brushed or polished look so keep your eyes fixed there. The case back itself will remain the same for both polished and brushed versions.
Titanium Polished
The polished look of the titanium gives a slightly subdued and almost satin look to the polished look. However one must keep in mind that for titanium this is a superbly done polished look.
Titanium Brushed
Titanium Case Back
We decked out the case back with COSC Certified as it may be a viable option for those that wish to have theirs certified. More to come on that, but for now have a look at this beautiful case back.
Moving along to the 904L stainless steel there is a subtle difference in that the look it is more brilliant over the titanium. For those that look for a heavier feel to the watch and more brilliance then the 904L stainless steel is a great choice.
Onto the brushed stainless steel. The bezel like as with the titanium is the place to look.
One can really see the brilliance of the 904L when looking at the case back. Also you might take notice that one of the names we were throwing around early on was Apogee. The name of this watch is still up for debate. We still like K-TOU as it fits with our internal naming convention, but not being ones to do things in a traditional way we would love you feedback.
There is a lot to consider just with the Titanium vs. Stainless debate and after adding in a Brushed vs. Polished we have decided to make them all options for you to choose from. This means when you place your order you can select your case material of choice and decide whether you prefer brushed or polished, but for the sake of debate please let us know in the comments what you prefer and why. We always love a good amount of positive banter.
We truly want to present this project at an insane price for a Swiss Made Tourbillon. To do so we need your help to spread the word. Please share this post, invite your friends to join the forum and let us know if you are part of any watch clubs that would like to see the tourbillon in person on our up coming world tour.
Till next time...
If processing accuracy is high and the surface is not distorted, I prefer polish.
But more than that, I was more concerned about the lug height.
Due to the thickness of the rear case, the lugs will not follow the curved surface of the wrist unless they are grown more downward.
It often results in poor fit.
If you can't change the shape of the lug, I recommend that you just bring the lug hole to the bottom as far as it will go.
I can feel my heart race in anticipation reading through these posts! The polished Ti looks truly amazing as I’ve always longed for a super-light Ti case and maybe you can have a contrasting mix of polished and brushed. @landonstirling you‘re tempting us with too much choice(!) but if this helps keep an affordable version sub $5k I‘m certainly not complaining. The COSC upgrade will undoubtedly add a hefty premium, but let’s see when all is revealed in January. Well done team Horage, you’ve excelled yet again. It will be an amazing feat if you turn your “April Fools” from concept to seeing the first bespoke pieces delivered in under a year!
Can you give a outer diameter of the case ? Any idea from lead time ? Will it go trough Kickstarter again ?
I'd like to see the finished watch with the case choices side-by-side.
Definitely polished, which will be a nice contrast with the sandblasted mainplate. Do you get your 904L from Böhler as well?
For another orbital themed name, perhaps Perilune, the closest point to the surface of the moon in a lunar orbit? The point being that this watch is very close to a moonshot for a small company like Horage. Any rough estimates of cost yet? < 10k CHF? < 5k? No worries if you don't know yet or can't share yet, just curious (and I might have missed it in an earlier update anyway).
A COSC option would be great.
Very interesting update as always.
Very well said. Those that prefer a lighter watch will likely enjoy the titanium more but ultimately the polished finish on both is amazing. 904L just has a little more brilliance and the weight that compliments a traditional tourbillon feel.
I admit that I prefer the polished look in both metals; I think that the way the light reflects off the bezel will draw the eye to the dial. It's also a dressier look than the brushed, which is more tool-like, and let's face it, a tourbillon really doesn't make for a tool watch. Which metal to choose will be more difficult, and may depend on the final weight of the finished watch heads.