Mass Producing Grand Complications

What happens when your hand built US$100,000 grand complication watch, suddenly becomes a mass production product available for US$1,400? The Perpetual Watch Company, of China, has been able to manufacture mechanical watches with the retrograde complication and the tourbillon since 2004. While production has not reached the mass production stage, it seems to be just a matter of time.

The tourbillon, acknowledge as one the classic watchmaker's grand complications was Traditionally it is a feature was found only in expensive luxury Swiss timepieces. Developed in the 18th century by Abraham-Louis Breguet, the tourbillon houses the central watch mechanism in a rotating cage to offset the distorting effects of gravity.

Perpetual Watch Company, Tourbillon Movement

Perpetual Watch Company, Tourbillon Movement

Certainly there is no comparison in terms of quality, the Swiss tourbillon's being encased in gold or platinum cases while the Chinese pieces are built on less expensive casings. But the Chinese movements are finely made, and with so many Swiss watchmakes using third party movements, I wonder how long before some Swiss Company decides to put a made in China movement in one of its watches.

Me, if I were buying a grand complication, I think I would go for the Perpetual Calendar, that seems to be something the watchmakers of China have not yet been able to build (emphasis on yet).