What Is a Tourbograph?

A tourbograph is a watch with a tourbillon and a chronograph. The tourbillon is a rotating cage that holds the balance wheel and escapement. It rotates to counter gravity. The chronograph is a stopwatch function. The term comes from A. Lange & Söhne. The company introduced the Tourbograph Pour le Mérite in 2005. It was the first watch to combine a tourbillon, chronograph, and fusée-and-chain transmission. The original cost about $500,000. A later model, the Tourbograph Perpetual Pour le Mérite, added a perpetual calendar in 2017.

How Replica Tourbographs Differ

Replica tourbographs are copies of these watches. They vary in quality. Some have real tourbillons. Others have fake tourbillons that do not function. The movement inside a replica can be a Chinese Seagull or a modified ETA. A real tourbillon in a replica comes from a Seagull movement. That movement has a tourbillon that rotates once per minute. A fake tourbillon is a decorative piece that does not rotate. The chronograph may work, or it may be a dummy pusher. The case is stainless steel in most cases. The crystal is sapphire or mineral glass. The strap is leather.

What to Check on a Replica Tourbograph

Check the tourbillon. A real tourbillon cage rotates nonstop. You can see it through the case back or a dial opening. If the cage does not move, it is not a tourbillon. Check the chronograph. Start and stop the chronograph. The central second hand should move in steps. The subdials should reset to zero. Check the weight. A real tourbograph weighs about 100 grams with a gold case. A replica with a stainless steel case weighs 70 to 90 grams. Check the finishing. Look at the case edges, the dial printing, and the engraving on the movement. Poor finishing shows sharp edges and misaligned text. Check the power reserve. A real tourbograph runs for about 36 hours. A replica with a Seagull tourbillon runs for about 40 hours. A fake tourbillon may run for 20 hours or less.

Price Ranges for Replica Tourbographs

Replica tourbographs sell in three price tiers. Low-end replicas cost $200 to $400. They have a fake tourbillon and a quartz or low-grade automatic movement. Mid-range replicas cost $500 to $800. They have a real Seagull tourbillon and basic finishing. High-end replicas cost $1,000 to $2,000. They have better materials, a closer case shape, and more accurate dial details. None of these replicas match the original movement or the original price. The original Tourbograph Pour le Mérite has a hand-wound movement with 556 parts. A replica movement has about 200 parts.

Legal Considerations

Replica watches that copy a trademarked logo or design are counterfeit. Selling or importing counterfeit goods is illegal in the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection may seize counterfeit watches. The Federal Trade Commission states that buying counterfeit goods can expose consumers to legal risks and unsafe products. A replica that does not copy a logo is a homage, not a counterfeit. Homage watches are legal. They use the same movement but have a different brand name. Examples include Sugess and Seagull. These brands make tourbillon chronographs for $500 to $1,000. They do not say "A. Lange & Söhne" on the dial.

Alternatives to Replica Tourbographs

If you want a tourbillon chronograph without legal risk, consider an homage. Sugess makes a tourbillon chronograph with a Seagull movement. The price is about $600. Seagull makes its own tourbillon chronograph for about $1,200. Both watches have a real tourbillon and a working chronograph. They do not copy the A. Lange & Söhne name or logo. They have their own brand names on the dial. These watches are not replicas. They are original designs that use similar technology. The finish is not as good as a $500,000 original. But the function is real. The tourbillon rotates. The chronograph works. The watch keeps time within 10 seconds per day.