The Tiefenmesser Tourbillon is a new RESERVOIR x TÉLÔS watch co-creation: this unique crafted piece is unveiled exclusively for Only Watch 2023, combining creative vintage display – 240° retrograde minute and jumping hour – with renowned high-watchmaking savoir-faire from Switzerland.

 With a new powerhouse and a new dimension, RESERVOIR proudly presents its very first in-house Tourbillon in collaboration with TÉLÔS WATCH. It’s a major technical step change for the emerging, wholly independent brand, achieved with the collaboration of the renowned movement manufacturer TÉLÔS WATCH from La Chaux-de-Fonds, RESERVOIR’s strategic partner since its earliest days.

— Time for action ! 

RESERVOIR has carved out a reputation in mechanical watchmaking thanks to its expertise in displaying hours, minutes, and power reserves. Today, the brand is going from strength to strength. From its original caliber with the clever retrograde display that led to its success, it has now moved up a gear with the unveiling of its first in-house movement to be regulated by a tourbillon. The latter is exclusive to the brand – which, as transparent as ever, is not ashamed to own to the ongoing collaboration with its strategic partner, without whom this achievement would never have seen the light of day: renowned movement manufacturer TÉLÔS WATCH, based in La Chaux-de-Fonds and established in 2009 by watchmakers Franck Orny and Johnny Girardin.

• “This somewhat crazy project was made possible by the work of a really outstanding team that brought together all the creativity of RESERVOIR and the watchmaking expertise of TÉLÔS WATCH”, explains François Moreau, RESERVOIR’s Founder and CEO.

— Reaffirming the commitment to only watch 

Keen to demonstrate both consistency and long-term commitment, RESERVOIR has renewed its full support for the Only Watch charity auction. As was already the case two years ago with the Kanister Palladium, the event is once again the forum for a new phase in the life of the brand, here embodied by its in-house tourbillon. The goal is to further enhance RESERVOIR’s horological stature and showcase the creative manufacturing power of TÉLÔS WATCH to watchmaking community aficionados. And what better way to do that than by linking into its vintage maritime ethos? Indeed, the new tourbillon will form part of the Tiefenmesser collection.

• TÉLÔS WATCH co-founder Franck Orny had this to say: « I’m immensely proud of the fact that TÉLÔS WATCH has developed this unique piece with RESERVOIR, combining its characteristic retrograde minutes and jumping hours display with an in-house grand tourbillon».

• For his part, TÉLÔS WATCH’s other co-founder Johnny Girardin added: « We really enjoyed designing and developing this unique piece for Only Watch – even if it did present a huge technical challenge to be overcome in a short space of time ».

— Welcome on board 

In joining this universe of measurements, gauges, nautical instruments and steam, the Tiefenmesser Tourbillon Only Watch has stayed with a case in the bronze characteristic of ships and submarines from the previous century, a source of inspiration and atmosphere for RESERVOIR. The display is pure RESERVOIR, bringing to mind the manometers and gauges on board submarines, including the depth gauge from which the watch takes its name. The styling is nautical in essence and horological in terms of technique, with a regulator-type enamel dial indicating retrograde minutes on a 240° arc, the brand’s style signature. The jumping hours are, typically, displayed in a large window in the remaining 120 degrees of space freed up by this arrangement.

— Horological roots 

To accentuate the thoroughly horological dimension of the Tiefenmesser Tourbillon Only Watch, RESERVOIR and TÉLÔS WATCH made several key decisions. On the technical side, they have opted for an imposing, untrammelled and graceful layout for the tourbillon, located at 6 o’clock. With a rate of 4Hz and powered by a double barrel, it has an ample power reserve of 60 hours. Fitted with a fixed balance-spring support, balancing is achieved in a traditional manner, with the inertia adjusted by flyweights screwed directly onto the balance wheel. The diameter of the expansive tourbillon is in fact that of its escapement wheel. It completes one revolution every 60 seconds, meaning that it can double up as a second indicator – but this is where style choices on the part of RESERVOIR come into play.

Rather than being fitted with a hand, the tourbillon features a large upper bridge in the shape of the RESERVOIR logo. Collectors will instantly recognise this as the hallmark of a wholly proprietary tourbillon, and undoubtedly take careful note of the fact. Another important style option concerns the hours and minutes dial. RESERVOIR has opted for an enamel rather than lacquered dial, giving it a very vintage sheen and refined elegance – and making it remarkably easy to read. It’s a highly traditional horological design choice that resonates well with the historic nature of the venerable tourbillon, for which a patent request was first filed in 1801. To further highlight the prestige of the tourbillon and ensure the plate offsets it in suitably imposing fashion, the latter is anthracite grey and bead-blasted before an NAC finish is applied. Informed enthusiasts will note the blue hand, in the finest watchmaking tradition.

— A personalised caseback 

To the rear, a transparent, non-reflective sapphire crystal reveals the oscillating weight. This too is a unique component, made exclusively for the Tiefenmesser Tourbillon Only Watch from tungsten and finished with a surface treatment to ensure it blends in perfectly with the bronze case. It has then been specially engraved with ‘Chadburns’, the markings to be found on the controls of historic submarines: two sectors (ahead and astern) between which sits the ‘stop’ position, with the five engine speeds corresponding to each setting marked accordingly. All the care and attention to detail lavished on the TÉLÔS WATCH movement for this Only Watch piece helps it really stand out for the occasion – as does its bead-blasted anthracite finish.