Jacob & Co. Bugatti Tourbillon (Photos courtesy of Bugatti)
Bugatti has a tradition of crafting powerful, exclusive automobiles for the ultra-wealthy. Since 1925, it also has a history of either inspiring timepieces or working directly with watch companies. The newest products of that kind of collaboration are Jacob & Co.’s aptly named Bugatti Tourbillon and its flashier sibling, the Bugatti Tourbillon Baguette.
The car the watches are named after is the first Bugatti made under the ownership of Croatian electric hypercar manufacturer Rimac, which previously made a name for itself with the 1,914-horsepower Nevera. The quad-turbo 8.0-liter W16 has been discontinued, so the Bugatti Tourbillon—to use an horological expression—has a new, naturally aspirated 8.3-liter V16 movement. Its trio of electric motors don’t make time move any faster, but they certainly make the Tourbillon quicker by bringing its total output to 1,800 horsepower.
BUGATTI TOURBILLON
The visual connections between the Bugatti Tourbillon car and watch range from subtle to undeniable. According to Bugatti, the 52 x 44 x 15mm case’s design “emulates that of the Tourbillon car—from the rear wing and windows, to the grille and radiators. The latter features are lodged in recesses of the case, covered with a laser-etched grid pattern, while inlaid sapphire crystal in the case sides—shaped and tinted like the vehicle’s side windows—offer a tantalizing glimpse into the inner workings of the movement.”
The car’s gauges were designed by watchmakers, so it’s natural that the timepiece’s instrumentation has a similar layout. At the top left is the 30-second flying tourbillon (the French word for whirlwind), which rotates parts of the movement’s components to counteract the effects of gravity. The actual time display is in the center. A third subdial on the right shows how much of the watch’s 80-hour power reserve is left.
Like its four-wheeled counterpart, the Jacob & Co. Bugatti Tourbillon has an engine. A sapphire crystal engine block contains a 22.37mm crankshaft connected to 16 titanium pistons that start moving with the push of a button.
BUGATTI TOURBILLON BAGUETTE
If the regular watch is too low-key, 18 enthusiasts can add the Bugatti Tourbillon Baguette to their collections.
Crafted out of 18K white gold, the case is covered with 328 baguette-cut diamonds (equivalent to 17 carats). The two ribbons of rubies near the crown at 6 o’clock add a touch of color and mimic the layout of the Bugatti Tourbillon’s taillights.
In most places, the odds of seeing either one of these watches on someone’s wrist are as low as the Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic‘s production numbers. But there’s a good chance someone will be wearing (or driving) a Bugatti Tourbillon at next year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. When we’re there, we’ll try to catch a glimpse—ideally, photos—of either one.