Peter Speake-Marin, a designer from England. But his watch in the Swiss tradition and manufactures in Switzerland. The Tourbillon is a significant part of the Speake-Marin history,this Magister Double Tourbillon created in 2015. 
The tourbillon is becoming a rather standard offering at the high end of the price range. To differentiate, one needs something special. And Peter’s answer is the vertical double tourbillon, featuring two 60 second tourbillons, linked by a limited slip spring clutch.
The double tourbillons are prominently and artfully displayed on the dial side, and the dial is on the right of the case, and made in grand feu enamel, allowing the time to be easily read from the edge of the shirt cuff, while the tourbillons remain concealed. A discrete nod to Peter’s English origins of being understated.
The dial’s markers are Roman numerals with a rail road minute chapter ring. And the hands are classical Speake-Marin’s blued steel hands. A power reserve indicator displaying the available power by means of a cam shaped disc that opens when fully wound to reveal the movement below and gradually closes to signal empty when a red section of the disc reaches the central marker. A day/night indicator is also found below the time dial to balance the design.
The movement features mailechort bridges, perlage and ruthenium plating. The Côtes de Genève are applied to the bridges covering the movement and are rather interesting that the waves do not run in one direction but in two, away from the center of the plate. This provides an interesting visual aesthetic, especially on flash photography, when one side will appear to have the stripes, and the other plain.
As discussed, the key feature are the double tourbillons. Each of which its own independent gear train powered by its own mainspring. The two barrels are wound simultaneously via the crown.
A miniature limited-slip spring gearbox – the spring absorbs and balances any subtle variations between the two cages – called an équilibreur de marche links the two tourbillon regulators. As there are two full trains, this spring is sandwiched between the two canon wheels, absorbing and balancing the subtle variations between the rate of the two cages.
The Peter Speake-Marin Magister Double Tourbillon remains a visual spectacle. It provides the exciting visual cue of two tourbillons beating in unison, like two hearts beating in unision. Both are a thing of beauty. The technical process to achieve this is rather simple yet complicated all at the same time. “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” – Albert Einstein. The Magister Double Tourbillon exemplifies this.
Case, dial and hands are finished to very high exacting standards. We found the movement to be adequately finished, and found several places where more care and attention can be lavished to make it even better. The immediately visible parts framing the tourbillon are finished ne plus ultra, but yet parts surrounding the tourbillon from the caseback view, especially the edges of the bridges are left unfinished. Perhaps some room for improvement, albeit not a major one as this can be rectified easily by Speake-Marin. We also note that this may be harsh criticism as the watch we examined was a prototype, and the final customer delivery may be better finished.
