RGM presented the first serial tourbillon manufactured in the United States; the movement’s look and feel is modeled on classic American movements of yesteryear.
RGM launched the Pennsylvania Tourbillon in Pennsylvania, the same U.S. state where made components including the case were madePredictions of severe thunderstorms causing an unusually sultry mid-June Pennsylvania evening did not prevent more than 100 guests from coming to see RGM Watch Company’s latest creation: the new Pennsylvania Tourbillon. Billed as the first tourbillon in series to be manufactured in the United States, the news of the achievement filled the beautiful atrium of the NAWCC Museum in Columbia, Pennsylvania with interested spectators. RGM founder and director Roland Murphy as well as general manager and creative director Richard Baugh flanked the sunlit space armed not only with the new tourbillon but the entire collection of RGM’s watches. Demonstrations of côtes de Genève and perlage application, specialties of the company that proudly wears its guilloché arts on its sleeve, greatly interested many of the guests.
The Pennsylvania Tourbillon, powered by RGM Caliber MM 2, boasts German silver plates and bridgesCoinciding with the annual nationwide meeting of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC), the RGM event drew experienced watchmakers in addition to long-time RGM fans and customers.
The spotlight naturally remained on the new Pennsylvania Tourbillon. Manufactured in the United States, it is a prime example of how Murphy and his team at RGM continue to build their own miniature watch industry in Lancaster County. Murphy’s goal of making this watch in the U.S. extended to parts that haven’t been manufactured stateside in decades. Thus, it was upon him to seek out American suppliers for these companies and working with them—since many had not previously worked with watch companies—to make sure that RGM’s standards were upheld.
RGM also demonstrated côtes de Genève and perlage application at the launchThe Pennsylvania Tourbillon, like most RGM models, was designed and manufactured with an eye to traditional American style interpreted with some flourishes that are pure RGM. The German silver used to create the base plate and bridges gives the watch a warm glow much different from the more common rhodium-plated brass used for these components. The plates and bridges are decorated with côtes de Genève in RGM’s own studio. Many of the parts are black polished by hand, a time consuming but elegant process that delivers a perfect mirror shine to steel. Solid 18-karat gold plaques display RGM’s logo and the tourbillon’s serial number. RGM’s signature guilloché, also done by hand on the company’s Pennsylvania premises, gives the base plate a rich and decorative texture.
Roland Murphy discussing the Pennsylvania Tourbillon with visitors to the RGM event held at the NAWCC Museum in Columbia, PennsylvaniaRGM’s successful launch was tangible in the crowd congregated in front of Murphy’s table displaying the Pennsylvania Tourbillon throughout the evening. Murphy’s desire to bring high-end watchmaking back to the United States is an uncontested victory in the form of the Pennsylvania Tourbillon, and Murphy promises more innovations on this movement and his Caliber 801 in the future.
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