Perrelet Turbine Poker Royal Flush Watch Review
The Perrelet Turbine Poker Royal Flush is the latest card-themed watch from the brand with a ‘passion for poker’. Housed in a black case and presented on a matching strap, the dial incorporates a plethora of white and red hues and includes a depiction of ‘a winning hand’. Most notably, the model, a limited edition of 99 pieces, fully exploits the Turbine’s twirling talents to deliver a sublime animated performance.
Motion watches
When I was a teenager, I was passionate about photography. My father gave me an old German camera from the 60s, an Exa II b. Made in Dresden, the 35mm SLR camera recorded images to film, something that probably sounds strange to younger readers who have been raised on a diet of digital cameras and smartphones. Back then, each image was carefully choreographed, framed just so and correctly exposed; I was always mindful that there were only 36 exposures on a roll of a Kodak 100 ASA film.
I loved taking pictures and would often seek advice from Bert, a retired gentleman and accomplished amateur photographer who lived in the house across the street. It was Bert who introduced me to the wonders of cinematography. His silent, nature-themed films felt like Hollywood blockbusters to a working class Lancashire lad. I yearned to make my own movies and often thumbed a Eumig brochure, dreaming of owning my very own Super 8 camera one day. Alas, it was never to be.
The reason for my convoluted preamble is that sometimes a moving scene can appear more interesting than a static image. Back in 2009, Perrelet released its inaugural Turbine model. Unlike a conventional watch with a one-dimensional static dial, the Turbine featured a lower dial with a series of rotating blades positioned above. With the merest suggestion of wrist motion, the blades burst into life, rotating with alacrity to reveal more and more of the lower dial. The dynamic behaviour of the Perrelet Turbine evoked thoughts of the zoopraxiscope, an early form of motion projector, invented back in the 19th century.
Perrelet Turbine EVO (2019)
In 2019, Perrelet marked the 10th anniversary of the Turbine with the release of the aptly named Turbine EVO. This model encompassed several new design elements as well as a new in-house, COSC-certified movement, the automatic P-331-MH Calibre. Since releasing the first Turbine EVO references, the brand has gone on to work with a variety of materials and embraced different colourways.
Perrelet Carbon Watches
Recently, Perrelet unveiled a new limited edition, the Turbine Poker Royal Flush, a timepiece intended to seduce poker-loving horophiles. The watch shares much in common with the Turbine Carbon Forest Green, Carbon Racing and Turbine Carbon Black Edition, three models already discussed at length on ESCAPEMENT. In common with these watches, the new release is housed in a 44 mm case formed of polycarbonate and carbon fibre, materials that imbue the Turbine Poker Royal Flush with a stealthy appearance. This character trait is accentuated by the black bezel and case back, both executed in stainless steel with black PVD coating, as well as the black leather strap.
Perrelet Turbine Poker Royal Flush – pops of colour
Beyond the widespread use of black shades, the appearance of the new Perrelet Turbine Poker Royal Flush is enlivened with numerous pops of red and white detail. The model looks different from virtually every other timepiece on the market thanks to the depiction of fanned cards on its lower dial. In addition, the hour track, positioned on a flange that partially cantilevers over the turbines, is marked with plump indices and also incorporates various poker-themed symbols, eg diamonds, clubs, jokers and kings. When the propellor moves, the Turbine Poker Royal Flush brims with life and delivers an almost hypnotic scene.
The Perrelet Turbine Poker Royal Flush is a slightly quirky composition; however, this is not the first time the Swiss marque has united its Turbine technology with playing cards. On this occasion, Perrelet, a brand with a ‘passion for poker’, has crafted a watch depicting a winning hand, a concept, once again, intended to appeal to watch lovers and card enthusiasts alike.
Perrelet Turbine Poker Royal Flush – closing remarks
Limited to just 99 pieces, the Perrelet Turbine Poker Royal Flush, not only indicates the hour, minutes and seconds, it also entertains. When the Turbine commences its twirling performance, it lulls the eye and brain to perceive the cards are in motion, similar to a zoopraxiscope, or even Bert’s cine films!
Further reading
Technical specifications
- Model: Perrelet Turbine Poker Royal Flush
- Reference: A4065/S3
- Case: central body in polycarbonate and carbon fibre, bezel in stainless steel with black PVD coating, diameter 44 mm, height 13.82 mm, water resistance 10 ATM (100 m), sapphire crystal to the front and exhibition case back.
- Functions: hours, minutes, centre sweep seconds
- Movement: Perrelet in-house calibre P-331-MH, self-winding movement, frequency 28,800vph (4Hz), 25 jewels, power reserve (fully wound) = 42 hours, Chronofiable and COSC-certified
- Strap: black leather strap with alligator pattern, rubber lining and folding buckle in black PVD steel
- Price: €5,200 (RRP as of 24.1.2023)
- Limited Edition: 99 pieces