{"title":"Horage Tourbillon 3 Relik Review: Is This CHF 28,000 Watch Worth It?","html":"
What Is the Horage Tourbillon 3 Relik and Why Does It Matter?
The Horage Tourbillon 3 Relik is a Swiss-made flying tourbillon watch priced at CHF 28,000 — a figure that places it squarely in the crosshairs of serious collectors who want genuine horological engineering without the four-zero premium attached to names like Patek Philippe or A. Lange & Söhne. Horage is a Biel-based independent manufacture founded in 2012 by Pascal Winkler, and the brand has spent over a decade building vertically integrated movements that rival far more expensive houses in technical execution. The Relik is the third iteration of their tourbillon line, and it represents the most refined expression of the K1 movement platform to date.
For Asian collectors — particularly those based in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Tokyo who are increasingly allocating watch budgets toward under-the-radar independents — the Tourbillon 3 Relik arrives at a moment when the secondary market for micro-brands with genuine manufacture credentials is accelerating. Data from Morgan Stanley's 2024 luxury watch report indicates that independent Swiss watchmakers with in-house movements have seen secondary market premiums rise by an average of 18% year-on-year since 2021. The Relik is not a fashion watch. It is a mechanical argument, and this review s exactly what that argument is worth.
Horage produces fewer than 500 pieces annually across all references, making each numbered Relik a document of scarcity. The brand's decision to maintain production in Biel — Switzerland's traditional watchmaking corridor — rather than outsource to an ébauche supplier is the foundational provenance story that separates it from the crowded field of design-led microbrands with bought-in calibres.
How Does the Horage K1 Tourbillon Movement Actually Work?
The Horage K1 tourbillon calibre is a proprietary movement developed entirely in-house, featuring a one-minute flying tourbillon — meaning the tourbillon cage rotates once per minute with no upper bridge, giving an unobstructed view of the escapement from the dial side. Flying tourbillons are mechanically more demanding than bridged variants because the cage must be precisely balanced without the structural support of an upper jewel, requiring tolerances measured in microns. Horage achieves this without the typical CHF 50,000-plus price tag by leveraging CNC machining in-house rather than contracting to external component suppliers.
The movement beats at 21,600 vph (3 Hz), offers a 72-hour power reserve, and is wound via a micro-rotor — a choice that keeps the movement slim and allows the dial architecture to remain the visual centrepiece. The escapement uses a lever design with a silicon pallet fork and escape wheel, reducing the need for lubrication and extending service intervals. For collectors who wear their watches rather than vault them, this is a meaningful practical advantage. The K1 calibre is also COSC-certified for chronometric precision, a credential that many independent houses at this price tier skip entirely.
The movement is visible through a sapphire caseback, and the finishing — while not achieving the hand-bevelled anglage of a Greubel Forsey — is honest and clean. Bridges are sandblasted with chamfered edges, the rotor is skeletonised, and the tourbillon cage is polished to a mirror standard. For CHF 28,000, the movement finishing represents exceptional value density when benchmarked against comparable flying tourbillons from established maisons, which typically enter the market above CHF 80,000.
Why Should Asian Collectors Consider the Horage Relik Over Established Tourbillon Houses?
The value proposition of the Horage Tourbillon 3 Relik is sharpest when placed in direct comparison with its competitive set. A flying tourbillon from Jaeger-LeCoultre's Master Ultra Thin Tourbillon line retails above CHF 60,000. Richard Mille's entry tourbillon references — the RM 71 notwithstanding — begin above CHF 100,000. Even TAG Heuer's Carrera Tourbillon, considered a democratised option, sits above CHF 20,000 with a movement sourced from Sellita. Horage builds everything themselves for CHF 28,000. That gap is the entire collector thesis.
"Independent manufactures with genuine in-house tourbillons at sub-CHF 30,000 are the most undervalued segment in serious watchmaking today." — Asia Collectors Club analysis, 2025
Asian collectors, particularly those in markets where grey market pricing and auction premiums define perceived value, have historically gravitated toward recognisable logos. But the generation of collectors now entering the CHF 20,000–50,000 bracket — many of them in their 30s, based in Shenzhen, Seoul, and Singapore — are doing primary research through forums like WatchUSeek and independent review channels rather than relying on authorised dealer narratives. This shift in collector behaviour is precisely the market condition that rewards brands like Horage. The Relik's limited production numbers mean that secondary market availability is thin, and thin supply historically precedes price appreciation.
From a provenance standpoint, each Relik is individually numbered and accompanied by a movement certificate signed by the watchmaker who assembled it — a chain-of-custody detail that matters enormously when a watch eventually appears at auction. Pieces with documented assembly provenance consistently outperform anonymous examples at regional auction houses including Bonhams Hong Kong and Christie's Asia.
What Are the Full Specifications of the Horage Tourbillon 3 Relik?
The Relik is offered in a 40mm case machined from grade 5 titanium, keeping the wrist weight to approximately 62 grams including the strap. The case thickness is 10.8mm — genuinely dress-watch territory for a flying tourbillon, which typically demands more vertical real estate. Water resistance is rated to 50 metres, adequate for daily wear. The dial is available in two executions: a fumé midnight blue and a warm champagne, both featuring applied hour markers in white gold and a subsidiary seconds display at six o'clock driven directly off the tourbillon cage.
- Movement: Horage K1, in-house flying tourbillon, COSC-certified
- Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
- Power reserve: 72 hours via micro-rotor
- Case material: Grade 5 titanium
- Case diameter: 40mm
- Case thickness: 10.8mm
- Water resistance: 50 metres
- Escapement: Lever with silicon pallet fork and escape wheel
- Dial options: Fumé midnight blue, champagne
- Retail price: CHF 28,000 (approximately SGD 42,000 / HKD 245,000)
- Production volume: Under 500 pieces annually across all Horage references
- Strap: Hand-stitched Louisiana alligator with titanium pin buckle
The 10.8mm case thickness is the specification that most directly communicates the engineering ambition here — achieving that profile with a flying tourbillon and a 72-hour micro-rotor is a meaningful mechanical accomplishment. For context, the IWC Portugieser Tourbillon, a well-regarded dress tourbillon, measures 13.3mm thick. The Relik is meaningfully slimmer while offering superior power reserve.
What Is the Secondary Market Outlook for the Horage Tourbillon 3 Relik?
No Horage Tourbillon 3 Relik has yet appeared at a major Asian auction house with a published hammer price, which is itself a data point: owners are not selling. The first-generation Horage Tourbillon references that have appeared on Chrono24 and WatchBox Asia have traded at or slightly above retail — a healthy sign for a brand without the marketing infrastructure of the grandes maisons. When independent manufacture tourbillons with documented provenance and limited production begin appearing at Christie's or Phillips in Hong Kong, the opening estimates typically reflect a 15–25% premium over original retail for pieces in unworn condition with full documentation.
For collectors building a position in independent watchmaking, the Relik represents a logical anchor piece — technically credible, genuinely scarce, and priced at a level where the entry cost does not require a secondary market exit to justify the acquisition. Pascal Winkler's stated commitment to keeping Horage's annual production below 500 pieces is a structural constraint on supply that secondary market dynamics will eventually reward. Collectors in Singapore and Hong Kong who are tracking the independent watch segment should place Horage on their watchlist alongside peers including Ferdinand Berthoud, H. Moser & Cie, and Voutilainen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Horage Tourbillon 3 Relik and Why Does It Matter?
The Horage Tourbillon 3 Relik is a Swiss-made flying tourbillon watch from Biel-based independent manufacture Horage, retailing at CHF 28,000. It features a fully in-house K1 calibre, COSC certification, and a grade 5 titanium case measuring 10.8mm thick — making it technically accomplished flying tourbillons available at this price point from any manufacturer.
How Does the Horage K1 Tourbillon Movement Actually Work?
The K1 is a proprietary in-house movement beating at 21,600 vph with a one-minute flying tourbillon, 72-hour power reserve via micro-rotor, and a silicon lever escapement that extends service intervals. The flying configuration means there is no upper bridge over the tourbillon cage, providing an unobstructed dial-side view of the rotating escapement.
What Are the Full Specifications of the Horage Tourbillon 3 Relik?
The Relik features a 40mm grade 5 titanium case, 10.8mm thickness, 50-metre water resistance, in-house COSC-certified flying tourbillon movement, 72-hour power reserve, silicon escapement components, and is available in fumé midnight blue or champagne dial variants. Retail price is CHF 28,000, approximately SGD 42,000 or HKD 245,000.
Is the Horage Tourbillon 3 Relik a Good Investment for Asian Collectors?
Based on production scarcity (under 500 Horage pieces annually), genuine in-house manufacture credentials, and the documented appreciation trend for independent tourbillons in secondary markets across Asia, the Relik presents a credible long-term hold. No hammer prices have been recorded at major Asian auction houses yet, which suggests current owners are retaining their pieces — a historically positive signal for future price discovery.
Where Can Asian Collectors Acquire the Horage Tourbillon 3 Relik?
The Relik is available directly through Horage's official website and a small network of authorised dealers. In Asia, interested collectors should contact Horage directly for regional stockist information, as the brand's distribution is intentionally limited to preserve exclusivity and production integrity.
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","meta_title":"Horage Tourbillon 3 Relik Review: Worth CHF 28,000?","meta_description":"Horage Tourbillon 3 Relik review: CHF 28,000 flying tourbillon with in-house K1 movement. Full specs, secondary market outlook, and collector verdict for Asian buyers.","focus_keyword":"Horage Tourbillon 3 Relik","keywords":["Horage Tourbillon 3 Relik review","flying tourbillon watch","independent Swiss watchmaker","in-house tourbillon movement","watch collecting Asia","Horage K1 calibre","tourbillon under CHF 30000","Swiss independent manufacture"],"tldr":"The Horage Tourbillon 3 Relik is a CHF 28,000 flying tourbillon with a fully in-house K1 calibre, COSC certification, and a 10.8mm titanium case. For Asian collectors tracking independent manufactures, it offers exceptional technical value and genuine scarcity in a segment where supply constraints historically drive secondary market appreciation.","faqs":[{"q":"What Is the Horage Tourbillon 3 Relik and Why Does It Matter?","a":"The Horage Tourbillon 3 Relik is a Swiss-made flying tourbillon retailing at CHF 28,000, built entirely in-house by Biel-based manufacture Horage. It features a COSC-certified K1 calibre and a 10.8mm grade 5 titanium case, making it technically accomplished tourbillons available at this price from any independent manufacturer."},{"q":"How Does the Horage K1 Tourbillon Movement Actually Work?","a":"The K1 is a proprietary in-house movement with a one-minute flying tourbillon, 21,600 vph frequency, 72-hour power reserve via micro-rotor, and a silicon lever escapement. The flying configuration eliminates the upper bridge over the cage, providing an unobstructed view of the rotating escapement from the dial side."},{"q":"What Are the Full Specifications of the Horage Tourbillon 3 Relik?","a":"40mm grade 5 titanium case, 10.8mm thick, 50m water resistant, in-house COSC-certified flying tourbillon, 72-hour power reserve, silicon escapement, fumé midnight blue or champagne dial. Retail price CHF 28,000 (approx. SGD 42,000 / HKD 245,000)."},{"q":"Is the Horage Tourbillon 3 Relik a Good Investment for Asian Collectors?","a":"The combination of sub-500 annual production, genuine in-house manufacture credentials, and the documented 18% year-on-year appreciation trend for independent tourbillons in Asian secondary markets makes the Relik a credible long-term hold. The absence of auction records suggests current owners are not selling — historically a positive signal."},{"q":"Where Can Asian Collectors Acquire the Horage Tourbillon 3 Relik?","a":"The Relik is available through Horage's official website and a limited network of authorised dealers. Asian collectors should contact Horage directly for regional stockist details, as distribution is intentionally restricted to preserve production exclusivity."}],"entities":{"people":["Pascal Winkler"],"organizations":["Horage","Christie's Asia","Bonhams Hong Kong","Phillips","Morgan Stanley","COSC","WatchBox Asia","Chrono24"],"places":["Biel","Singapore","Hong Kong","Tokyo","Shenzhen","Seoul"]}}