Cabestan

Cabestan emerged from the creative vision of Jean-François Ruchonnet, a renowned designer and inventor who conceived the idea of a watch with a vertically arranged movement featuring a tourbillon, fusée, and capstan-style winding system. The design was developed between 2003-2005 with yacht themes as inspiration. In 2006, Ruchonnet partnered with banker Andreas Stricker to form Crealux SA, the company behind Cabestan. Famed independent watchmaker Vianney Halter was initially entrusted with technical development, unveiling the first Winch Tourbillon Vertical prototype in 2007. When Halter departed the project, Eric Coudray—former Jaeger-LeCoultre watchmaker and creator of the Gyrotourbillon—joined in 2008 to lead production. The first completed watches appeared that same year. Financial difficulties led Ruchonnet to sell to Timothy Bovard in 2009, who continued production and introduced new models including the Nostromo (2010), Scuderia Ferrari One, and Trapezium (2011). In 2013, Lionel Betoux acquired the company and expanded the collection with the Luna Nera and, in 2015, the extraordinary Triple Axis Tourbillon—likely the only triple-axis tourbillon with fusée and chain transmission ever made. The company appears to have ceased operations around 2020.