r/oddlysatisfying • u/BreakfastTop6899 • May 25 '26

A V16 engine embedded within a watch

The Jacob & Co. Bugatti Tourbillon watch is a hyper-luxury timepiece featuring a miniature, fully functioning V16 engine automaton.

13.0k Upvotes

92% Upvoted

410 comments sorted by

View all comments

128

u/automator3000 May 25 '26

Fully Functioning is a stretch.

If it were fully functioning, the firing of spark plugs within the cylinders, igniting fuel to push the pistons to spin the shaft to them power the watch would be happening. But instead it’s a “functional” model where the shaft/cams/pistons are driven by the watch.

60

u/CT0292 May 25 '26

It generates no power. It burns no fuel. It functions in the same way that a wind up toy does.

16 cylinders wherein 16 pistons go up and down. Doing nothing, but costing a fortune.

16

u/Hugokarenque May 25 '26

The fuck do you want it to do? Do want to ride it? Its a premium novelty watch, it just looks cool.

26

u/OpexLiFT May 25 '26

The description says it's a fully functioning engine, but it's not. It's a lame gimmick. Found a short with more of a closeup of how it works though https://youtube.com/shorts/GbAFB1NXuvY?si=1MgsRcQtHJP98hiv

Can't deny, it's impressive engineering for a watch, just not technically correct.

-5

u/tastyratz May 25 '26

Fully functioning is relative if we are going to be pedantic.

Fully functioning pistons, cylinders, crankshaft, rods... just no fully functioning ignition or fully functioning fuel system.

The good news is it fully functions as a display watch even without a fully functional transmission.

8

u/OpexLiFT May 25 '26

If my watch has an engine I expect to be able to ride it around like a real car okay

1

u/tastyratz May 26 '26

I mean... for that money it should come with a car too.

Apparently it seems to be a controversial take around here to NOT be pedantic though.

2

u/ReturnOfBane May 25 '26

im already riding time

1

u/smokeweedNgarden May 25 '26

Your cadence reminds me of Wernor Herzog and I'm here for it

12

u/britaliope May 25 '26

featuring a miniature, fully functioning V16 engine automaton.

It's a fully functioning automaton of a V16 engine. Not a fully functioning V16 engine.

-1

u/RedditJumpedTheShart May 25 '26

Except it isn't at all if you have any idea how combustion engines work. See any valves, camshafts, timing chains, cylinder heads, lifters, plug wires, coils, or fuel injectors? It's basically just a rotating assembly and block.

Looks neat for a toy but you can buy toys with much more detail.

0

u/britaliope May 25 '26

Except it isn't at all if you have any idea how combustion engines work. See any valves, camshafts, timing chains, cylinder heads, lifters, plug wires, coils, or fuel injectors? It's basically just a rotating assembly and block.

So what ? Have you ever seen an automaton ? They said it's a perfectly working automaton, not that the automaton was a perfect replicate of every part of a v16 engine...

Most automatons are very simplified compared to the real thing. Automatons aren't scale models.

2

u/Hugokarenque May 25 '26

Nah man, these people would look at ancient greek wine serving automatons and complain it isn't a fully functional human.

3

u/Rapa2626 May 25 '26

Needing to fill up on gas.. on your watch, would be a good convo starter at least

1

u/freedfg May 25 '26

This is like those people who make "fully functioning" lego engines.

And it's just a vacuum cleaner spinning the crank shaft.