The king of affordable Swiss made tourbillons fires yet another salvo at the establishment with a new flying tourbillon with moonphase priced below the CHF 11k mark. Introducing the Ba111od Chapter 4 Infinity Flying Tourbillon.
Press release information with commentary and hands-on impressions in italics.
New: Ba111od Chapter 4 Infinity Flying Tourbillon
The Ba111od Chapter 4 Infinity Flying Tourbillon is available for pre-order at CHF 10,600 before taxes. Availability in official points of sale will start in November 2025.
Commentary and video
Stanley managed to see the watch at Time to Watches, but I had the pleasure of bumping into Thomas at a coffee shop in downtown Geneva after our shoot at Gerald Charles on Sunday afternoon before WWG started. As we were having sips of our cappuccino, he shoved a watch to me. And it gleamed, bathed in the glorious blue with hints of silver and gold, and revealed two of its key beauty marks. A flying tourbillon sitting within the aperture at 7 o’clock and a kind of special moon phase display at 1 o’clock over an otherwise unmarked dial. The dial is sans hour or minute markers, making it a mystery dial of sorts. But time telling remain quite intuitive and clear, though if one is required read time to the minute precision, one will basically have to make an intelligent guess.
Interesting to have this unmarked dial, considering that the watch has received a chronometer certification from the Observatoire Chronométrique de Genève. We first saw this certification on a Ba111od watch with the Chapter 7, and Thomas Baillod continues this with the new flying tourbillon moon phase. The certification is based on ISO 3159. This same standard is used by COSC. However the certification is issued by Timelab, who also issues the Poinçon de Genève (Geneva Seal) certification, the Observatoire Chronométrique+ certification (this one!) and a horological laboratory. The OC+ certification is based on more thorough and comprehensive testing than the standard ISO 3159 (rev. 2009), which allows the watch to receive the title of ‘chronometer’. Instead of only verifying the chronometric performance of uncased movements, the OC+ procedure does so ‘on-the-wrist’ for the fully assembled watch, under various conditions.
But nonetheless, the watch is a beauty to behold. The dial has an off-centered sun burst pattern on the cosmic blue surface which radiates from the small seconds hand. Interestingly, a modest set of 5s markers are included. The moon is made of a gold flake which is hand hammered and polished. And the tourbillon runs in all its glory beating within the aperture at 7. The dial layout looks very well balanced and aesthetically very pleasing.
The movement is, of course a work from budget king Olivier Mory of BCP Tourbillons. The flying tourbillon runs with an impressive 120 hour power reserve. And is rather nicely finished. On the wrist, the 41mm 904L stainless steel case feels comfortable.
And of course, the price. At a touch below CHF 11k, it beats all others in the Swiss made tourbillon game. We can verify that the movement is completely made in La Chaux-de-Fonds by BCP Tourbillons using components which are sourced within a 2 hour drive from the city. Only the dial, which is made in Geneva, is from a “far” away location. Interesting watch, and yet another cap in Thomas Baillod’s cap. And here we have Thomas explain the watch to us:
YouTube Video
Release information
BA111OD is about to take another step toward haute horlogerie. True to its daring spirit, the Neuchâtel-based Maison continues to push boundaries, venturing into territories where no one expects it. On the occasion of the Spring watch fairs, BA111OD is preparing to unveil its latest masterpiece: the Chapter 4 Infinity Flying Tourbillon. A true symbol of an ongoing quest for perfection, this timepiece — designed for aesthetes and collectors — goes far beyond simply measuring time, elevating itself to a true expression of mechanical poetry.
“When we envisioned the Chapter 4 Infinity Flying Tourbillon, chronometer-certified by the Observatoire Chronométrique de Genève and equipped with complications, we wanted to break the mould. Very few watch brands dare to offer a flying tourbillon with such scientific rigor — especially at such a fair price. That is our strength: defying expectations, delivering unmatched quality while making exclusivity more accessible,” explains Thomas Baillod, founder of BA111OD.
Excellence, Shaped in the Neuchâtel Arc
A true masterpiece of ingenuity, the flying tourbillon embodies the very essence of Swiss haute horlogerie. Freed from its upper bridge, it appears to float in weightlessness, each oscillation embodying the pursuit of excellence. With its continuously rotating cage, it compensates for the effects of gravity, ensuring optimal movement stability.
Developed and crafted by the talented watch designer Olivier Mory, based in La Chaux-de-Fonds — already behind the Chapter Delta and Chapter 4 Tourbillon — the Chapter 4 Infinity Flying Tourbillon by BA111OD stands as a symbol of horological excellence. It reflects the perfection of a singular craftsmanship, where the human hand breathes soul into the mechanics.
Housed in a subtly concave 41mm case of polished 904L steel with welded lugs, this timepiece combines elegance with timeless brilliance. Its subtly off-centered sunray-finished cosmic blue dial captivates with its play of light and harmoniously arranged complications: a hammered and polished moon phase at 1 o’clock, the flying tourbillon at 7 o’clock, and a small seconds at 10 o’clock.
The polished dome and box sapphire crystal unveil the inner beauty of the mechanism, offering a stunning view of the hand-wound mechanical movement and its finely finished flanks.
Excellence, Certified by the Observatoire Chronométrique de Genève
This exceptional timepiece stands out through its chronometer certification awarded by Timelab – the Observatoire Chronométrique de Genève – a guarantee of unmatched precision, particularly in the complex execution of the flying tourbillon, where technical excellence reaches its peak. Boasting an impressive 120-hour (5 day) power reserve, it perfectly unites aesthetics with performance.
Thomas Baillod, founder of BA111OD, explains: “A true feat of engineering, the Chapter 4 Infinity Flying Tourbillon, chronometer-certified, transcends the mere function of timekeeping to embody the perfect harmony between precision and mechanical poetry. Driven by this pursuit of the absolute, BA111OD continues to push the limits of what’s possible — an ambition fueled by the excellence and priceless expertise of our watchmakers and local partners, the true protagonists of this adventure.”
Excellence, Inherited
In the spirit of a centuries-old legacy, BA111OD carries forward a savoir-faire deeply rooted in the history of Swiss watchmaking. Research has revealed that the first Baillods were already active in horology within the canton of Neuchâtel as early as the 18th century. Today, Thomas Baillod continues to breathe new life into this tradition, exploring uncharted territory while remaining faithful to the values of fine Swiss watchmaking.
Driven by a constant pursuit of innovation, daring, and democratization, his brand transcends established norms, continually pushing the boundaries of horological precision and aesthetic expression.
Ba111od Chapter 4 Infinity Flying Tourbillon Technical information
Case 904L stainless steel, 41mm case with welded lugs
Crown At 4 o’clock (a brand signature), engraved with the BA111OD emblem
Crystal Box-shaped sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective coating
Dial Off-centered sunray-finished cosmic blue with white Super-Luminova hands
Movement Manual-winding mechanical movement BA.02 (based on BCP Tourbillon), 21,600 vph (3 Hz), variable-inertia balance wheel, 19 jewels. Tourbillon at 7 o’clock. Watch head chronometer-certified by the Observatoire Chronométrique de Genève
Complications Hours – Minutes – Off-centered small seconds * Moon phase * Flying tourbillon
Power reserve 120 hours (5 days)
Strap Dark blue calf leather with crocodile-style embossing, pin buckle.
Water resistance 50 m
Magnetic resistance 2000 Gauss
Shock resistance 5000G
Edition Numbered
Warranty 3 years
