Chef Philippe Etchebest spotted wearing a Perrelet

French chef Philippe Etchebest was caught on camera in a professional kitchen environment wearing a Perrelet Turbine, one of the most visually arresting watches in contemporary Swiss horology. The sighting captures him at work alongside a fellow chef, the watch just visible on his wrist — a bold horological choice for someone whose hands are constantly in motion, though fittingly thematic given the Turbine's spinning rotor mechanism.

The close-up image reveals this to be the Perrelet Turbine Double Rotor reference A1047/1, identifiable by its DLC-treated titanium case, the grey-and-red colour scheme, and the distinctive 'DOUBLE ROTOR' inscription in orange on the inner bezel ring. The hallmark of the model is its stacked double-rotor display: two overlapping turbine blade assemblies — one functioning as the automatic winding rotor, the other purely decorative — rotate freely above the dial, creating a hypnotic kinetic effect. Hour and minute are read via the outer chapter ring, a deliberately unconventional layout that prioritises spectacle over instant legibility.

Perrelet's Turbine line, launched in 2008, was a commercial and conceptual breakout for the historic Geneva manufacturer, which traces its roots to Abraham-Louis Perrelet, credited as an early pioneer of the self-winding mechanism in the 18th century. The Double Rotor iteration doubled down on that founding legacy, making the winding rotor itself the centrepiece of the watch's identity. The in-house P-181 automatic calibre powers the piece, offering 35 hours of power reserve.

Philippe Etchebest holds two Michelin stars for his restaurant Le Quatrième Mur in Bordeaux and is one of the most recognisable faces in French culinary television, serving as a recurring judge on M6's Top Chef. His public persona is authoritative and uncompromising — qualities that map well onto a watch that makes no apologies for its industrial, aviation-inspired aesthetic.

On the secondary market, the Perrelet Turbine Double Rotor in DLC titanium trades at a modest discount to retail, reflecting solid brand recognition within enthusiast circles but limited mainstream collectibility. It remains a distinctive proposition for those who value kinetic engineering over horological conservatism.