As is the case for many superb inventions, aventurine glass was created by accident. In the 19^th century, a glass-blower in the Italian city of Murano happened to spill some copper shavings into molten glass. This gave rise to aventurine glass, now a much sought-after material, scattered with copper inclusions and named after the Italian expression "a l’avventura", literally "by chance" – a tribute to this lucky twist of fate.

Parmigiani Fleurier has produced numerous special editions that employ it to stunning effect on their dials. These pieces are called "Galaxy" as a reminder of the sparkling constellations evoked by the material. Likewise, the Kalpa Tourbillon Galaxy represents a star-scattered sky that tells the story of the passage of time.
 

The Kalpa Tourbillon Galaxy is equipped with a 30-second tourbillon which is exclusive to the Parmigiani Fleurier watchmaking centre and a feat of production. Rotating twice per minute rather than once, this tourbillon doubles the compensating effect on the force of gravity. This hand-wound movement has a double barrel mounted in series, giving it a power reserve of one week, a rare feat for a complication such as this. The movement bridges are hand-bevelled, creating a spectacular play of light, and every surface is decorated to the highest standards of Haute Horlogerie.