foversta
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The Vintage 1945 exhibition at the Bon Marché in Paris
Thanks to Girard-Perregaux France, a great exhibition is currently organized at the Bon Marché, the famous big store located on the left bank of Paris. The aim of this exhibition is to highlight the 70th anniversary of the Vintage 1945 collection from the very first watch to the latest models.
Actually, you will find two big surprises at this exhibition: the first one is the presence of the watch which gave to Luigi Macaluso the idea in 1995 to launch the collection we know. The second surprise is that you will be able to see an avant-premiere, a watch we will discover at Baselworld and which celebrates the 70th anniversary.
Since the pictures of this watch were not allowed I can't show it to you. The only way to discover it is to visit the exhibition... and you have several days in front of you to do so because it ends the 21st of March.
I propose you to browse the pictures I took during my visit of the exhibition.
The exhibition is set up on the 4 corners of the department of luxury watches:
Actually, you will find two big surprises at this exhibition: the first one is the presence of the watch which gave to Luigi Macaluso the idea in 1995 to launch the collection we know. The second surprise is that you will be able to see an avant-premiere, a watch we will discover at Baselworld and which celebrates the 70th anniversary.
Since the pictures of this watch were not allowed I can't show it to you. The only way to discover it is to visit the exhibition... and you have several days in front of you to do so because it ends the 21st of March.
I propose you to browse the pictures I took during my visit of the exhibition.
The exhibition is set up on the 4 corners of the department of luxury watches:
The current Vintage 1945 collection:
Obviously, Girard-Perregaux takes advantage of this event to remind to the visitors that its Manufacture is able to produce a wide range of complications. One of its specialities is the Three Bridges Tourbillon which is more than a proof of skills: it is a trademark, a symbol. It is the reason why along with two of the most complicated Vintage 1945, a Neo-Tourbillon is also displayed.
From the pocket watches...
...to the watch which inspired the Vintage 1945 collection...
... to the latest years, the exhibition covers the main steps of the rich history of the brand.
I first saw the Vintage 1945 Jackpot several years ago. I sill have this souvenir in my mind because the watch represents one of the first pieces which offers an interactivity to his happy and lucky owner!
This watch is of course impressive, bulky (its thickness is above 17mm to create enough space to make the slot machine work) but mainly enjoyable. Since each roll features 5 items, 125 combinations are available. Enough to play and to play again!
I often wonder if the pleasure comes from the random display, from the rolls behaviour or from the chime mechanism. A mix of everything I suppose!
This watch is of course impressive, bulky (its thickness is above 17mm to create enough space to make the slot machine work) but mainly enjoyable. Since each roll features 5 items, 125 combinations are available. Enough to play and to play again!
I often wonder if the pleasure comes from the random display, from the rolls behaviour or from the chime mechanism. A mix of everything I suppose!
Even if the large tourbillon bridge fills the lower part of the dial, our eyes are attracted by this fun and visually appealing complication: the slot machine!
You will notice the rolls and the visible hammer movement side. The 3hz handwind movement has a power reserve over 75 hours.
The Vintage 1945 Jackpot on the wrist. You have to consider that the watch case is almost square (43 x 43,95mm). We recognize the Vintage 1945 style thanks to the curved case and the lugs shape.
This is what I call the joystick! The lever to make the slot machine start is located on the right side of the case by the crown:
We stay with a Vintage 1945 Tourbillon watch... but I would say in a more reasonable context. If it is very funny at the end because the Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges is a superlative watch but it looks so quiet, almost shy when seen after the Jackpot!
I much prefer the Three Gold Bridges in this rectangular case because I think that the straight bridges work better with this shape.
I also like the very sober way to integrate a winding mass dial side. The watch seems to use a handwind mechanism but it takes advantage of an automatic one with a power reserve of two days. The winding mass and the Tourbillon zone create a vertical symmetry:
With a 36,2 x 35,25mm case, the watch manages to be at the same time elegant with a quite strong presence of the wrist. This Vintage 1945 Three Gold Bridges Tourbillon is maybe my fav contemporary Girard-Perregaux and I was very happy to put it again on the wrist.
But any collection has an origin. The Vintage 1945 collection finds its roots in the watch below. At first glance, it looks like a mere rectangular watch. But a more accurate observation allows to find a lot of original details.
The two tones case first which combines a SS bezel and gold sides. The shape of the lugs. The proportions which mix a rectangle (if you consider the dial only) and a square (if you look at the case). The peripheral railroad. The applied figures. These details were subsequently used to define what would be the Vintage 1945 collection.
The two tones case first which combines a SS bezel and gold sides. The shape of the lugs. The proportions which mix a rectangle (if you consider the dial only) and a square (if you look at the case). The peripheral railroad. The applied figures. These details were subsequently used to define what would be the Vintage 1945 collection.
The Alpha hands are not used anymore and were replaced by Dauphine hands:
I'm very proud to wear a part of the Girard-Perregaux history. How luck I am!
The origins and today's offer: of course the sizes are not the same but the family air is still here! But we don't have to forget the non-round watches look bigger than their sizes may suggest and honestly I think that we have reached the upper limit with the XXL case. I would suggest to Girard-Perregaux to never cross it.
The contemporary watch looks bigger on the picture because it is located on the foreground:
This picture depicts better the difference of the actual sizes of the watches:
At the end, the most important is to consider that the Vintage 1945 is currently a strong pillar of the Girard-Perregaux catalogue. Two of my fav 2014 watches belong to this collection: the blue dial one and the large date&moonphase with transparent dial. A proof that the Vintage 1945 has a bright future! 70th anniversary... and still very active and seducing! It is the reason why the exhibition at the Bon Marché is more than welcome: it reminds to the visitors that there are some very valuable rectangular watches out of the classic Reverso or Tank...
Thanks to the Girard-Perregaux France team for its availability.
Fr.Xavier
This message has been edited by foversta on 2015-03-07 14:27:24
The Vintage 1945 exhibition at the Bon Marché in Paris
Thanks to Girard-Perregaux France, a great exhibition is currently organized at the Bon March, the famous big store located on the left bank of Paris. The aim of this exhibition is to highlight the 70th anniversary of the Vintage 1945 collection from the...
Marvelous pictures of marvelous watches
All splendid but that Jackpot Tourby is just summit for me Thank you for fueling the dream Yours Damjan
Thanks Damjan!
Sadly we need to win at the Casino, the actual Casino, to buy this watch! ;) Fx
The Vintage 45 has become an icon, a milestone for GP and for GP lovers...
And also, probably, for Watch lovers in general. I can't wait to see what GP will unveil for the 70th anniversary of this model. As I previously wrote, they put the bar very high with the Mechanics of Art... But I am pretty sure they can put the bar even ...
Thank you, Fx for this great coverage!
The Jackpot is such a cool watch! :) Best Blomman
+3 for the three gold bridges and so many thanks
for reminding me what a great watch the Jackpot is to wear and enjoy when you have a large wrist like mine. I was the model for the Jackpot when it first came out. An incredibly exciting day at the manufacture and the first organized visit by a group of P...
