Girard Perregaux

Girard-Perregaux, Tourbillon Bi-Axial tantalum, Reference: 99810-81-000-BA6A

Jun 02, 2014,00:36 AM

Friends,

As you know I had the opportunity to visit the Manufacture a couple of months ago.

When you visit a Manufacture, doesn’t matter which one, there are a couple of “mandatory” stops on the way that you have to do. One of them is the “collection show”.

This is the part where the brand shows the best they have! And then some…

I knew this would also be the case at Girard-Perregaux, so I mentally prepared myself. But once you are shown their treasures… There is nothing that can prepare you for that!

After X numbers of watches your mind gets numb and can’t take in more impressions. First a few days later you start to realize what you have seen and which ones are your favorites!

Afterwards there will be a few of the watches you saw that get stuck in your mind. These are the dangerous once! These are the once that you will dwell about, get obsessed about…

There were many fantastic watches I had the chance to see and try, but the one that stuck… The one to eat my brain… It is one of the novelties from last year, the Bi-Axial tantalum Tourbillon!

FYI: This is not a technical review, for technical specifications, please see the Press release from last year:

news.watchprosite.com =

This is purely an “emotional review” of my personal thoughts when encounter this watch! Yes, I know – as some already pointed out, a tad quirky… But sometimes I think we focus a bit too much on the technical specifications rather than on what a watch makes us feel and since this is the Purists, where passion and pleasure is a big part, here goes…

For me this is a killer watch! Literally!

You know Japanese Sports motorcycles; they often have cool and dangerous names like “Samurai”, “Ninja” or “Katana”…

If that would be the case for Swiss High End horology – this one would be called something like “Assassin”, “Stealth Worrier” or “Black Knight”!

The first words that comes to mind when I see this watch is; Dangerous, Lethal, Powerful, … Maybe not very positive or friendly words… But all I could think when I laid my eyes on this black creature was – I MUST try this one on my wrist!

Big mistake, I should not have done that.

Already when I lift the watch up, I feel the power! It’s like gravity is double on the watch. Heavy. Super heavy! Not a big fan of black case watches, but the surface of the Tantalum is astounding! Matt polished, dark metal… Matt, but still with a hint of shine, hiding just under the surface. Tantalum is only 5 Atomic numbers from Platinum. Atomic Mass (amu) TA: 180.948 verses PL: 195.078.

The two big Dauphine hands look like shiny sharp blades, just waiting to cut something in pieces…

The three black sapphire bridges (the third is on the Tourbillon cage) looks like hi-tech body armor. This watch could stop a bullet!

The only thing breaking the grey and sliver scales are the Tourbillon in gold. Like an all seeing eye, never resting, constant on the move… Searching for the next target…

The big red jewel on top of the elliptic pattern decorated barrel enhances this feeling. Yes, I get a bit of Lord of the Rings feeling here – the black tower with the beaming eye!

A zoom in on the dial shows the circular pattern and you can also see the ellipses on the barrel. I get almost a radioactive feeling of the watch!

The open case back gives a full view of the Bi-Axis Tourbillon rotating.

Here seen from another angle. Even the movement looks bullet proof!

And on the wrist…

Oh yeah!

Lethal! With this one on my wrist… Bond, kiss my ***!

Sorry, folks – I know this is maybe not a traditional review of a watch… But what a watch!

A killer in my book!

My name is Blomman, Jason Blomman

This message has been edited by blomman on 2014-06-09 22:36:08

Comments: view entire thread

This watch have very little to do with "normal"watches

By: moc : June 2nd, 2014-02:33

I had the possibility to see it , try it and admire it more than once, it's the coolest watch I ve seen in a while. Sorry blomman but this watch has nothing to do , even remotely , with the "black watches" category; tantalum is a material that is hard to ...

Agree, not a "black watch"!

By: blomman Mr Blue : June 2nd, 2014-13:42

The tantalum do not fall into that category! I find the material spellbinding... I don't know how many times/hours I have been looking at this watch... Often it takes me a long time just to pass the case and start look on the dial/movement! Such a stunnin...

Not my cup of tea at all... but boy is it COOL!! [nt]

By: secretlife : June 2nd, 2014-02:41

Not for everybody....

By: blomman Mr Blue : June 2nd, 2014-13:47

I think this is a watch you either love or hate - but either way, you can't deny its coolness! :) Best Blomman

It is amazing

By: Ares501 - Mr Green : June 2nd, 2014-03:05

how this watch "transforms" once on wrist On static shot is very no no for me but once on wrist is so so inclining to I need to try it or maybe I'm just in love with you :) :) ;) Best D

I am blushing, my friend! ;)

By: blomman Mr Blue : June 2nd, 2014-13:50

If you have a chance - you should try it on! Up close it looks like a lethal weapon, but on the wrist - it's Super Cool! :) Best, dear Damjan Blomman

Bruce Wayne Edition :-)

By: SALMANPK : June 2nd, 2014-06:10

Does it come with a Kevlar re-enforced strap? :-) very cool piece. S

Damn! One more on my grail list :)

By: Horology75 : June 2nd, 2014-10:05

any idea on the retail price?

A dealer near me has it.....

By: WHL : June 2nd, 2014-11:44

and it is $484,750. Though my favorite of the haute horlogerie piece from GP right now is the 1966 Minute Repeater......and it's only a (large) fraction of the price of the bi-axial! Bill

Agree on the MR 1966, Bill!

By: blomman Mr Blue : June 2nd, 2014-13:54

That is a fantastic watch as well, and maybe more watch for the money (depending on what you are after)... But, it's not a Batman watch! ;) Best Blomman

Not in standard... But, the Batman edition does! ;)

By: blomman Mr Blue : June 2nd, 2014-13:52

Yes, this is a "Dark Knight" watch! :) Best Blomman

Another modern interpretation of the Tourbillon with bridges.

By: amanico : June 2nd, 2014-08:35

And this one works for me too. The tantalum case, this inimitable color, which blends grey and grey blue, the dark dial, and the density of the Watch, without forgetting the magic of the dancing Tourbillon, all that contributes to the fatal appeal of this...

Why so serious?! ;)

By: blomman Mr Blue : June 2nd, 2014-14:06

Honestly, I started to write this review as a "normal" review, but each time I looked at this watch.... The only thing I could think of was the feel it gave me! But even if my thoughts might be a bit "quirky", the photos talks for them self - this is a ki...

Agreed. Plesantly frightening, maybe? [nt]

By: amanico : June 2nd, 2014-14:08

Lethal attraction! ;) [nt]

By: blomman Mr Blue : June 2nd, 2014-14:22

Not bad, not bad! [nt]

By: amanico : June 2nd, 2014-21:20

Goodness, this piece would make one proud as a GP moderator!

By: Echi : June 3rd, 2014-00:56

Fantaaaastic piece!!! I like how you described the gold on the tourbillon as an all seeing eye that never rests. Honestly, this piece just blew me away. I thought it was hard to top the Laureato 3 bridges but the bridges on this one is very very intriguin...

As a GP moderator I am ...

By: blomman Mr Blue : June 3rd, 2014-03:19

Very proud! Not only because of all the fantastic watches offered by GP, but mostly because of the great community that we have here! :) Thank you for your input, Echi - I will come back to this watch for sure! Best Blomman

handsome piece indeed

By: lien : June 3rd, 2014-06:25

thx for sharing:) cheers, ed~

My pleasure, Ed! :)

By: blomman Mr Blue : June 3rd, 2014-12:32

This watch is "eating my brain".... Why should it not take a bit of yours...! ;) Best Blomman

OK, I have a favorite new GP.

By: MichaelC : June 6th, 2014-20:37

This is awesome!! The tantalum case really makes it for me, and lends the watch a much more "conceptual" look. Great photos, love this watch!

You and me both, Michael...

By: blomman Mr Blue : June 7th, 2014-01:24

Yes, a killer watch! :) Thank you for you input. Best Blomman

Unbelievable, the bridge on the tourbillon is amazing. [nt]

By: doubleup : June 9th, 2014-14:05

Yes, one of the details that...

By: blomman Mr Blue : June 9th, 2014-14:44

Really blow me away! Love it! :) Best Blomman

Another great report. I love the three bridges but this Bi-Axial tantalum Tourbillon is a killer. [nt]

By: Bill : September 8th, 2015-16:33

Yes, lethal in every sense! :)

By: blomman Mr Blue : September 9th, 2015-13:50

Thank you, Bill! Best Blomman

Well, what should one add, that hasn't been mentioned during this thread.. Yes: Stealth & Black Knight come into my mind !.. ;))

By: hs111 : September 9th, 2015-00:38

Other than that it\'s a pretty unique modern incarnation within the 3-Bridges Tourbi Series from GP.. - Of course I love the 2+1 Bridges, and the effects of this amazing Tantalum case vs Bridges & hands, also the way the few gold components help to genera...