Girard Perregaux

SIHH 2012: Girard-Perregaux Laureato Tourbillon With Three Bridges

 

PRESS RELEASE

LAUREATO TOURBILLON WITH THREE BRIDGES
Watchmaking in levitation

In 1889, Girard-Perregaux presented its Tourbillon with three gold Bridges at the Universal Exhibition in Paris, and was crowned with a gold medal. Its new contemporary creation the Laureato Tourbillon with three Bridges has also inspired enthusiasm and admiration. Paying homage to its illustrious predecessor, the numbered, limited edition of 10 pieces houses a tourbillon with 72 components that performs one rotation per minute. Three translucent blue parallel bridges act as a beautiful audience for this spectacle and unveil the iconic architecture of a piece that is lighter than time itself. 

Despite its complexity, the tourbillon successfully returns to the origins of watchmaking complications, which have been created by Girard-Perregaux for over 220 years. During the first half of the 19th century, the watchmaker Constant Girard-Perregaux carried out research in order to produce a high-quality tourbillon escapement. In 1860 its first incarnation won first prize at the Neuchâtel Observatory. It was fitted with a tourbillon movement and a barrel positioned under three parallel bridges. The three bridges then took the form of arrows and were made from gold. In 1889, Girard-Perregaux presented its Tourbillon with three gold Bridges at the Universal Exhibition in Paris, and was rewarded with a gold medal.

Girard-Perregaux revisits this heritage with the Laureato Tourbillon, an alliance of innovation and tradition. Although it looks to the future, it still carries within it the essence of the Girard-Perregaux tradition and is a successful example of the Manufacture's continuing efforts in favour of respect for the highest technical demands and the most beautiful interpretations of time.

Steeped in history, the Laureato Tourbillon with three Bridges also draws its aesthetic origins from the style of the 1970s. Its strong, bold, contemporary design sets it apart from its peers. Its octagonal platinum bezel alternates satin-brushed and polished finishes to powerful effect. Its case-back, closed with six screws with a sapphire crystal, offers an extraordinary view of the movement. On the front, the guilloché circular mainplate is topped with sporty luminescent baton-shaped hands that impose their assertive character in this area entirely dedicated to transparency.

Girard-Perregaux master of the art of the tourbillon
Designed to eliminate imprecisions caused by the negative attraction of the earth's gravitational pull, the tourbillon, which performs one rotation per minute around its axis, has become a Girard-Perregaux speciality over the last 150 years. The Manufacture has taken the liberty of creating a unique spectacle, showcasing its creativity and passion in an eminently architectural interpretation. The nobility of such a feat is displayed in the three blue spinel bridges whose translucent, airy personality perfectly accompanies the ethereal ballet of the tourbillon mechanism. The tribute to Constant Girard-Perregaux who introduced the first structure is vibrant. 

Mystery and transparency, technical and artistic genius: the three bridges adopt a classic design that highlights the beauty of the tourbillon: at 12 o'clock for the barrel bridge, in the centre for the central bridge and at 6 o'clock for the tourbillon bridge. They offer an unobstructed view of the Girard-Perregaux Manufacture mechanical movement with automatic winding.

A quest for perfection
With its 72 components weighing approximately 0.3 grammes, the tourbillon represents technical and aesthetic perfection. Meticulously decorated, all the parts respect the sophistication of the piece. The upper and lower frames are chamfered and polished by hand, the frame is balanced with gold regulating screws, the escapement and lever bridges are chamfered and polished by hand.

The tiniest details of the 241 components of the movement are eye-catchingly beautiful. The balance spring is equipped with a Philips terminal curve; the rhodium-plated mainplate has a circular guilloché top, a circular-grained and circular guilloché underside as well as hand-polished angles; the barrel has a hand-engraved circular-grained openwork cover, circular-grained underside and hand-polished angles; the gear-train bridge is ennobled with hand-polished re-entrant angles, circular guilloché, hand-polished recesses and an eagle crest, the Girard-Perregaux signature.

This work of art obeys only the laws of boldness, perfection and mechanical challenge. Limited edition of 10 copies, delivered with an integrated metal bracelet with H-shaped links, water-resistant to 30 metres, the Laureato Tourbillon with three Bridges transcends the qualities of the tourbillon. It symbolises all the expertise of a brand that for over 220 years has been combining tradition and craftsmanship with excellence.

LAUREATO TOURBILLON WITH THREE BRIDGES
Technical specifications

Titanium case, vertical satin-brushed finish, with anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Bezel: octagonal, platinum, circular satin-brushed finish
Case-back: closed with 6 screws with anti-reflective sapphire crystal and hand-engraved individual number
Dimensions: 42.60 mm   
Water resistance: 30 metres
Crown: rhodium-plated white gold with engraved GP logo
Hands: "baton" type, diamond-polished and luminescent

Girard-Perregaux 9600-0004 movement
Mechanical with automatic winding
Functions: Tourbillon, hours, minutes, small seconds on the Tourbillon
Dimensions: 12¼''' - 28.60 mm
Total height: 6.54 mm
Number of components: 241
Jewels: 31
Power reserve: minimum 48 hours
Winding: automatic, platinum micro-rotor co-axial to the barrel
Frequency: 21,600 vibrations / hour (3 Hz)
Balance wheel: variable inertia with gold regulating screws (diameter: 8.35 mm)
Balance spring: Philips terminal curve
Mainplate: rhodium-plated, circular guilloché top, circular-grained and circular guilloché underside, hand-polished angles
Barrel: openwork cover, hand-engraved and circular-grained, circular-grained underside. Hand-polished angles
Bridges: barrel, centre and tourbillon in spinels, gold settings with the exposed parts polished and the surfaces hand-circular-grained. 2 flat-head screws per bridge
Gear-train bridge: hand-polished re-entrant angles, circular guilloché and hand-polished recess, GP eagle decoration
Tourbillon: 72 components, 0.3 g, one rotation per minute, upper and lower frames circular-grained and polished by hand, balanced with gold regulating screws, escapement and pallet bridges and lever bridge circular-grained and polished by hand

Titanium bracelet, central links with horizontal satin-brushed finish and H-shaped external links with vertical satin-brushed finish
Clasp: folding, titanium, with GP logo engraved

Numbered, limited edition of 10 pieces

Reference 99071-27-001-21A

This message has been edited by dxboon on 2012-01-16 12:19:36 This message has been edited by dxboon on 2012-01-16 12:54:15 This message has been edited by dxboon on 2012-01-16 12:56:52 This message has been edited by dxboon on 2012-01-20 07:36:09

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