The Reason
Influenced by the original Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges pocket watch, this timepiece represents one of the most recent stages (2021) in the evolution of the most important model in Girard-Perregaux’s history. A modern twist on the iconic signature.
Functions
An automatic micro-rotor winding system, minute Tourbillon calibre with central minutes and hours indication.
Introduction
The influence for this model originates from the Three Bridges original pocket watch but unlike its wristwatch predecessors, the form of the Three Bridges and the main-plate have evolved onto an entirely new level of design.
Technical Specifications
Case material titanium. Case diameter 45 mm. Anti-reflective sapphire crystals. Water-resistance 30 meters (3 atm). Mechanical self-winding automatic. Movement diameter 36.60 mm. Height 9.54 mm. Frequency 21,600 Vph - (3 Hz). Number of components 260. Jewels 27. Oscillating weight white gold micro-rotor. Power reserve minimum 60h.
Recto-verso close up of cased-up movement.
Profile image showing the ‘box’ sapphire crystal. This type of sapphire allows for the profile of the calibre to be easily viewed and more light to enter the watch case high-lighting the dimensionality of the movement.
A box sapphire is similar in design to early perspex armoured glasses in style, rising high above the case opposed to being flush into the bezel as is often found with sapphire crystals.
The case back is fixed to the centre by 5 stainless steel screws. A silicon seal is placed on the inner surface of the case back, pushing against the case centre to assure the case back remains water-resistant.
The two raised, black rear bridges follow the design of those viewed from the front of the watch. When the case back is screwed in place they sit in the hollow of the rear sapphire glass.
The movement removed from the case and the stem returned to the movement.
In recent years the sophistication of modern manufacturing techniques combined with hand decoration has allowed for increasing creativity in the design and manufacture of components. The skeletonised, aerial, curved form of the bridges are a perfect example of what can be achieved today.
Although the design is modern and the bridges made with CNC machining the final decoration of the components is executed by hand before the black and grey plating treatments are applied.
In addition to the manual finishing of the calibre, all of the movements are assembled and adjusted by hand.
In the centre of the image the large steel ratchet wheel meshes both with the automatic mechanism and the manual wind upper crown wheel. A series of clicks allows the manual winding without affecting the automatic mechanism and visa-versa.
The white gold minute and hour hands removed from the movement.
SuperLuminova paint is applied to the inner part of the white gold hands to generate a capillary effect.
The Tourbillon cage bridge removed.
The cage removed.
Multiple views of the hand-finished cage removed from the movement. The titanium Tourbillon cage is composed of 80 components, weighing 0.250 grams
The upper cage bridge follows the original Girard-Perregaux design from the mid-19th century.
The lower pinion meshes with the 3rd wheel that drives the cage.
Side view of the cage showing the balance spring overcoil.
The cage and 3 bridges removed from the movement.
The three bridges shown at different angles to demonstrate the complexity of the design.
The barrel removed from the movement.
Multiple views of the barrel and patented micro-rotor assembly.
The barrel on top holding the mainspring, the patented micro-rotor below.
The barrel is skeletonised to follow the overall design of the movement.
The barrel arbor that hooks and winds the mainspring passes through the white gold micro-rotor which in-turn pivots on the arbor.
The barrel-rotor assembly sits in the centre of the assembly below. The bird-shaped click is the first to prevent the small ratchet pinion from unwinding as the barrel mainspring is wound.
The movement partially dismantled leaving the centre wheel and winding mechanism in place.
In the lower centre, in focus, is the fixed wheel around which the escape-wheel pinion meshes driving the escapement as the tourbillon cage turns.
The angles on the arms of the centre wheel are finished manually as is the fine circular graining.
The view from the back of the watch with the front dismantled, except for the centre wheel.
The cage and centre wheel bridges mirror the design of those on the front of the watch.
The black bridges removed from the back of the movement.
The detail and thought of the calibre is well illustrated in this image with the multiple levels of wheels all with the same geometric design and finishing, as well as the skeletonised mainplate with multiple internal corner angles, finished by hand.
The motion work that passes through the centre wheel to drive the hands.
Two of the automatic mechanism wheels.
The offset upper crown wheel that meshes with the ratchet wheel.
Summary
The Neo-Tourbillon with Three Bridges Skeleton is a well-balanced, original and cleanly executed modern interpretation of the early Three Bridges Tourbillon concept. It has a solid construction as with the original pocket watch and the more recent Girard-Perregaux wristwatch counterparts.
It retains the early philosophy of Girard-Perregaux whilst moving in an entirely new direction in design. The sculptured aerial 3D bridges with matt surfaces, polished angles, modern monochromatic colours and skeletonised main-plate are congruent: the symmetrical design is reinforced by the mirrored rear bridges that are of the same sculptured form.
Technically the hand-finished Tourbillon cage is traditional and classic in design, the automatic mechanism is original and well calculated to reduce and avoid the automatic patented micro-rotor from disturbing the main emphasis of the calibre, the Girard-Perregaux Three Gold Bridges.
GALLERY
In the grid below are both images used in the description of this page plus more. Please click on the image to enlarge and see in full.
To learn more about Girard-Perregaux