Actor Brett Goldstein chose to wear the Girard-Perregaux Free Bridge on the occasion of the 2022 Brit Awards, held on February 8th at the O2 Arena in London.
“Free” because aerial, open and liberated from conventions, the Free Bridge is a fresh and technical interpretation of the Girard-Perregaux tradition. The new model takes the liberty of reinterpreting the classics while honouring the strong DNA of the Bridges collection: the perfect link between the past and the future with a touch of design and material innovation.
The Free Bridge and its close sibling, the Free Bridge Infinity Edition, are endowed with a distinctive arrow-shaped Neo that spans the base of the mainplate – like suspended in time – the shape of which upholds the Maison’s iconic arrow-shaped bridge design, but simultaneously reinterprets the contemporary structures often seen in architecture.
The master watchmakers in La Chaux-de-Fonds have reinterpreted the tried and tested GP01800 in-house calibre, adding a sizeable dose of cutting-edge technology. Girard-Perregaux has used silicon to make the escapement and parts of the balance wheel. While silicon is used by some companies, it remains rare despite its many advantages. It is not liable to corrosion, is unaffected by changing temperature, lightweight and less susceptible to magnetic fields.
These attributes confer an array of user-benefits. For example, where some parts made of conventional materials can behave differently at various temperatures, silicon components remain unaffected, delivering consistent timekeeping. In addition, silicon’s low coefficient of friction mitigates both wear and energy consumption.
A full review of the watch can be found here: Review Girard-Perregaux Free Bridge & Free Bridge Infinity Edition