The Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges Ruby Heart unites Haute Horologerie with natural ruby heart. Inspired by the romantic union of Constant Girard and Marie Perregaux, the specification of this model includes an 18-carat pink gold case, measuring 38mm in diameter. Encompassing numerous precious stones and refined finishing, this latest creation brims with passion and symbolises love.
Born out of love
The prestigious name, ‘Girard-Perregaux’ was born out of love. Constant Girard, the founder of Girard & Co., a firm based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, met Marie Perregaux, the daughter of an important watchmaker from nearby Le Locle. Clearly in love, the couple wed in 1854. Two years later, their respective surnames were combined, leading to a new name joining the rarefied heights of Haute Horlogerie, ‘Girard-Perregaux’. Since then, the company has become known for creating timepieces that evoke emotions.
A wonderful expression of elegance
Girard-Perregaux is also synonymous with La Esmeralda (1889), a tourbillon pocket watch equipped with three gold bridges. With the advent of this model, the Maison treated the bridges not merely as functional parts but also as aesthetic elements. Over the years, the Three Gold Bridges have appeared on other Girard-Perregaux models and have become an indelible part of the company’s history.
Now, the company is pleased to unveil a new chapter in the brand’s story, the Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges Ruby Heart, a timepiece infused with a notable dose of elegance. As the name suggests, red hues abound, conveying a sense of passion.
Patrick Pruniaux, CEO of Girard-Perregaux, remarks, “With this latest model, we have celebrated the iconic Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges but refined it to allow for smaller proportions. At the start of the development process for this model, we looked to our past and were inspired by the romance between Constant Girard and Marie Perregaux. We chose to combine a tourbillon, a highly desirable complication, with ruby heart and other precious stones. In my opinion, the resultant timepiece is a wonderful expression of love.”
The dial is carved from ruby heart, a natural material formed within the centre of a zoisite stone. Carefully selected for its quality and appearance, the ruby heart is cut into thin plates, shaped and polished to the desired thickness. The resultant dial surface is rich in detail, accentuating the beauty of the Three Gold Bridges.
In this instance, Girard-Perregaux has subtly reshaped the Three Gold Bridges, ensuring they optimally suit this creation. Each bridge is hand-finished and hand-polished, sitting in concert with the rest of the movement. The peerless finishing of the bridges includes mirror polishing throughout, save for their satin-finished sides.
The three eponymous bridges sit beneath dauphine-type hour and minute hands. The upper bridge, located at 12 o’clock, straddles the barrel, itself adorned with a hand-engraved white gold disc, delivering eye-catching reflections and bestowing a shimmering allure. Located beneath the central bridge, the wearer can see the hour wheel. The final bridge, positioned at the base of the dial, spans the tourbillon. Upholding Girard-Perregaux tradition, the tourbillon features a lyre-shaped tourbillon cage which, in this instance, is comprised of 79 components and weighs a mere 0.3g. The low mass of the cage mitigates power consumption, contributing to the model’s impressive power-reserve of at least 50 hours. A blued steel hand is affixed to the tourbillon cage and serves as a small seconds display.
The Calibre GP09600-1620 is a self-winding movement employing a micro-rotor located unobtrusively behind the barrel. Once again, Girard-Perregaux demonstrates its no-compromise approach to watchmaking. Each part is polished, chamfered and carved out by hand to 1/100mm (the average diameter of a human hair) according to the finest traditions in watchmaking.
Formed of 18-carat pink gold, the case measures 38mm in diameter. The bezel and upper lug surfaces are adorned with 56 brilliant-cut diamonds ~1,25 cts. Moreover, the bezel is adorned with 18 brilliant-cut rubies ~0.36 ct which are positioned adjacent the red alligator strap. The watch is affixed to the wrist with a folding buckle presented in pink gold and set with 18 brilliant-cut diamonds ~0.20 cts. The crown is fitted with a cabochon formed of polished ruby heart. This combination of precious stones provides a seemly accompaniment to this exemplar of Haute Horlogerie.
Dressed in red hues, the Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges Ruby Heart is ideally suited to incurable romantics seeking a paragon of refined watchmaking imbued with an extraordinary quotient of passion.
The Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges Ruby Heart is limited to 3 pieces and is immediately available via select authorised Girard-Perregaux retailers.
Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges Ruby Heart Technical Specifications
Reference: 99242B52CH01-CKHA
Limited and numbered edition of 3 pieces
World price CHF 178,800
Functions
- Tourbillon,
- hours, minutes, small seconds on the tourbillon
Movement
- Reference: GP09600-1620
- Self-winding mechanical movement
- Diameter: 32 mm (141/4‘’’)
- Height: 6.87 mm
- Frequency: 21,600 Vib/h – (3Hz)
- Number of components: 283
- Number of jewels: 31
- Power reserve: min. 50 hours
- Tourbillon cage made of 79 components, weighing 0.3g
Case & Dial
- Material: pink gold set with 56 brilliant-cut diamonds ~1.25 cts & 18 brilliant-cut rubies ~0.36 ct, crown set with one ruby heart cabochon
- Diameter: 38.00 mm
- Height: 11.35 mm
- Glass: sapphire anti-reflective
- Case-back: sapphire crystal
- Dial: ruby heart
- Hands: ‘Dauphine’ type
- Water resistance: 30 metres (3 ATM)
Strap & Buckle
- Material: red alligator
- Buckle: folding, pink gold set with 18 diamonds, ~0.20 ct
- The timepiece will be delivered with an additional complimentary black alligator strap
About Girard-Perregaux
Founded in 1791, Girard-Perregaux is one of the oldest fine watchmaking manufactures still in operation and is appreciated by those in the know. Indeed, the firm’s history is dotted with exceptional creations that skilfully blend aesthetics and functionality. These models include the iconic Laureato, born in 1975, as well as the legendary Tourbillon ‘With Three Gold Bridges,’ a watch that made the invisible visible, transforming bridges from just a technical element to an integral part of the timepiece – a first in watchmaking. Girard-Perregaux’s place at the vanguard of horological innovation is confirmed by over one hundred recorded patents together with numerous prizes and distinctions. It remains one of the few watchmakers to retain Manufacture status for over two centuries by mastering all the required horological skills in-house and making watches infused with a notable degree of authenticity. While Girard-Perregaux respects its heritage, it continues to look ahead, embracing new technologies, state of the art materials, and fresh takes on iconic shapes.