Girard-Perregaux: Neo Tourbillon With Three Bridges Skeleton

Girard-Perregaux presents the Neo Tourbillon with Three Bridges Skeleton is, an extension of several Brand fundamentals. The first is the 1884 patent for a tourbillon with three bridges visible on the dial side, the principle underlying the “With Three Gold Bridges” architecture and signature of Girard-Perregaux fine watchmaking. The second is the skeleton working on this type of movement, that Girard-Perregaux has been practicing since 1998. The third stage was the birth in 2014 of the Neo Tourbillon with Three Bridges. The latter were not straight, flat or in gold, but instead arched, taut, rounded, openworked and black. Combining these three important pillars of the Girard-Perregaux identity has given rise to the Neo Tourbillon with Three Bridges Skeleton.

The new Neo Tourbillon with Three Bridges Skeleton is presented in a 45 mm-diameter titanium case measuring 15.85 mm high. The satin-brushed bombed case band is distinguished by the total absence of any bezel. Its polished lugs are perched high on the case so as to create a strong and early inflection. It is this curve that ensures the Neo Tourbillon with Three Bridges Skeletonsits so snugly on any wrist, however small.

The architecturally-based construction is an omnipresent factor in the work of Girard-Perregaux.  Dominated by sapphire rather than titanium, the case of the Neo Turbillon with Tre Ponti Scheletrato is built so as to maximise the view of the movement, itself based on the principle of transparency. The dial-side crystal is of the glass box type, steeply cambered and convex. It rises vertically from the case, before changing angle to cover the heart of the watch. The caseback crystal is also convex, meaning that, when viewed from the side, the Neo Tourbillon with Three Bridges Skeletonis a band of grey metal with a matt appearance achieved by satin brushing, framed by two sapphire protrusions. In architecture, these are what are referred to as the “skin” of a construction. This technical and visual layer ensures transparency and reveals the structure, revealing the internal network of reinforcements that give strength and shape to a building.

These scratchproof, complex and chemically pure crystals thus reveal the structure of the GP 9400-0011 calibre, a revisited version of Calibre 9400. This restructuring mainly consists of skeleton working that basically involves eliminating the baseplate. Almost as if the ground had vanished beneath its feet, the movement finds itself suspended between two layers of air. Certain indispensable anchor points remain, but the opaque and solid supporting structure has disappeared. A closer look shows the screws holding the openworked, polished and bevelled bridges, driven far into the structure of the calibre.

Contrary to other skeleton models made by Girard-Perregaux, the Neo Tourbillon with Three Bridges Skeletonhas not sought to create a graphic shape by openworking, but instead to ‘erase’ the material so as to enable the bridges to express themselves to the full. To the point where the underlying part of the movement baseplate, which is solid on Calibre 9400, is replaced here by two bridges. The latter are exactly identical to those on the dial side: a first in a structure based on visible bridges. These two bridges are the counterparts of the gear-train bridge (in the centre) and the tourbillon bridge (at 6 o’clock). Their subtly arched shape slightly increases the overall movement thickness.

Between the bridges are the two life-flows of watchmaking: the exchange between energy and information, between the force stored in the barrel and the regulating effect of the tourbillon. The former is wound by a micro-rotor, which is placed concentrically with the barrel. The high inertia of this hefty white gold micro-rotor ensures a minimum 60-hour power reserve. At the other end of the kinematic chain sits the Girard-Perregaux tourbillon. This 80-part component is made from titanium so as to safeguard operational autonomy and reduce friction. It spins on its axis once a minute, driven by a large-diameter balance wheel coupled with a hairspring featuring a Philllips terminal coil and a Swiss lever escapement. The entire fully assembled carriage weighs just 0.25 grams.

The new Girard-Perregaux Neo Tourbillon with Three Bridges Skeleton is combined with a black alligator strap with a triple folding clasp in titanium. Price €.144.000.