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A Tiny Bit More of Girard-Perregaux "220 Years of Watchmaking Art" Exhibition.Posted by Jaw
Not adding anything useful after an exceptional report by our very own Watchculture, but just wish to post some more images shot at a slightly different angles and hopefully at least a few of you will find it a little bit fun.
Just a note that I am truly impressed with Girard Perregaux for bringing this important exhibition to Singapore and other cities important to the watch collecting world (see watchculture amazing report at [bit.ly] ). Not only is the exhibition a treat for us passionate about watches, it shows the public that Girard Perregaux has been a part of the watchmaking history which has enriched the life of many watch enthusiasts and more importantly, it is also a clear demonstration of the Group's strong commitment behind Girard Perregaux heritage in haute horlogerie. Apparently, the holding company is not just an entity only accustomed to the fashionable mass luxury industry. My personal wish that Girard Perregaux shall remain unwaver in their small family like pursuit of high-end watch manufacturing! But first, I would like to thank a few people who have made the Exhibition tour a reality. Girard Perregaux General Manager Stefano Macaluso: 
Girard Perregaux Marketing Director Xavier Markl: 
Girard Perregaux Media Relation & P.R. Manager Dimitra Frechelin: 
F.J. Benjamin General Manager Dimitri Aubert: 
And not forgetting Sowind Group (Girard Perregaux & JeanRichard) International Sales Director Sylvain Van Muylders. Although we spent a lot of time chatting emotionally about our mutual admiration for the late Luigi (Gino) Macaluso and even had a fantastic dinner at Santi, and despite Sylvain being extremely charming, I didn't manage to get a good shot of him (this photographer is just not good enough :-( ). More photographs to follow.... Jaw
Girard Perregaux Chamferer. 
Girard Perregaux Watchmaker. Jaw More ahead...
Jaw More ahead...
Jaw More ahead...
No explanation needed, but just for fun, i guess I shall still describe it :-)
Girard Perregaux Tourbillon pocket watch with Three Gold Bridges, Contemporary edition, hunder pink gold case, white enamel dial, movement with three parallel gold bridges, Tourbillon, detent escapement, technically this watch is the exact replica of Constant Girard-Perregaux masterpiece, which won the gold medal of the Universal Exhibition of Paris in 1889: 
Jaw More ahead...
Hunter pocket watch signed Girard-Perregaux, circa 1890, silver case decorated with polychrom enamel on a black background, enamel dial. 
Doctor's watch, Lepine pocket chronograph signed Girard-Perregaux, circa 1930, guilloche case, enamel dial with pulsemeter. 
Mysterieuse wristwatch signed Girard-Perregaux, circa 1955, steel case, silver dial. Jaw More ahead...
Quartz wristwatch signed Girard-Perregaux, steel case, blue and red dial after the design of the integrated circuit of the movement. This is the first Quartz watch produced in Switzerland. 
Ultra-slim hunter pocket watch signed Moulinier, Bautte & Cie, circa 1800, one of the first in the world. Yellow gold case engraved and decorated with enamel and different colours of gold, enamel dial. Jaw More ahead...
Lepine pocket watch signed Mouline, Bautte & Moynier, circa 1820, made for the Indian market, gold case decorated with turquoise, engravings and pearls, gold dial, quarter repeater. 
Lepine pocket watch signed J.F. Bautte, circa 1820, gold case and dial decorated with more than 2000 natural pearls. 
Tribute to John Harrison signed Girard-Perregaux, 2011, white gold case, enamel dial representing the route of H4 from England to Jamaica and return. 
Hunter pocket watch signed Girard-Perregaux, circa 1860, guilloche silver case, white dial with display of 5 different local times. Jaw More ahead...
Captain's watch, signed Girard-Perregaux, circa 1860,engraved and guilloche hunter case in yuellow gold. The white enamel dial has three time displays: the west coast, the ship and the east coast. Whilst the time of the departing and arrival ports were set once for all at the moment of departure, the ship time was adjusted daily at noon, in order to give the time on board according to the position of the ship. 
Cross-shaped gold pendant watch signed Girard-Perregaux, circa 1870, enamelled face and back, enamel dial with diamond bezel.
Book-shaped pendant watch signed Girard-Perregaux, circa 1860, engraved and enamelled gold case, enamel dial protected by a polychrom grid, double picture frame inside. 
Theatre specatcles signed Rossel & Fils, circa 1950, gold engraved and enamelled case with diamonds, enamel dial. 
Hunter pocket chronometer, signed Girard & Co London, circa 1850, yellow gold guilloche case, movement with chain and fusee, detent escapement, helical hairspring, white enamel dial. During the first half of the 19th Century, the Swiss watchmakers had difficulties to sell their products in the United States because people there believed that British watches were better. So, some of them decided to open a sales counter in London, where the watches produced in Switzerland were transiting before being sent to the United States. That simple trick allowed to put the name London on the dials of the watches, which were then sold easier. 
Double face hunter pocket wtch signed Girard-Perregaux, circa 1900, one dial with hour, minutes and seconds and the other dial with a full calendar. This watch used to belong to the late King Farouk of Egypt. 
Hunter Pendant watch signed Girard-Perregaux, circa 1900, gold case decorated with engravings enamel and diamonds in Art Nouveau style, enamel dial. Jaw
Thanks for the pics Jaw! I like your close-up shots of the details
One of the best exhibits this year. Zach T Forum Moderator
GIRARD-PERREGAUX 220TH ANNIVERSARY NOVELTIES GIRARD-PERREGAUX 1966 Tourbillon with gold Bridge GIRARD-PERREGAUX 1966 Small second VINTAGE 1945 XXL VINTAGE 1945 Lady CAT’S EYE Small second 
GIRARD-PERREGAUX 220TH ANNIVERSARY 
Since 1791, Girard-Perregaux has been reinventing the long tradition of Swiss watchmaking. In its 220 years, the Swiss Manufacture has registered more than 80 patents in the field of watchmaking and has brought legendary creations to life. Today, the Brand is one of the very few to bring together all of the skills and expertise required to produce Haute Horlogerie watches under one roof. The brand’s origins date back to Jean-François Bautte, one of the most famous watch and jewellery makers of his time, and whose boutique was described by Alexandre Dumas as the most fashionable jewellery store in Geneva. A shrewd businessman and keen industrialist, he was particularly well-known for his extra-thin watch models. The second figure to make his mark on the company’s history was Constant Girard-Perregaux. He was a talented and visionary watchmaker, and the architect of one of the most incredible movements in watchmaking history: the Tourbillon with gold Bridges, which was awarded a gold medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1889. Constant Girard-Perregaux is also famed as the pioneer of the wristwatch concept. He was responsible for the first major production run of this type of watch in around 1880, for officers of the German navy. 
TBC...
The 20th century also saw its own share of significant innovations. Throughout the 1960s, Girard-Perregaux presented the first high frequency movements (36,000 vibrations per hour). The Manufacture was then one of the very first to produce quartz wristwatches. The frequency of 32,768 Hz set by its watchmakers remains the universal standard to this day. During the last twenty years, under the aegis of Luigi Macaluso, Girard-Perregaux has maintained its position as one of the most creative and inventive brands in the watchmaking world. Fabulous watch collections have been unveiled. Remarkable movements have been developed. The «Échappement Constant», a constant force escapement which is revolutionary in every aspect, is resolutely faithful to the pioneering spirit of the Brand’s legendary figures. There are but a few watch companies that can look back on more than two centuries of history. The ability to uphold such a tradition, faced with the vagaries of life and social and economic upheavals, bears witness to a culture, a legitimacy, and a focused and determined vision turned firmly towards the future. In celebrating its 220th anniversary, Girard-Perregaux is paying tribute to the incredible sweep of its history and looking forward to even greater success in the future… ~Stefano Macaluso, President.~ 
NOVELTIES: 1791-2011: THE GIRARD-PERREGAUX MANUFACTURE CELEBRATES ITS 220th ANNIVERSARY The start of the 19th century was marked by a pivotal invention in the field of chronometry. An ingenious device was created to compensate for the rate errors caused by the Earth’s gravity when the watch was in a vertical position: the Tourbillon. In the mid-19th century, this complication was refined by the watchmaker Constant Girard-perregaux. Long years of research enabled him to bring a completely innovative concept to fruition: it ensured the movement was no longer simply a technical and functional component, but a design element in its own right. His masterwork, a Tourbillon movement, featured three parallel bridges under which the barrel, centre wheel and Tourbillon were aligned. Each component in his timepieces was designed to an exceptionally high standard of quality. In 1889, he received the ultimate accolade: Girard-Perregaux won a gold medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition for his Tourbillon with three gold Bridges. To mark the 220th anniversary of the Brand, Girard-Perregaux’s Haute Horlogerie collection will be enhanced by a model inspired by its history and this majestic complication: the Girard-Perregaux 1966 Tourbillon with old Bridge, expressing the essence of watchmaking tradition, available in an edition of 50 individually numbered pieces. 
TRIBUTE TO THE TOURBILLON POCKET WATCHES Sober and elegant, the design of this timepiece evokes that of its illustrious predecessors. The Breguet’ Arabic numerals painted on the silvered dial, as well as the blued steel leaf-shaped hands, are both clear references to a time when only pocket watches existed. The clean lines of its 40-millimetre case disguise a sophisticated design and production process. Its curvature and lugs have been carefully fashioned to sit perfectly on the wrist. Designed in the Manufacture’s workshops, it has undergone meticulous finishing operations to reveal the full brilliance of the pink gold. The case-back, closed by 6 screws, is hand-engraved to evoke the domes of Girard-Perregaux’s tourbillons dating from the 19th century. Each piece bears its own individual number, also engraved by hand in keeping with the Brand’s tradition. 
The case houses a Girard-Perregaux 9610 movement comprising 224 components, the refined decoration and architecture of which are also inspired by 19th century pocket tourbillons. The tourbillon bridge of the new Girard-Perregaux 1966 Tourbillon has an unusual shape: known as ‘bassiné’, the two arms of the bridge are rounded off. The rounding off process consists of filing the ends of the arms to make them perfectly uniform, giving them a semi-cylindrical shape while retaining the demarcation of the centre and the heels. To finish the operation, the craftsmen use stones, buffs, boxwood and diamond pastes to smooth them to a perfectly rounded finish. The slightest imperfection can be immediately detected by the naked eye. This craftsmanship, which requires the highest level of dexterity and concentration, is a worthy heritage of the pocket Tourbillons manufactured by Constant Girard-Perregaux in the 19th century. The delicate Tourbillon also demands extreme attention to detail: incredible dexterity is required to assemble its 72 components, all of which fit into a diameter of just one centimetre. It weighs 0.3 gram - about the same as a swan’s feather. Accompanying it is a self-winding system patented by the Manufacture: a small-diameter platinum oscillating weight is housed in the space below and around the barrel. This elegant design leaves the Movement’s dimensions and architecture intact.
Pink gold case Diameter: 40.00 mm Antireflective sapphire crystal Case-back fastened with 6 screws Water resistance: 30 metres (3 ATM) Girard-Perregaux 9610 Mechanical self-winding movement Calibre: 28.60 mm Frequency: 21,600 vibrations/hour (3 Hz) Jewels: 31 Power reserve: minimum 48 hours Functions: Tourbillon, hours, minutes, small seconds on the Tourbillon Alligator strap with pin buckle Limited and numbered edition of 50 pieces 
GIRARD-PERREGAUX 1966 Small second A heritage of tradition – Carrying the legacy of Girard-Perregaux’s clean, refined style; the Girard-Perregaux 1966 collection embodies the Brand’s all-encompassing expertise in creating great watchmaking classics. The latest creation in this line, the Girard-Perregaux 1966 Small second model, with a design of the utmost purity, bears the distinctive hallmarks of a refined timepiece right down to the smallest details. A modern yet timeless spirit infuses the creations of Girard-Perregaux. The new Girard-Perregaux 1966 Small second, with a 40-millimetre round case, embraces this philosophy perfectly. The design is largely inspired by Girard-Perregaux’s 19th century pocket watches. For a contemporary homage to this secular tradition, it quickly became clear that enamel was the only choice for the dial. The properties of enamel and its special component make the dial it adorns resistant, lending it depth and a unique character. This traditional technique, now only mastered by a very few experts, consists of fixing the enamel powder and ensuring its harmonious balance through heat during delicate firing stages. Complementing this inspiration are elegant painted Arabic numerals which punctuate the movement of the blued steel leaf-shaped hour and minute hands, while the small second hand marks its path around a counter at 6 o’clock. This model beats in time to a new automatic movement, developed from the Girard-Perregaux calibre 3300. In line with the Brand’s ongoing quest for excellence, this masterpiece of watch creation offers a modified small second display, just slightly offset to balance the design perfectly. The diversity and richness of the decorations and finishes adorning the multiple components can be seen through a transparent sapphire case-back. 
White gold or pink gold case Diameter: 40.00 mm Antireflective sapphire crystal Sapphire case-back Water resistance: 30 metres (3 ATM) Girard-Perregaux GP03300-50 Mechanical self-winding movement Calibre: 11 ½ ’’’ Frequency: 28,800 vibrations/hour (4 Hz) Jewels: 32 Power reserve: minimum 46 hours Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds «Grand Feu» enamel dial Alligator strap with pin buckle
VINTAGE 1945 XXL
The Vintage 1945 collection is a modern reinterpretation of the spirit of an Art Decoinspired model with a rectangular case. Girard-Perregaux is once more demonstrating the Brand’s creative mastery by unveiling a reimagining of this iconic design. In its fifty-plus years, the Vintage 1945 collection has opened the way for a wide variety of creations. Paying a new tribute to its heritage, the Manufacture completely reworked this historic model to unveil one of the purest expressions of its line in 2009. The profile of the case was redesigned in a spherical form, with the crown discreetly integrated into the middle; the dial boasts dual curves and is enhanced by elegant Dauphine-style hands. Girard-Perregaux further extended its creative quest with a sober and contemporary model: the Vintage 1945 XXL. Its generous dimensions give it a strong presence, while its curved shape makes it especially comfortable to wear. Just like the original model, its dial features Arabic numerals, «railway» minute track and a subtly concave small second at 6 o’clock. This pleasing symmetry, the guiding principle of Art Deco, gives the design perfect balance, lending it an understated air emphasised by the attention paid to each and every detail. This aesthetic sophistication is supplemented by technical specifications illustrating Girard-Perregaux’s comprehensive expertise. True to the principles of the Manufacture, the Vintage 1945 XXL is also distinguished by its self-winding mechanism. The calibre GP3300, known for its sophistication and reliability, can be appreciated through the watch’s crystal case-back, and sports traditional decorative finishes: Côtes de Genève, circular graining and blued steel screws. 
Pink gold case Dimensions: 35.25 x 36.20 mm Antireflective sapphire crystal Sapphire case-back fastened with 4 screws Water resistance: 30 metres (3 ATM) Girard-Perregaux 3300 Mechanical self-winding movement Calibre: 11 ½ ’’’ Frequency: 28,800 vibrations/hour (4 Hz) Jewels: 32 Power reserve: minimum 48 hours Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds Alligator strap with folding buckle Also available in a steel version 
VINTAGE 1945 Lady Girard-Perregaux is once again paying tribute to women with a version of the Vintage 1945 Lady featuring a rectangular case which has been stretched widthways. This alluring development in its design lends its classical elegance a touch of modernity and originality. The Vintage 1945 collection takes its inspiration from a rectangular model in the Art Deco style unveiled in 1945. While remaining true to its original spirit, the collection has evolved over time and has been made available in a number of both men’s and women’s versions, allowing Girard-Perregaux to express its creative mastery and its watchmaking expertise. The latest creation to join this collection has been designed as the ideal companion for every situation. Its rectangular case has been stretched widthways to create a resolutely modern reinterpretation of the Vintage 1945 style. Delicately curved, it sits perfectly on the wrist, offering optimal comfort. Its original proportions are enhanced by a perfectly integrated bracelet and a panoramic dial with a subtle sunray decoration which beautifully complements its alluring character. Glamourous yet functional, the Vintage 1945 Lady is available in a mechanical self-winding version or a quartz version. The self-winding version is the first to be equipped with the new Girard-Perregaux calibre, the GP2700. This pinnacle of technological advancement, with dimensions perfectly suited to women’s watches, is produced in the Manufacture in line with the most stringent quality criteria and its remarkable finishes are revealed through the sapphire caseback. The Vintage 1945 Lady Automatic, with a sublime pink gold case delicately set with 70 diamonds, is available in a limited and numbered edition of 50 exclusive pieces. 
Pink gold case Dimensions: 34.00 x 23.30 mm Case set with 70 diamonds, approx. 0.70 carats Antireflective sapphire crystal Sapphire case-back fastened with 4 screws Water resistance: 30 metres (3 ATM) Girard-Perregaux 2790 Mechanical self-winding movement Calibre: 8 ¾ ’’’ Frequency: 28,800 vibrations/hour (4 Hz) Jewels: 35 Power reserve: minimum 36 hours Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds, date Alligator strap with pin buckle Limited and numbered edition of 50 pieces Also available in a quartz, pink gold, set or unset steel version 
GIRARD-PERREGAUX GP2700 Mechanical self-winding movement The GP2700 is the latest calibre to be created by the Girard-Perregaux Manufacture, which makes it a point of honour to constantly enrich its range. With the GP2700, Girard-Perregaux presents a small, compact movement specifically designed to be fitted in ladies’ watches and to satisfy the increasing interest in mechanical watches shown by women. A few technical details: • A unidirectional winding rotor with nonlubricated ceramic ball bearing (zirconium oxide). • An instantaneous calendar. • The gear train (barrel and centre, third and seconds wheels) is characterised by the original solution of a double third wheel. Thanks to this system, there is no need for a large central seconds wheel, leaving more space for the barrel. At the same time, it provides three seconds display options without an additional module. • The balance cross-bridge provides greater precision in controlling the balance shake: a solution which boosts performance and long-term reliability and, for watchmakers, makes setting considerably easier. 
CAT’S EYE Small second Since its creation in 2004, the Cat’s Eye collection has featured exquisite marriages of feminine curves with precious mechanisms. Girard-Perregaux presents a new facet of this collection, with an elegant and beautifully balanced small second marking the time ticking by on the mother of pearl dial. Every aspect of the Cat’s Eye collection is designed to seduce. A refined and poetic expression of the Girard-Perregaux Manufacture’s expertise, it combines the charms of a feminine watch with the merits of a self-winding mechanism. The new version of this collection remains unerringly true to the Brand’s philosophy and its quest for excellence in every detail. Staying faithful to the Cat’s Eye’s sensual curves and oval form, its gold case houses an intricately worked dial in white or black mother of pearl, off which subtle, iridescent reflections glance. Illuminated by a halo, the date is clearly displayed in a window at 3 o’clock. The discreet small second is situated at 9 o’clock and enhanced by a radiating ray motif delicately traced on the dial. Each of the sparkling hour indexes is a precious, set stone, with numerals sculpted in gold wire cut and hand-polished before being riveted to the dial. Continuing its long tradition, the Girard-Perregaux Manufacture has equipped this model with the GP3300, a mechanical movement renowned for its reliability and whose refined character can be appreciated through the sapphire case-back. The seductiveness of the Cat’s Eye owes much to its mechanism, which boasts an oscillating weight in pink gold delicately engraved with a motif in the form of the letters “GP”. This exquisite work represents the Manufacture’s newest creation for the women, discerning in her choices yet conscious of the beauty and performance of a mechanical watch. 
White gold or pink gold case Dimensions: 35.25 x 30.25 mm Case set with 62 diamonds, approx. 0.85 carats Antireflective sapphire crystal Sapphire case-back fastened by 4 screws Water resistance: 30 metres (3 ATM) Girard-Perregaux GP03300-0044 Mechanical self-winding movement Calibre: 11 ½ ’’’ Frequency: 28,800 vibrations/hour (4 Hz) Jewels: 28 Power reserve: minimum 46 hours Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds, date Alligator strap with deployant or pin buckle Also available with a white gold case and/or dark mother of pearl dial 
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