SIHH 2018 Novelty: Girard-Perregaux Neo Tourbillon with Three Bridges Skeleton – Live Shots and Review
The SIHH 2018 has ended, a lot of buzz, a lot of new watches…
Hard to take in all in such short period of time…
Was it good, was it bad? Which one is a winner, which are not?
…
One thing I am very sure of is that GP had yet another fantastic collection to show us this year!
You already saw it in CrownComfort’s fantastic review about the new Laureato Chronograph: www.watchprosite.com
Among all the new watches, there was one that really hit me hard.
The Girard-Perregaux Neo Tourbillon with Three Bridges Skeleton!
Here is a first Live Shots and Review with my initial thoughts about this watch.
The things that came to my mind when I saw the press shots of this watch:
Same as previous, just with skeletonized movement. Top heavy, a lot of space on the lower part of the watch. Cool, but nothing new…
I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE WRONG!
Before we go into details, let’s have fast recap of the Neo family -
2014: Neo-Tourbillon, Pink Gold. D: 45.00mm T: 14.45mm
2015: Neo-Tourbillon Black, Titanium DLC. D: 45.00mm T: 14.45mm
2016: the 225 Year Anniversary of GP, no new member in the Neo family.
2017: Neo Bridges, Titanium. D: 45.00mm T: 12.18mm
And now 2018: Neo Tourbillon with Three Bridges Skeleton , Titanium. D: 45.00mm T: 15.85mm
If we start with the easy part to explain, yes, it is the same base movement as used in previous Neo Tourbillon versions, the GP Calibre 09400.
But here the movement has been skeletonized down to a bear minimum of material surrounding the moving parts.
The Titanium case is very similar to the case used for the Neo Bridges from last year.
Biggest difference from the two first versions in case shape might be the slimmer profile and leaner lugs.
The modernized leaf hand shape is still there and so being the luminous tips that we saw with the birth of the Neo Bridges last year.
Now if we focus what’s changes –
Main plate. There is none! Or at least none in a regular sense.
What on the previous Neo Tourbillon’s made them look massive, is now gone.
Left is a profile following the movement and the three Neo Bridges.
Up front, the Neo Bridges looks similar as before, but if you look closer, the also been “skeletonized”.
Thinner material, the base which before was quite massive, is now filled with air.
Also, the bridge profile is new, more bent, almost shaped like a seagull’s wings.
In the frontal press shot its easy to think that the “dial” will feel top heavy with the barrel and rotor at twelve and “only” the Tourbillon cage below at six.
For you who remember my post about the Three Golden Bridges 99280, knows that when it comes to GP you can’t just think two dimensional.
You always need to take the light and space into account!
The “room” of the watch!
#1, most often we do not look at our watches straight on, most likely you will look in an angle with the dial tilted away from yourself.
#2, on the wrist there will not be perfect view without shadows.
#3, most of us do not have paper white skin and the light coming from the back of the watch will be very limited, if any.
So even in a close-up like this in strong light, there is no big void on the lower part of the watch.
No big void, but at the same time the “room” has been made bigger!
The bridges go up higher above the bezel and the crystal is made higher, with a beautiful doom.
Here is a profile image showing this enlargement of the room.
As said, there is no real main plate here, instead there are six pillars formed by the screws holding the bridges.
These pillars go through, all the way to the back of the watch where two more bridges forms a cage around the movement.
Almost like if you would put your hands together, only touching your fingertips.
Imagine the movement would be in the palms of your hands.
Like holding a new-born…
Because to my eye’s, this is a new-born.
Even if the Neo Bridge concept is “old”, the approach towards this watch is totally new!
I will stop my rambling here and let you have a chance to study the photos.
To form your own view of the Girard-Perregaux Neo Tourbillon with Three Bridges Skeleton.
But I promise, this IS a watch we will return and discuss more this year!
Best
Blomman
Neo Tourbillon with Three Bridges Skeleton
Technical Specifications
Case Material: Titanium
Diameter: 45,00 mm Thickness: 15,85 mm
Water resistance: 30 metres (3 ATM)
Movement Reference: GP 09400-0011, skeletonised
Power reserve: min. 60 hours
Functions: tourbillon, hours, minutes, small seconds on the tourbillon
Tourbillon cage in Titanium, 80 components weighting 0,25 grams
Bridges: 5 skeletonised, bevelled, sandblasted, black PVD-treated bridges
Reference 99295-21-000-BA6A
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