Friends,

“I saw the light” …

Often when we approach watches, we zoom in on details or objects that are possible to take on, to touch.

But when it comes to the Girard-Perregaux Three Golden Bridges reference 99280, I think the big difference is in things we can’t really touch.

The Light and the Space! Creating a “Room”!

This is not unique for the 99280 or the Three Golden Bridges, I think this is something GP master on many of their models, but in this post, I will try to focus on the 99280.

When approaching architecture, often people talk about light and space, or the “room”. How different the perception of a house or a room is depending on the light and space.

Just because our watches are much smaller object doesn't make them immune to these “natural laws”.

One fact that fascinated watch fans over the years with the Three Golden Bridges is the fact that you can see big parts of the movement.

Now on the 99280, Girard-Perregaux not only let you admire the movement, they open up so the movement gets more light, more space to shine in its full glory!

By making the bridges curved or arched, a bigger “room” for the movement is created. Letting more light in!

Compared with the classic straight Golden Bridges, you see the “room” is smaller, occupied by the thicker arrow heads.

Another change on the same theme is how the inside of the bezel is shaped. Instead of a straight line, the inside of the bezel is angled outwards.

Again, with the results of making the “room” bigger and letting more light in.

Third change which I find particularly nice are the “secret windows” between the lugs both at 12 and at 6!

They are very discrete. I should confess that first time I saw this watch I didn’t pick up on them being there… Second time I handled this watch, I saw the light!

No these are not windows to allow you to look at the movement from different angles. You would need to remove the strap to be able to look properly through them…

My interpretation is that the main purpose of these windows is to 1) let light come in and reflect from a different angle, 2) enlarge the space, making the room bigger.

In this shot you see all three modifications, the arched bridges, the angled inside of the bezel and the windows between the lugs.

One of the reasons I missed the windows first time around may have been the fact that I was sitting in a room without any windows, no natural light, only spotlights from the ceiling.

Here are a few shots in a room with natural light.

In this shot you see the light coming in through the window at 12.

Even in low light, there is enough light coming in to show the beauty of this watch!

The play of light, over the bridges, the plate decoration, the inside of the bezel… Magic!

The polishing of the Three Golden Bridges is just out of this world, “black polish” at its best!

The wrist shot I have that I think best show all three changes, the arched bridges, angle of the bezel, the windows…

At first, I was not very impressed by this 99280 (not more than by any other Three Golden Bridges that is). But after studying the architecture of this watch, I am very impressed of how Girard-Perregaux managed to bring the Three Golden Bridges concept even further.

What can I say more that, I saw the light…!

Best

Blomman