Girard Perregaux

G'day,

sleepless in Switzerland after having such a great time with friends - so now you know why i?ve had to leave you for a moment

Well, being sleepless maybe is understandable when you have to digest this view:



A watchmakers bench is not a perfect photo studio, but then it?s as close as i could get during the "making of"


(please note the substantial case work and the diameter of the Platinum case!)





The "Sincere Haute Horlogerie" edition of 17 pieces is a stunning watch in several aspects.
GP?s Three Gold Bridges tourbillon certainly is an icon and this edition does push it a little further; the ruthenium bridges make for a very interesting visual alternative and a new look without loosing the roots out of sight. Yet it?s not the only feature and the "whole package" probably is one of the most beautiful pieces ever made.



The limited edition is housed in a case of 42mm in diameter, which picks up the "Classique" design (vice versa the "President" shape in use for other models).
This is a new development, in that regular models are available in a 39mm case only. In nature it makes for a more substantial appearance without looking ridiculously large; it?s actually a pretty decent feel on the wrist and very balanced. Quite a trick for a watch that weighs easily more than 150 gramms, due to the very massive casework!

In fact the Sincere edition is a true Girard-Perregaux making for a total concept.
It?s far more than the beautiful coating on the bridges or just a large case only, in that the movement and case sum up to a unique entity.
The movement is different from regular models, with wider than bridges. This way, a perfect balance of dimensions is achieved and it even comes with a little "stealth" factor: unless you put them side by side, the 42mm case will not appear that much larger than regular units. That?s due to the perfect proportions of the case and movement; a stunning watch is the result.
As a side effect, to me it seems the bridges appear even more elegant and slender; this to me is a beautiful impression and a nice contrast to an otherwise really substantial and not small watch.



Thankfully Girard-Perregaux and Sincere Watches refrained from a popular (but to me not very appealing) trend to leave the insignia of this being a most special piece on the "dial" side of the watch.
It might have been possible to add some engraving or plate, but certainly the piece is breathtakingly beautiful as it is and anything more would not make for a visual improvement.
On the wrist, the difference towards regular pieces most probably is already apparent by the size, even if this might be true only for true cognoscienti of GP and enthusiasts very familiar with GP?s Three Gold Bridges.
Instead of adding more to the front, the back features beautiful hand-made engravings, which inform about the maker (as if that would be needed...), the Sincere special edition and the individual number of each of the 17 pieces to be made.

A subtle hint comes by the crown, which bears the crest of Sincere Watches in a very nice and quite decent, but beautifully executed engraving:



As you see, there?s quite something in it.
Somewhat of a pity only 17 owners will have a chance to enjoy the mesmerizing beauty, which offers unforseen wearing experience: the ruthenium bridges can be almost ethereal under certain lighting conditions; that?s probably impossible to reproduce in pictures, but the play of light on the rhodium coated plate, the ruthenium bridges, the mirror-polished Platinum case and the heat-blued polished hands is a bedazzling sight:





I?m sure it?s a winner and a home run; Girard-Perregaux and Sincere truly went all the way to create something very special, for real enthusiasts to appreciate a very fine and very unique watch.
I was sure of this when i heard about it first and i?m even more so after having a chance to see it - hard to find a more beautiful, elegant and authentic piece around.

Kudos to both GP and Sincere!
And envious congratulations to those enthusiasts who already pulled the trigger on one of these; get prepared for a most pleasing surprise when you get to open the watch box!

Cheers,

Peter

Definitely an awesome piece of work! Congratulations to the 17 future owners and thanks Peter for sharing the information.

Any idea whether this will be exhibited in the watch fair called "Conquest of Time" in Kuala Lumpur organised by Sincere from 22 to 26 Nov?

A very nice watch!
And 42mm in diameter isn?t as large as the sheer measurements may make believe!

Actually i?m afraid i can?t say if these will be exhibited.
I?d guess one might be seen, but usually pieces delivered are picked up very quickly (due to a long wait list).
Best thing to do is to check back with the retailer or FJB!

Cheers,

Peter

Dear Peter,

Those pictures are stunning so I can immagine your sleepless night.......!

What a beautiful piece. And that box: will it produce some musical entertainment when you open it ?

Regards,
Mark

Dear Mark,

it?s for sure an interesting variation!
One of those impressions that you keep in mind

Not sure about the box, but i think there?s a special box with these.
GP lately switched to a beautiful dark wood box for HH pieces (and some others for thematic editions such as the Oracle units), so i?d guess it will be one of these.
But i?m sure it would be possible to order one a musical box
Or one might take a closer look at the Opera models

Cheers,

Peter

First of all,thanks to Peter for all his responses and postings while he is travelling!He is really a superman!

The ruthenium bridges are really excellent-still a winning design and such level of finishes!

One small negative IMO is the hour markers--looks weak.Maybe better not to have markets at all?

My pleasure!
It?s so much fun and it?s double this when there?s a chance to share. The pleasure is always on my side!

The ruthenium bridges are a nice idea! And execution, obviously
On the markers, i?d guess a piece without any numerals at all might do well. Maybe best with a piece of WG bridges, so it?s brighter and "more stealthy"?
Making them wider/more bold is difficult, because these are hand-engraved and a deeper engraving is not necessarily a more pleasing view. In nature, i found the current execution to be a very balanced look and the thinner hour markers to go very nicely with the delicate tourbillon!

I think it will make some folks very happy!

Cheers,

Peter

Fascinating pictures Peter and I was particularly stuck by the hands, the blue almost shows like they have been enamalled! Really amazing watch and thanks for the extra effort with your jet lag. I have always been a big fan of the three gold bridges, yet I think we have moved to another level! Many thanks,
Tim Brown

Actually the "leaf"-style hands are quite likely the ones in use for other pieces and not of a different execution.
In fact they are unique (and very very expensive to make), in that they are longer than those in use for the 39mm variants. But that?s prerequisite for a balanced look and GP didn?t stop with the hands when altering the movement layout.

The pleasure is on my side; thank you for your warm words!

Cheers,

Peter

gp

... the real thing, though
It?s amazingly hard to capture; the bright Pt case does come with an amazing polishing which is "harder" (means, the raw depth is incredibly small) and results in a fantastic shine. And it reflects like hell, which makes it hard to shoot

Cheers,

Peter

nt

-

This is a stunning piece, even though I am never be able to own one.

Hi Terence,

thanks a lot!
I think it?s not necessary to be an owner to appreciate these
But i?m very glad there are proud owners who appreciate what they are (and why they are different from any other tourbillon around). In the end, it?s what allows Girard-Perregaux to continue these traditions and surprise us with stunning beauties in the future

Cheers,

Peter

Thanks again for being the best moderator in the world. I have never wanted a 3 bridges til now. WOW. WOW. WOW.

Howdy,

thank you very much for your kind words!
Now i feel much flattered

But it?s all in the pieces - i?m just the bearer of the news. In this, i?m deeply indepted to Girard-Perregaux and JeanRichard for their wonderful support, friendship and trust. It?s not that you just stop by and turn everything upside down for a couple of pictures that easily, but they really bear with us enthusiasts

Actually there?s a lot more in these, which is not easily seen.
Did you know even the stem is adjusted and straightened by hand, to ensure perfectly equal turning when the watch is wound up?
But it is; let me introduce Marc Fr?lechoux, who?s fingers are pictured in the above pictures and who was responsible to create the piece for Sincere:



What you see is Marc using a wooden hammer to straighten the stem and crown; a slight touch is given to the stem, then it is checked for equilibrity and straight move. If necessary, another slight touch. Then checking again. Then a slight touch, then checking... You get the idea; it might be easier to do by a machine (actually that?s how most manufacturers handle this, if addressing the stem and crown at all), but it wouldn?t be GP?s pride.
The whole procedure will be shown in some context, when we will have a closer look at some details and challenges which are in these beautiful watches.

There are many, many more steps which are completely unknown, although a lot of manual work. It makes GP?s Three Gold Bridges truly stand out, beyond the fact it is the oldest movement of current production.

The GP Three Gold Bridges tourbillons are to me among the most beautiful pieces that can be had; be it the old ones or the current ones.
It?s not an "investor?s" piece in first degree, although there?s a wait list of 4 years for new watches and GP will announce the decease of taking orders soon. But then, when the "exotic" and "extreme" designs and lesser tourbillons utilizing relatively simple constructions currently to be seen in an increasing number are news of yesterday, enthusiasts may appreciate things which are authentic and "real" more than marketing gimmicks...
It?s a watch for real enthusiasts, who understand and appreciate what these pieces are, historically, aesthetically and from a technical/watchmaking perspective.

So yes, i think considering one of these can be justified

And i think there?s more on these and a story or two to come over the next time, so watch this space

Cheers,

Peter

With every photo i see on this forum i bow deeper to the men and women who design and manufacture these wonderfull pieces.

Respect all round.



Greetings from the Low-Lands


Hans-Jurgen

Hi Hans-Jurgen,

wholeheartly agree!

I regard the GP tourbillons to be pretty special, not just for GP.
Their beauty is for sure reason enough to fall for one
But they are not easily created either and that?s why they are expensive and rare.

All good reasons to love them

Cheers,

Peter

Have never heard of it before, just noticed the old article and decided to share.