Girard Perregaux

Friends,

 

This year many of the major brands released very artistic watches with beautiful motifs on the dial and so did Girard-Perregaux as well!

What differentiate the trilogy from GP this year is most of all the material chosen for each dial.

 

These watches are made in sets of three, limited edition of 18 sets.

The base is the GP1966, 40 mm case in Pink gold. Same case seen in several different iterations of the GP1966, among them one of my personal favorite: The Enamel Dial with sub-seconds and heated blued hands.

 

Inside all three watches have the automatic GP03300 movement.

 

Here the similarities with any existing GP1966 stop. Yes, the motifs are similar to last year’s Enamel dial World map… But if we talk in terms of material.

 

At first glance it is easy to mistake the Chamber of Wonders dials for enamel… But if you look closer you will discover the approach is quite different here!

The choice of the three motifs – a vision of the World through the ages.

Three maps from three different eras, three different styles and materials!

Please see respective parts for more details and shots.

 

Best

This message has been edited by blomman on 2015-07-01 14:23:26

 

The motif is based on a map drawn by the historian Ibn al-Wardi who lived in the first half of the fifteenth century. Inspired by the theories of Ptolemy, the Greco-Egyptian astronomer and astrologist who lived in Alexandria at the beginning of the 2nd century AD and who is considered to be the father of geography.

 

 

 

The base of the dial is made of a 0.70 mm thick sodalite stone disk. The disk is then carved by hand and fitted with a mosaic of a papyrus, 0.25 mm thick. To finish, the dial is hand painted and coated with a thin layer lacquer to stabilize and protect the art work.

 

 

 

The result is a stunning miniature map!

 

 

 

Love this style, the color, the mystical interpretation of the World, the material…

Papyrus!

 

 

 

On the wrist an absolute pearl!

 

 

 

Best

Blomman

Thanks for all these précisions, Blomman. I didn't get all these informations when these watches wre unveiled.

Best,

Nicolas

And very original indeed!

No message body

 

The motif for the Terrestrial map is inspired by the work of Italian Jesuit, Matteo Ricci. A theologian, philosopher, mathematician, cosmologist and astronomer, this priest took part in his congregation’s missions in Asia.

 

Landing in Macao in 1582, he spent the rest of his life in China, sharing his knowledge with scholars and officials at the point of becoming one of the first Westerners allowed within the walls of the Forbidden City.

 

 

This dial is made of a white jade stone disk, manual polished.  The jade disk is miniature painted with natural India ink mixed with a special binder which makes the ink to dry very fast. So, no room for errors or hesitations!

 

 

 

The outcome is a monochrome dial in shades of grey. Very elegant, very sober, a dial full of details you could look at for ages!

 

 

I think this one is the most “under the radar” of all three. More discrete but not less beautiful!

 

And on the wrist….

 

 

Best

Blomman

What about the depth of the dial, in the real?

Best,

Nicolas

This message has been edited by amanico on 2015-03-31 00:15:59

Good depth, even if painted on a almost flat surface, the depth is good!

No message body

 

From the beginnings of modern cartography, 142 drawings of maps are attributed to Sebastian Münster (1488-1552), a German scholar who moved to Basel following his conversion to Protestantism. His work, Novus Orbis, resembled an encouragement to exploratory voyages, was included in his major work, Cosmographia Universalis, a richly illustrated and detailed cartographic collection.

 

 

The New World dial is made of small fragments of stone. A mosaic using stone marquetry, blending different type of stones into a colorful New World map! These stone fragments are manual carved and polished down to a thickness of 0.50 mm.

 

 

 

Finished, this stone dial gives you a feeling of a map used by an explorer setting out for his “grand voyage”!

 

 

 

This is the most colorful of the three dials and also the one that takes to longest time to make.

 

 

 

On the wrist… You are ready to set sails!

 

 

 

 

Best

Blomman

No message body

To embrace as the two others, but together they make a fantastic set, IMO.

Friends,

 

When I first saw these Chamber of Wonders watches I was blown away! I love the art work, the different styles, and the travel through time!

 

From Egypt to China…

 

 

 

From China to America…

 

 

 

And back again!

 

 

 

A big part of my fascination with these watches is not only the different styles, but the very different materials and techniques used!

 

The perfect matching of style and material is just awesome!

 

The only bad part here I would say is that they are sold in sets of three and that it is a very limited number of sets available…

 

I had a hard time to choose a favorite… This time in Basel it was clear to me which one I prefer…

 

My choice would be the Pearl of Wonders!

 

Because of the mystery of the motif, ambiance of the dial and color combination. And papyrus! How to argue with that?!

 

 

 

But honestly, I would be very happy with any of the “Worlds” on my wrist…

 

If it would be the Pearl of Wonders…

 

 

 

The Terrestrial map…

 

 

 

Or the New World….

 

 

 

I would be very happy!

 

Another stunning display from Girard-Perregaux in artistry, unusual material and the need of “going the extra mile”!

 

Yes, I think these are true proof of art!

 

 

 

Would love to hear your thoughts…

Any favorite?

 

 

Best

Blomman

I am quite intrigued with the apparent coldness and " intellectuality " of the white jade, too.

A pity you cannot get them separately.

I would have also liked a white metal version. The white jade would have been to cold, but it would have worked very well with the Papyrus!

Best,

Nicolas

Here I think the Pink Gold makes a better match!

No message body

Papyrus is absolute favorite
Prepare to be boarded!

Sincerely
Damjan

Blue is the color of love!

No message body

.. my humble personal choice would be the Jade, the middle one..
closely , very closely followed by the captivating first, pearl of an ancient world
- But it's already nice to see them on your nice pics,
and let one's thoughts wander.. around the ancient world..

So to me, they're also kind of time machines, with a specific spell for each ..

Thx for ths eclectic & esoteric journey !

Best, hs

PS: BTW: thinking back to last year's world map, although different
in technique & appeal, is also a very fine example.. This message has been edited by hs111 on 2015-03-31 23:45:52 This message has been edited by hs111 on 2015-03-31 23:54:15

Yes, World maps or maps as such is a great theme!

Makes you dream about exsotic places far away...

 

Best, my friend

Blomman

a true piece of art, or better say 3 pieces. While I admire all, I personally most like the white jade, it's not too colourful and "in-your-face".

CC

Is very sober!