Swiss luxury watch manufacture Girard-Perregaux has a close relationship with Japan. The brand is also known for the fact that in 1860, when there were no diplomatic relations with Switzerland, François Perregaux, the founder’s brother-in-law, landed with 12 Girard-Perregaux pocket watches, established a trading post in the foreign settlement of Yokohama, and officially imported Swiss watches for the first time in Japan. Girard-Perregaux has unveiled his new album “Neo Constant Escapement”.
It has been about 10 years since the “Constant Escapement L.M” was announced, equipped with the revolutionary mechanism “Constant Force Escapement” developed by Girard Perugaux (* A constant force is transmitted to the balance by using the curved ultra-fine blades made of silicon, which are only about one-sixth the thickness of a human hair). This work “Neo Constant Escapement” was born as an evolutionary model. Thirteen new patents were granted, even more than the previous one, and the number of movement components was reduced from 280 to 266. As the culmination of Girard Pergot’s technology and art, this new model is full of further evolution.
Neo Constant Escapement
■Ref.93510-21-1930-5CX。 TI (45mm diameter). Water resistant to 30m. Manual winding (Cal.GP09200) 13,101,000 yen (tax included)
[View images of the new Neo Constant Escapement]
A sapphire crystal “box” mounted on the top of the dial allows light to shine in, allowing you to see the various elements of the dial from the side. In 2013, the Constant L.M. displayed hours and minutes on an off-center dial, but in the Neo-Constant Escapement, the hands are mounted in the center of the dial.
The skeletonized Dauphin hour and minute hands are rhodium-coated to clearly indicate the current time and can be seen in low light thanks to the phosphorescent paint. The black annulus strip on the flange is marked white. In addition, the phosphorescent index is mounted in an arc to the outside, making it appear to float from the main area of the dial. The center seconds have a sky-blue tip and an arrow-shaped counterweight inspired by Constant-Girard’s famous Gold Bridge in 1889.
The escapement spring, with its unique curved blades that make up the lower part of the dial, is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Its symmetrical appearance echoes the legendary Girard-Perregaux triftiges and the octagonal bezel of Laureato, and the linear power reserve display at 9 o’clock shows how much energy is left in the twin barrels. The Neo Constant Escapement is designed to partially see mechanisms such as escapement springs, balances, and gunners in action.
Hand-wound movement “Calibre GP09200”
Flipping the watch upside down, you can see more details of the Calibre GP09200, a hand-wound movement with a power reserve of more than seven days, through the sapphire caseback. The back side also adopts the same symmetrical design as the dial, with twin barrels on the top and two neo bridges on the bottom. The repeated use of bilateral symmetry and the presentation of functional components as aesthetic features are hallmarks of the Bridge collection. Similarly, the back of the escapement springs, the Gangi wheel and the Ten Wheels can be seen from close range, allowing you to see the moving parts and admire the movement’s exquisite finishing.
The rubber belt that integrates into the wrist is characterized by a fabric effect, and the titanium triple folding clasp has a fine adjustment mechanism. This mechanism allows the belt to be fine-tuned for optimal wearing comfort by sliding the pusher along six notched metal parts.
Considering the functionality and complexity of the mechanism, the new model “Neo Constant Escapement” is lightweight, attractive and surprisingly easy to wear. It will be available in limited quantities at authorized Girard-Perregaux dealers worldwide from January 2024.
【Contact】
Sowind Japan
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Watch LIFE NEWS Editorial Department
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