Geneva Watch Days 2024: Girard-Perregaux's Luminous Three-Flying Bridges Tourbillon Innovation

In a dazzling display of horological mastery, Girard-Perregaux has once again captured the attention of watch enthusiasts and collectors alike at Geneva Watch Days 2024. The Swiss luxury watchmaker, renowned for its innovative designs and commitment to traditional craftsmanship, has introduced an updated version of its iconic Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges, further cementing its position at the forefront of haute horlogerie.

A Legacy Reimagined
The Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges is not just a timepiece; it's a testament to Girard-Perregaux's rich heritage dating back to 1791. This latest iteration, unveiled on August 29th, 2024, pays homage to the groundbreaking pocket watch design conceived by Constant Girard in the 1860s. The three parallel bridges, once a structural necessity, have evolved into a defining aesthetic feature and one of the oldest mechanical signatures in watchmaking.

Harnessing Light and Legacy
Nestled in the watchmaking mecca of La Chaux-de-Fonds, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Girard-Perregaux's manufacture is strategically designed to maximize natural light – a crucial element in the intricate art of watchmaking. This emphasis on luminosity is beautifully reflected in the new Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges, where light plays a pivotal role in showcasing the watch's skeletal architecture.

The timepiece's design is a masterclass in visual depth and transparency. The three bridges, crafted from pink gold and partially coated with black PVD, appear to float within the 44mm case. This illusion is achieved through clever engineering, with the bridges supported by discreet plinths anchored to the case interior. The absence of a traditional dial further enhances the watch's ethereal quality, with hour markers affixed directly to the case.

2024 Enhancements: Subtle Yet Significant
While maintaining the essence of its 2021 predecessor, the 2024 model introduces several refinements:

Redesigned indexes, including twin batons at 12 o'clock
More pronounced curvature of the front and rear sapphire crystals
A larger, rounder crown for improved handling
Shortened lugs and a more rounded case middle for enhanced comfort
Satin-finished hour and minute hands with additional Super-LumiNova
Two strap options: a new fabric-effect strap and a black alligator strap with gold effect

Artisanal Excellence
The three gold bridges, a hallmark of this timepiece, showcase Girard-Perregaux's attention to detail. The upper and lower surfaces are coated in black PVD, while the chamfered edges reveal a sliver of pink gold. This meticulous finishing process, involving traditional techniques using boxwood, requires two full days of expert craftsmanship per set of bridges.

Technical Mastery
At the heart of this horological marvel lies the GP09400-1273 movement. This self-winding mechanism, visible through the skeletonized design, boasts a minimum 60-hour power reserve and operates at 21,600 vibrations per hour. The tourbillon, a hallmark of haute horlogerie, is prominently displayed, further emphasizing the watch's technical prowess.

The unveiling of this enhanced Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges at Geneva Watch Days 2024 reaffirms Girard-Perregaux's commitment to pushing the boundaries of watchmaking. As part of an independent collective of Haute Horlogerie Manufactures since 2022, Girard-Perregaux continues to blend tradition with innovation, creating timepieces that are both technically impressive and visually stunning. With a suggested retail price of CHF 164,000, this latest creation is not just a watch but a wearable piece of art that embodies over two centuries of watchmaking expertise.