Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges

The Geneva Watch Days 2024 event witnessed the unveiling of Girard-Perregaux's latest masterpiece: the Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges. This new creation seamlessly blends the brand’s historic roots with contemporary innovation, pushing the boundaries of Haute Horlogerie.

A City of Light and Craftsmanship

La Chaux-de-Fonds, a city famed for its intricate history of watchmaking, was once a bustling hub of industrial precision. Ravaged by a catastrophic fire in the 18th century, it was meticulously rebuilt by local engineer Charles-Henri Junod, who envisioned a layout designed with horological artistry in mind. Wide streets organized in a grid system, tiered against the hills, complemented tall buildings with expansive windows. These windows bathe the workshops in natural light, ideal for the meticulous work of crafting timepieces. This environment continues to infuse every Girard-Perregaux watch with a distinct character, making them treasured by connoisseurs.

A Tradition Reimagined

During the 1860s, Constant Girard revolutionized the design of pocket watches by transforming the bridge from a functional component into an aesthetic signature. His 1867 pocket tourbillon, with its three parallel nickel silver bridges, established a new philosophy in watchmaking that fused form and function. In 1889, Girard elevated the concept further with the release of the Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges, a legendary piece that remains one of the oldest and most celebrated designs in mechanical watchmaking.

Fast forward to 2021, Girard-Perregaux introduced the Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges. This modern interpretation echoed the elegance of the 1889 model while embracing cutting-edge innovation. Crafted in the Grand Complications Atelier, the watch’s ingenious movement design is complemented by the play of light and transparency, creating a visual spectacle.

Design Beyond Mechanics

The Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges dispenses with a traditional mainplate, allowing its namesake bridges to take center stage. These architectural bridges, supporting key components like the gear train, barrel, and tourbillon, appear to hover weightlessly within the case. Openworked supports extend from the case walls, adding both stability and aesthetic appeal. Without a conventional dial, the hour markers are affixed directly to the case, enhancing the watch’s ethereal quality.

Girard-Perregaux continues to refine this icon of horological design. The 2024 model introduces a series of subtle, yet meaningful updates. One of the most notable changes is the redesigned indexes, featuring twin batons at the 12 o'clock position. The box-style sapphire crystals, which offer unparalleled clarity, have been subtly reshaped to create a more symmetrical profile, enhancing the watch's visual harmony. Additionally, a larger, rounder crown makes winding the watch more comfortable and intuitive.

Refined Elegance and Comfort

The design team at Girard-Perregaux has also focused on enhancing the ergonomics of the watch. By shortening the lugs and rounding the case middle, they have improved the fit on the wrist, making the timepiece more comfortable for wearers with smaller wrists. These subtle modifications reflect the brand’s commitment to continuous improvement, ensuring that the Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges remains as functional as it is beautiful.

Further refinements include satin-finished hour and minute hands, now enhanced with additional Super-LumiNova for better readability in low light. The watch also comes with two strap options: a new fabric-effect strap, inspired by the Neo Constant Escapement, and a black alligator strap with a gold effect, offering versatility and style.

With its modern updates and nod to history, the Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges stands as a testament to Girard-Perregaux's enduring commitment to innovation, craftsmanship, and the art of horology.

Click here to discover more!