Girard Perregaux

Throwback Thursday 2012: Vintage 1945, The Le Corbusier Trilogy, Part 1 La Chaux-de-Fonds

Friends,

In 1995 Girard-Perregaux launched the now classic Vintage 1945 line. This year will be the 70 th anniversary of the original 1945! I am very curious how GP plans to celebrate this…

While we wait for BaselWorld, let’s have a look in the rear view mirror. Last week Fx showed us the Vintage 1945 Jackpot. One of many great pieces among the vintage 1945 line…

Here I would like to go back and put some light on one of them!

Back in 2012, before I entered here in the GP forum, Girard-Perregaux made a trilogy homage to one of their hometown sons: Charles-Edouard Jeanneret or as he is more known as Le Corbusier.

The famous architect and designer Le Corbusier was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds on the 6th of October 1887.

To the world he is most known for his Art Nouveau designed houses and furniture. But Le Corbusier did have a past connected to watches.

During his life, he travelled far outside Jura, designing all from furniture, houses, even entire cities!

The Girard-Perregaux Le Corbusier Trilogy reflects three important places in his life: La Chaux-de-Founds, Paris and Marseille.

This part will look at the first piece/place – La Chaux-de-Founds.

In the beginning of 1900 Le Corbusier study sculpture and engraving here in his birth town.

La Chaux-de-Founds: Inlaid Mother of pearl dial.

The dial design based upon one of Le Corbusier’s early work as sculpture and engraver. A pocket watch engraved by Le Corbusier.

This Mother of pearl dial took seven days to make!

And required multiple master skills; design, sculpture, polishing and varnishing.

[Pic credit: Fx]

The most challenging was to preserve the integrity of the original work’s five colors, necessitating considerable patience and meticulous attention to detail.

The Vintage 1945 pink gold case measures 36.20 x 35.25 mm. Inside is the automatic caliber GP3300.

Limited edition of 5 pieces. Guess the chances to find one is slim…

[Pic credit: Fx]

Love this piece and the homage to a great man!

Next piece in the trilogy is “Paris”.

Best

Blomman

This message has been edited by blomman on 2015-03-16 01:05:38

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That was not my favourite among the three. I much preferred the two others.

By: amanico : March 12th, 2015-00:10

I find this one to be too " girly ". While the two others are just breathtaking. If I could, at that time, I would have Grabbed one of them. The one whose strap matches with my shoes... :) Best, Nicolas.

The furry one?! :)

By: blomman Mr Blue : March 12th, 2015-05:56

Agree that this one is the least "manly"... No wonder - Mother of pearls vs steel and concrete... :) Best Blomman

for the Artists among us. I love all three of them.

Indeed! :)

By: blomman Mr Blue : March 12th, 2015-05:57

Imagine the pleasure to have all three to choose from! :) Best Blomman

Wowowowow

By: Esharp : March 12th, 2015-03:47

These are very interesting and a lovely change from the usual Oversized Watch Marketing A Random Sports Team / Military Regiment / Overhyped 'Personality'. I don't find this one too girly, but I do think that the original pocket-watch is far more pleasing...