Girard Perregaux

Just sharing a rare view; with a price tag well north of 500K US-$ it´s not seen often:



While it´s not new, it´s truly one of these "watches for the few" and with only a handful out there, ownership means being member in a most exclusive club!
Apart from that, this one came with a brillant chime! Four gongs and hammers in action...

Cheers,

Peter This message has been edited by PeterCDE on 2007-03-05 11:09:53

there is a wheel that is placed vertically (on the top left hand area of the photo)... must be something very very special.

Can't wait to see... please

Howdy,

i think it is and while GP is not comfortable to release production figures, i think it´s ok to say there is not that much more than a dozen pieces world-wide. It´s a very complicated watch to do, not just an expensive one...

With thanks to Mrs. Ute of GP Germany for allowing an even more rare view on the wrist:




The watch measures 42mm in diameter and 14.15mm in height, making a really substantial piece beyond the "inner values". On a closer view, the dimensions and particularly the height is easily overestimated, a little bit of a chunky piece of metal:


The massive Pt case accounts for a heavy piece, but it still is very wearable and almost inobtrusive.
To me, the wrist shot puts things in perspective. It´s made to be worn and on the wrist, it doesn´t look like big bucks on first glimpse.

Ok, another view of the back:



(because this is a privately owned watch, i´ve digitally removed the individual number)

Oh my, details of the movement...
I really can´t claim to know how it works
Based on the position of the vertical wheel, i´m tempted to guess it to be part of the keyless works and winding mechanism. Much of the movement is located on the dial side and usually not visible, apart from the tourbillon carriage and the hammers for the chime.
What i find a very nice thing is the incredible depth; there are so many layers and recesses filled with levers, wheel and springs! It´s inviting to be admired and begging for a close look, a spectacular view taken to the top when things start to work. It´s much like an orchestral work of mechanical parts, in some way "kinetic art".

On the model, it´s a GP "Opera TWO". The features sum up for tourbillon with perpetual calendar and a minute repeater with Westminster chimes ("carillon") by use of four hammers and gongs.
So yes, it´s pretty special

Cheers,

Peter

nt

Not sure to have posted this, so please bear with me in case i did:



Stunning piece indeed
Ok, there´s the tourbillon and the hammers visible. But it´s quite inobtrusive from a little distance.
BIG fun for sure

Cheers,

Peter

can be beautiful.

Impressing!

Thanks for sharing, Peter,
whatever it is,
it's anyhow first class workmanship :-)

Cheers

Doc

It´s a big piece (42mm wide, 14.15mm high), but filled with truly a LOT of small parts:

Frankly, i´m undecided about the finish and personally find the Three Gold Bridges to be a bit finer.
But i think it would do equally well and comparably impressive without any decorative work at all; it is the work to make it work that isn´t without impact if you have a chance to see it up close.
And to make it sound nice, which this one did featuring a nice pitch and tone, but great volume despite the sheer weight and mass of the heavy case, is quite a trick!

It just doesn´t look like a repeater on first view?

I find it quite mesmerizing

Cheers,

Peter

no wonder...

www.watchprosite.com

www.watchprosite.com

I think most of the repeaters have the hammers at the back and the repeater mechanism at the front. The Opera 2 has it inverted. Actually, I think the repeater mechanism (e.g. "snail wheel", etc) is more interesting than the hammers.

Thanks for reminding us this fantastic fine timepieces.

BTW.... how long we still need to wait for seeing the GP's new models? I hope you can give us a peek before the SIHH

Cheers!

Yes, it´s pretty unusual not only because of the functionality!
And not a "traditional" repeater, obviously

On new models, i´ll do my best to see if there´s something to tell.
Well. If you look closely at the posts of the last two weeks, you may see something new already. A much more "simple" watch than the Opera 2 maybe. But still nice and classic, very "GP" And if you don´t tell, i´d sugeest to have a look at the answer regarding the Vintage45 GMT chronograph below (may tell a bit too).

I´m afraid that´s for now, apart from, hmm, the pics of Opera 2 (and Opera 3, to come soon) may or may not be choosen intentionally!
Nonetheless, from what i´ve heard there will be very nice surprises for collectors over all the portfolio by GP, from the more affordable pieces up to wild, stunning, fantastic, evil-like expensive fun watches!

Cheers,

Peter

 

 

I just love when you see all those wonderful wheels with different dimensions and teeth.

Really overcrowded, you wonder how they got everything inside, and even more,
how they got it working :-)

Can't get enough of these kind of pics!

And very nice to see my friend and rescuer Mrs Ute in this thread :-)

Cheers

Doc