Girard Perregaux

Sometimes, you have the opportunity to see a watch so special than the words can't describe it, a watch which is like an UFO on Earth... that's the case with this Laureato Tourbillon. I tried of course to guess why I found it so strange. In fact, I know why now. This watch is like an old episode of Star Trek: I have the feeling with this watch to see the future from the past, the future which would be imagined by people from the 60's or the 70's.





But don't get me wrong: the Laureato Tourbillon hypnotized me thanks to the contrast between the three sapphire bridges and the titanium case.

It is very funny to consider that the three sapphire bridges enhance the futuristic side of the watch whcih may look like a quartz or a high-technical watch. High-technical yes it is but we are here talking about an ancestral technique: the automatic mecanism of a watch.





The typical Laureato case has a 42mm diameter, a height of 12,60mm and is made of titanium. In fact, it is not entirely made of titanium because it gets a platinum bezel.





The dial is of course, totally gorgeous because the sapphire bridges work much better here then the golden bridges. You have a feeling of depth thanks to the different layers. You will notice a very rare presence of a second hand which is usually useless with a Tourbillon which does a revolution every minute. Both ends have an hexagonal shape.





Caliber GP9600.0S has a 3hz frequency, 31 jewels and a power reserve of 48 hours. Thanks to its original architecture in which the rotor is positioned dial side, the back of the watch looks like the back of an handwind watch.





With the Laureato Tourbillon, you don't have mixed emotions: you love it or your hate it. You may find that the caliber 9600C as one of the most impressive Tourbillon movements or you may think that the Laureato case is old-fashioned now. So take sides! But if you are seduced by the strange charm produced by this watch, you won't be disappointed: the sight offered by the dial is pure magic !









Putting a Tourbillon in a sportive context, in a 100m waterproof case, is not an easy task. I must confess that Girard-Perregaux managed to find the perfect chemistry thanks to the clever adjustment of the three bridges to the Laureato case.





Thanks a lot to the Chronopassion Boutique in Paris.

Fr.Xavier

This message has been edited by foversta on 2010-06-06 12:00:42

Something between " Heroes " by David Bowie and " Fear of Music " by Talking Heads.

Very characteristic from the end of the 70ies, but very appealing.

I agree with your view on this GP, FX.

The dial makes me forget the case.

I'm totally under the charm.

Best,

Nicolas

From the 1870s

Waltham had the same idea except instead of three bridges, they used sapphire for the entire 3/4 plate and the balance cock

WOuld love to own either the GP or this ancestor pocketwatch.

 

Mike

Waltham used rock crystal not sapphire, as synthetic sapphire wasn't invented until the early 20th century. Also according to what I've read they were made in the late 1880s through the early 90s, the model number is 1872, which has led to some confusion.

A

much harder to source and create the plates using stone quartz imho than it is to grow/shape synthetic sapphire crystal.

Of course we need a trip to the Waltham museum to confirm the dating

 

Best, Mike

No message body

i read a great article in IW about the pocketwatch Hamilton made, they think, as a display model which was made of totally see through plexi bridges. with the new methods of shaping and using sapphire i think we'll be seeing more see through watches in years to come.

best

graham

beauty in transparency

and that wristshot is quite bling !

cheers,
Ed~

"sport " tourbillons, this is my favorite and has raison d'etre IMO.Back to the future!

Hi,

Thank you FX.

I've had enough time to look and think and become sure that i could live without a tourbillon, or a wrist minute repeater, or even a perpetual calendar chronograph.

I love simple beautiful watches and can be very happy with such watches. There are already enough out of my reach.

Still there are a few extraordinary pieces that can make me hope! The Laureato Tourbillon is definitely one of those few!

This watch is incredible, beautiful, exquisite, so nicely made, and so modern!

It shows the best, no less, but is everything but show off!

Subtlety is dangerous! 

Cheers

Dje

Wow

Nice pics foversta, thanks for sharing such a beautiful watch.  The GP triple bridge tourbillon variations are wonderful in all variations.

Regards,
ED-209

no words..

i'm wondering how the sapphire bridges would look in the rectangular case that the three golden bridges was put in.

i can see the usage of sapphire becoming more common as technology progresses. we all love to see the mechanism of a watch and what better way than to have see through bridges. i'll have to look at the wrist shots a bit longer to see if the case starts to fit the movement better, but the movement is a big hit for me.

best

Graham

It is stunning, no doubt!!!!!

 

 

This message has been edited by EdL on 2010-06-28 19:25:30

Missed this when you posted it. Now reading it thanks to Mostel's post.

 

One of my fav watches. Would love to wear it as my everyday watch. Always have loved this movement form GP and even more with the sapphire bridges. It looks like a toy and it makes it even more attractive to me.

 

Thanks for posting these pictures, and make me happy, FX.

 

 

Best.

 

 

 

Vte

up there on the Big Dream list...