The Girard Perregaux Vintage 1945 Tourbillon with Three Golden Bridges, 70th Anniversary Edition. Long name for a watch, but what a watch! GP is famous for their tourbillons featuring three golden bridges, and the Vintage 1945 is their curved, rectangular case.
GP’s Tourbillon with Three Golden Bridges is one rich in history, tracing back to 1887 when Constant Girard’s Tourbillon with Three Golden Bridges won the first prize in the Universal Exhibition in Paris, and established the specific and delightfully beautiful architecture for a watch with a tourbillon. The entire movement is build within three bridges, which are designed to form double headed arrows, and arranged these bridges in parallel. This aligns the barrel, gear train and tourbillon along the same axis. The bridges were made of gold and their large ruby settings line the middle. The layout exudes a dignified beauty which is harmonious. Some have even waxed poetic on the bridges, calling them the representation of the past, present and the future.
We have been fascinated with this tourbillon architecture, and have featured one of the early pocket watches to carry the three golden bridges. Click here for a pictorial review of the La Esmeralda. A tribute re-issue was made in 2011, and we covered that here. A very special version, equipped with a minute repeater was released for BaselWorld 2015, and we reviewed that watch here. For this article, our intent is just to luxuriate in the beauty of the new 70th Anniversary tribute to the Art Deco styled Vintage 1945.
Girard Perregaux Vintage 1945 Tourbillon with Three Golden Bridges, 70th Anniversary Edition
Girard Perregaux Vintage 1945 Tourbillon with Three Golden Bridges, 70th Anniversary Edition. Two limited editions are available. One of 18 watches in white gold and the other consisting of 8 watches, also in white gold and set with 112 baguette-cut diamonds whose geometry radiantly highlights the lines of the elegant rectangular case.
The caseback, with an Art Deco motif, and the engravings indicating the 70th Anniversary Edition.
A look at the magnificent bridges
The GP Vitnage 1945 Tourbillon with Three Golden Bridges. White gold case. Note the case is curved, so it sits comfortably on the wrist.
For a wallpaper sized image (1920x1200pixels) of the above, you can click here. By clicking on this link, you are agree to the attached conditions and are granted a free of charge limited license for personal and non-commercial use. No modifications are allowed with this free license. License fees apply for commercial use, please enquire for rates.
From another angle, the bridges are magnificently polished and finishing is top grade:
GP Three Golden Bridges.
For a wallpaper sized image (1920x1200pixels) of the above, you can click here. By clicking on this link, you are agree to the attached conditions and are granted a free of charge limited license for personal and non-commercial use. No modifications are allowed with this free license. License fees apply for commercial use, please enquire for rates.
Note the arrangement of the hands. The hour hand is placed over the minute hand. In a regular watch, the hands are arranged such that the minute hand is over the hour hand. In the Tourbillon with Three Golden Bridges, this arrangement is necessary because what we are seeing as the dial, is actually the back of the movement which is flipped over. Note also the long pinions of the wheels extending to the hands.
The tourbillon. The huge ruby endstone is exceptionally large and beautiful. Note the finishing on the arrow heads, which are anglaged, and polished. Also the tourbillon bridges get a similar finish.
For a wallpaper sized image (1920x1200pixels) of the above, you can click here. By clicking on this link, you are agree to the attached conditions and are granted a free of charge limited license for personal and non-commercial use. No modifications are allowed with this free license. License fees apply for commercial use, please enquire for rates.
The watch wears well.
The GP Vintage 1945 Tourbllon with Three Golden Bridges on the wrist. The coat and waistcoat is bespoken and made by Gordon Yao from a limited edition run of a fresco like fabric known as Brisa. Note that as the paisley pattern on the tie is reflected in the polka dots on the pocket square, they are of a similar scale. Shirt is also bespoked, Thomas Mason oxford cotton in a pale lavender hue with a white over check, and mother of pearl buttons.
And a parting view of the three bridges in full splendor.
GP Vintage 1945 Tourbillon with Three Golden Bridges. Bridge detail.
For a wallpaper sized image (1920x1200pixels) of the above, you can click here. By clicking on this link, you are agree to the attached conditions and are granted a free of charge limited license for personal and non-commercial use. No modifications are allowed with this free license. License fees apply for commercial use, please enquire for rates.
Girard Perregaux Vintage 1945 Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges 70TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION Specifications
REF : 99880-53-00B-BA6A
Material : White gold
Dimensions / Diameter : 30.30 x 28.60 mm
Height : 11,48 mm
Case-back : satin-finished and engraved with the Vintage 1945 anniversary logo
Water resistance : 30 meters (3 ATM)
Movement : GP09600-0028 Automatic mechanical movement
Caliber : 121/2 ‘’’ x 131/4’’’
Frequency : 21,600 Vib/h – (3 Hz)
Jewels : 31
Power reserve : min. 48 hours
Functions : Tourbillon, hour, minute, small second on the Tourbillon
3 Comments
Stunning! That’s all I can say about the Girard Perregaux Three Bridges Tourbillon. It is one of the most beautiful Tourbillon made so long ago and yet still so magnificent today. Nice post!