Archive for the ‘Girard Perregaux’ category

Girard-Perregaux ww.tc New Steel Edition

July 20th, 2010

Girard-Perregaux, one of the most prestigious watchmakers in the world, is presenting a new technical and dynamic steel version for its universally known ww.tc (world wide time control) collection.

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First launched in 2000, the ww.tc (world wide time control) chronograph has combined sophisticated style with watchmaking expertise, and soon became one of the Girard-Perregaux Manufacture’s iconic lines. It is provided with a simultaneous display of all time zones on its dial for the “world time” function. The exclusive system drives a ring displaying the time for 24 time zones, represented by the same number of cities. The hour ring comes with a day/night contrast function to provide optimal readability.

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Now comes a new steel version for the ww.tc timepiece. The novelty features a ergonomic and generously-sized 43mm case that has been entirely satin-finished, emphasising the subtle strength of its design. Protected by an anti-glare sapphire crystal, the matt black “stepped” dial has also been subtly reworked in the same style, playing with the contrasts of black and white. The ring for the “world time” function has been redesigned with two arrows showing its direction of rotation, coupled with new baton-style hands for indicating the hours and minutes.

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The new ww.tc watch is as sophisticated inside as it is chic and powerful on the outside. The movement is the exclusive GP033C0 in-house movement, a fusion of technical virtuosity that combines chronograph and date functions with world time indication. It beats at 4 Hz and offers a 46-hour power reserve. A sapphire crystal exhibition back invites the owner to admire the fine decorative work of the GP watchmakers: circular graining on the main plate, Côtes de Genève on the bridges and oscillating weight, and blued steel screws.

Wearers’ optimum comfort is guaranteed by the elegant matt black alligator strap completed with a matching deployment buckle. The watch is also available with a fully satin-finished steel bracelet.

Girard-Perregaux New Opera One Watch

April 10th, 2010

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The prestigious Swiss watchmaker Girard-Perregaux has recently launched its new Opera One , a remarkable tourbillon minute repeater watch. The chiming of the hours and minutes was originally created to allow the time to be determined in the dark, which remains one of the most difficult feats of watchmaking craftsmanship to achieve. However, Girard-Perregaux opted to apply a Westminster chime to its new watch, which features a more difficult complication than common repeaters.

The new Opera One marks the hours with four hammers to play a melody of four different notes. I don’t know if this is similar with the full chime recently accomplished by the Jaeger-LeCoultre Hybris Mechanica Grande Sonnerie , which stands on the forefront in the “wristwatches chime” field. Anyway, tourbillon minute repeater watches are more than common these days, and the Corum Admiral’s Cup Tourbillon Minute Repeater that I have reviewed last year is the most renowned among them.

The tourbillon marks another subtle technical feature for the new watch. Originally designed to eliminate the effects of gravity on the watch’s regulating organ, this compilcation represents a genuine tradition which Girard-Perregaux has maintained and developed since the 19th century. The superb architecture of the Tourbillon with gold Bridges has become a signature of Girard-Perregaux. To incorporate the chime mechanism, the shape of the three characteristic Girard-Perregaux gold Bridges on this watch has been given a stylish redesign.

Another highlight of Opera one is its semi-transparent tinted sapphire dial. Housed in a 40mm white gold case, the watch boasts a dial adorned with a sunburst finish whose rays originate at the Tourbillon, producing a complex interplay of transparencies over the watch’s exceptional mechanics. I don’t think the dense metal is the best for the chime to travel, but a luxury watch needs such a luxury metal. In fact, a particularly loud repeater is sure to disgrace a elegant luxury watch, so the new Opera One watch is guaranteed by the company to adopt a very clear chime. The case-back is sapphire, revealing fine workings of the highly complex movement – a manually wound Girard Perregaux GP9899 movement .

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At last, I want introduce the Girard-Perregaux Opera Three watch. As seen in the photos, it is similar with the Opera One in overall design theme. The watch is known as a music box watch, into which there is a music wheel built.

Technical Specifications

Girard-Perregaux Opera One

Functions:

Functions: Tourbillon, hour, minute, small second on the Tourbillon, minute repeater with Westminster chime

Movement
Calibre: Girard-Perregaux movement GP9899, mechanical with manual winding

Jewels:37
Power reserve: 75 hours
Frequency: 3 Hz (21,600 beats/hour)

Case
Diameter: 40 mm
Material: white gold
Sapphire case-back
Crystal: sapphire, with anti-reflective coating
Waterproofness: 30 m (100 ft)

Bracelet/Strap
Alligator strap with white gold folding buckle

New Girard-Perregaux 1966 Collection Chronograph Watch

December 17th, 2009

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The SIHH 2010 is sure to be a grand event full of brilliant watches. The brand new Girard-Perregaux 1966 Collection chronograph watch is likely to be one of the most brightest models among them. Classic design, strong movement, and extreme elegance consist the reasons.

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As the newest member of the vintage Girard-Perregaux 1966 collection, the novel watch is finely dressed in a round polished case made of 18K rose or white gold. The streamlined case embraces a white dial with a plain and simple design. Two subdials symmetrically lie on the central zone of the dial: a 30-minute chronograph at 3:00 and a second counter at 9:00. It is highly harmonious that the rose or white gold tone in the bezel, markers and numerals, the white color of the dial, and the black track of the tachymeter scale contrast finely with each other. The heat-blued second hand add kind of smartness to the overall design. Beside the case is a delicate gold winding crown and a pair of push-pieces.

The new GP watch comes with a black leather watch, equipped with a rose or white gold buckle. It is water-resistant to 30 meters, and the protection is provided by sapphire crystals.

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Inside the watch is a 23.68 mm GP030C0 automatic column-wheel chronograph movement. It was exclusively available for GP’s ladies timepieces. And the new Girard-Perregaux 1966 Collection chronograph watch, with its 40mm case, is certainly a men watch. Is it the so-called neutral style? The watch undoubtedly forms an unique reversal for the velvet glove. I am looking forward to its performance in Geneva, Switzerland on 18 January 2010, where and when the SIHH 2010 will be held.

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