Introducing the Girard Perregaux Classic Bridges

We dive deep into the details of a masterpiece and a horological icon. [View this email in your browser]( Introducing the Girard-Perregaux Classic Bridges With roots going back to the 18th century—1791 to be precise—Girard-Perregaux has an uninterrupted watchmaking history and tradition of over 225 years. While early success can be attributed to the accomplishments of watchmaker Jean-François Bautte, along with the strong foundation laid by founder Constant Girard and his wife Marie Perregaux’s family, the one achievement that propelled the Girard-Perregaux name into stardom came about in the 1800s. It was the development of the 'Three Bridges'. Constant Girard-Perregaux presented a pocket watch with three golden bridges at the Universal Exposition in Paris in 1867. The three 'bridges' were the pillars of the movement and each bridge held the mainspring, gearchain and the escapement respectively. He earned huge acclaim for the watch and he developed the concept further. He presented a sophisticated version of the Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges at the 1889 edition of the Universal Exposition—incidentally, the one that saw the completion and opening of the Eiffel Tower—for which he won a gold medal. Since then the Bridges collection has been a flagship line of Girrard-Perregaux and an icon of haute horlogerie. The Three Gold Bridges have been reinterpreted in other creations over the years, eventually going from pocket watch to wristwatch. The Classic Bridges is the modern and more pared-down, time-only interpretation of this iconic and historic collection that has a history of over 150 years. MRP: ₹27,01,000 For more information, please call our Luxury Watch Helpline on [+91 8725028889](tel:08725028889), [+91 8725028890](tel:08725028890). [Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp.]( History 101⁠—how the Bridges collection became an icon It was sometime in 1770 when Jean-Antoine Lépine, an illustrious French watchmaker, revolutionised the construction of the watch movement by inventing the Lépine calibre, which used bridges and cocks to secure the moving parts on the base plate, replacing the prevailing pillar construction where the parts were held between two full plates. Almost a century later, Constant Girard, took Lépine’s idea a few notches higher by adapting the layout of the movement in a way that does not focus on mechanical function alone, but also on aesthetic richness. During the mid-1850s, Girard began exploring a calibre, with its barrel, gear train, and regulator arranged vertically in a straight line. They were secured by identical, parallel bridges with a shape resembling an elongated rhombus, thus creating a superbly elegant equilibrium in terms of how the movement was laid out. He presented this at the Universal Exposition in 1867, and a more sophisticated version of it in 1889, which earned him a gold medal. It would go on to become an icon of fine watchmaking. Over a period of time, the large parallel bridges evolved into two-headed arrow bridges in solid gold. It would hardly be an overstatement to say that the Three Golden Bridges movement, with respect to decoration, design, and precision, is considered to be one of the highest forms of watchmaking. Girard Perregaux has taken it from a pocket watch to a wristwatch and through years of innovation introduced it in many modern variations including minute repeaters, complete sapphire cases and much more. Today the Bridge collection is instantly recognisable and is a celebration of the pursuit of perfection. An open-worked display that celebrates the historical bridges and makes the movement, especially the escapement the centre of the art piece The piece is sure to leave you awestruck with its architectural splendour, at the very first glance. The open-worked dial offers scintillating glimpses of the inner workings. Of course, the bridges originated as essential components of the movement but they went on to become integral visual elements of the collection as well. The two pink-gold bridges with their distinctive arrow-head silhouette, lends an almost disruptive symmetry to the aesthetics of the piece. The lower bridge at six o’clock holds the balance wheel whose movement gives the open-worked dial the dynamism that is the essence of a skeleton watch. The bridge at the centre holds the timekeeping hands, canon pinion, and hour wheel. The symmetrical upper half is a treat in itself, with the barrel between one and two o’clock, and a very subtle micro-rotor between 10 and 11 o’clock. Besides, the gold bridges create a striking contract against the frosted base plate, which is responsible for the rest of the gear-train and the keyless components. Did you know? Each of the iconic bridges takes7 days for a skilled watchmaker just to polish! Girard Perregaux is obsessed with perfection. Skilled watchmakers spend days finishing the visible and even the non-visible components of different watches at GP. Each Bridge goes through several long and detailed processes before it is completed. One example of this is the polishing process. It takes a master watchmaker one week to polish a single bridge to ensure that it looks absolutely perfect from each and every angle. The unique mirror-polishing on the twin bridges and the skilfully executed chamfers create a unique interplay of volumes and depths amidst this spectacular arrangement of watchmaking details. The bridges are secured by four screws—one on each arrowhead—which too flaunt polished screw heads. The circular jewel in the middle is held with screws and creates a stunning contrast. The end result is a piece of art and a technical marvel. The highly legible dial with a perfect harmony of distinctive elements The broad, faceted dauphine-style hour and minute hands alternate between polished and satin-finished accents. These, coupled with the fine Luminova-coated ridge, enhance legibility, as they sweep across the face of the skeletonised dial. The hour and the minute chapter ring in pink gold, which frames the central display, looks seemingly suspended in mid-air. Tiny black lacquer droplets count out the minutes. The pink gold applique hour markers accentuate the play of volumes, while also showcasing the depth of the display as they seemingly float over the steel-hued components beneath them. The luminescent coating on the hour-markers further facilitate legibility under low-light conditions. MRP: ₹27,01,000 For more information, please call our Luxury Watch Helpline on [+91 8725028889](tel:08725028889), [+91 8725028890](tel:08725028890). [Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp.]( A beauty and a beast : The calibre GP08600-0001 A new Girard-Perregaux in-house manufactured movement whose complex architecture displays more than 200 components, along with a design faithful to the DNA of the Manufacture: the movement is not only a technical part of the watch but also an integral part of the design which makes this new addition to the Bridges collection instantaneously recognisable. The movement is warmly reminiscent of the original Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges. Crafted entirely in-house, the calibre GP08600-0002 encompasses 207 components, including 29 jewels, and the eponymous bridges, and the self-winding micro-rotor, which helps give this automatic watch a minimum power reserve of two full days. The intricate detailing of the components include the mirror-polished tops, bevelled edges and brushed flanks of the bridges. MRP: ₹27,01,000 Offer Price, please call our Luxury Watch Helpline on [+91 8725028889](tel:08725028889), [+91 8725028890](tel:08725028890). [Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp.]( The low-key caseback, in contrast to the highly detailed façade With almost all the moving parts visible on the façade, the caseback is full plate that is almost bare, with simple Côtes de Genève decoration, and the barrel ratchet wheel. It has been skeletonised in a tri-lobe motif inspired by the trademark Girard-Perregaux tourbillon cage. Another interesting detail on the caseback is the ‘third’ bridge, which holds one of the wheels for the automatic winding mechanism. A statement-making piece in pink gold, with perfect dimensions In terms of style and finish, the Classic Bridges does complete justice to its name, exuding a classic appeal with its entirely polished 18-karat pink gold case. The understated look of the case works in favour of the design, especially since their primary area of focus was the open-worked display. The relative thinness of the case, with the height at a little over 12mm, lends it a more elegant profile. At 40mm in diameter, the timepiece suits wrists of all sizes, besides allowing the movement to be gloriously showcased. Finishing touches include the smooth bezel and the fluting on the crown, which has the GP logo engraved, in contrast to the embossed logo seen at 12 o’clock on the dial. The curved lugs ensure greater comfort for the wearer. MRP: ₹27,01,000 For more information, please call our Luxury Watch Helpline on [+91 8725028889](tel:08725028889), [+91 8725028890](tel:08725028890). [Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp.]( One of the most wearable Bridges pieces The black leather strap comes complete with a triple-folding clasp in 18-karat pink gold. The elegance of a gold timepiece with superior finishing, along with a luxurious leather strap, makes this perfect as a dress watch. However, the visible machinery with its industrial appeal even gives it a bit of a casual air. What makes the timepiece stand apart is the visual delight offered by the interplay of textures that really brings out the richness of it appearance. The profusion of details including the depth and the movement highlight a delicate balance of harmony, especially owing to the sheer contrast between the steel hues of the inner parts and the golden elements that match the pink gold case. Even without high-complication features that this collection was originally known for, the Classic Bridges exemplifies the craftsmanship of the splendid line, but is as wearable as the next gold watch out there. The Classic Bridges maintains basic, accurate timekeeping as its focus, but offers the refinement and iconography of the manufacture and its emblematic collection. This combination certainly does qualify it as one of the most wearable Bridges pieces made by Girard-Perregaux, all the while being just as impressive as any other. Discover the Video of the Classic Bridges CASE Material: Pink gold Diameter: 40.00 mm (also available in 45 MM) Height: 11.70 mm Case-back: Sapphire crystal Dial: Ring displaying suspended indexes Water resistance: 3 ATM STRAP Size: 20.00 / 18.0 mm Material: Alligator Black Buckle: Triple folding Buckle material: Pink gold MOVEMENT and CALIBRE Number: GP08600-0001 Type: Self-winding mechanical movement Diameter: 32 mm (14 1/4’’’) Height: 5,62 mm Frequency: 21,600 Vib/h – (3 Hz) Number of components: 207 Jewels: 29 Oscillating weight: Steel micro rotor Finishes: Bevelling, mirror-polishing, satin-finishing Power reserve: Min. 48 hours Functions - Hours and Minutes MRP: ₹27,01,000 Offer Price, please call our Luxury Watch Helpline on [+91 8725028889](tel:08725028889), [+91 8725028890](tel:08725028890). [Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp.]( [Explore all Girard-Perregaux watches]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( Ethos Watch Boutiques India's largest chain of luxury watch boutiques. You are receiving this email because you signed up for communications on our website/at our store. 204-206, Second Floor, Square One Mall, District Centre Saket New Delhi - 110017 [Unsubscribe](