GIRARD-PERREGAUX, A UNIQUE TITANIUM SKELETONISED TRIPLE BRIDGE TOURBILLON WRISTWATCH WITH CLOISONNÉ ENAMEL

CASE NUMBER: Pièce Unique, Ref. 99050S0.21.000

Details

CIRCA: 1996
CASE MATERIAL: Titanium, caseback carries the pièce unique engraving
DIAMETER: 39 mm.
STRAP MATERIAL: Black CROCODILE leather strap
DIAL: Skeletonised dial, polished flange engraved with Roman numerals for hour markers
MOVEMENT: Cal. 9900S034A 12 3/4'", manual-winding, 1-minute tourbillon escapement, 18k pink gold triple bridges with red cloisonné enamel inlay
FUNCTIONS: Time only
BUCKLE: Girard Perregaux pin buckle
WITH: Electronic Extract from the Archives confirming June 26, 1996 as the register date
Ψ The present lot has an endangered species strap which will not be shipped outside of the UAE, it will be fitted with a regular leather strap instead. However, the strap can be collected from the sale office in Dubai. Please contact a specialist for more information.


Lot Essay

This rare and unique Triple Bridge Tourbillon, according to the Heritage Department at Girard-Perregaux, was developed exclusively for the brand’s agent in the United Kingdom. It was produced in 1996, on special request from this agent, and was delivered to the UK in 1997.
The request clearly was aimed at bringing together the maison’s most characteristic movement signature – the triple bridge – and combining it with a modern case material like titanium. The dull matte-finished grey titanium case serves as the perfect frame for the skeletonised tourbillon movement highlighted by a spectacular twist to the traditional gold triple bridge design. The 18k pink gold bridges have been decorated with a bright red cloisonné enamel.
Girard-Perregaux's first tourbillon movement featuring three gold bridges was patented in 1884 by one of the firm's founder, Constant Girard. A unique example in the history of watchmaking, it represents a perfect combination of aesthetical, technical and symbolical aspects. At the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1889, his tourbillon with three gold bridges was awarded a gold medal and then declared out of competition, as it was beyond match.
Nearly 200 years later, in 1986, the firm's Research and Development Department was mandated with the creation of a wristwatch with the three gold bridges design. The challenge of miniaturising the pocket watch movement and to inverse its construction by positioning the gold bridges on the dial side was perfectly mastered and crowned by the launch of the celebrated Tourbillon Sous Trois Ponts d'or Wristwatch.