In order to commemorate its 225th anniversary, Girard-Perregaux has launched an exceptional and unprecedented collection named Place Girardet. The anniversary line of watches consists of four exceptional timepieces equipped with the totally new architecture of the GP01800 famous caliber.
The in-house manufactured caliber GP01800-005 provides that the opening below the Golden Bridge reveals the variable inertia Microvar balance, thus creating an unprecedented animation. This new development features an entirely revamped architecture and design.
The impeccable mechanism consists of 194 individual components and it displays hours, minutes and a central second. The mechanical movement is capable to store enough energy to keep the watch ticking for at least 54 hours when fully charged. From the rear, the sapphire crystal case back reveals the movement and its gold oscillating weight, as well as the engraving of Girard-Perregaux’s founding date, 1791.
The new caliber is decorated with the traditional techniques: “Côtes de Genève” on the main-plate and gear train bridges and even sunburst decoration on the oscillating weight. An eagle, a symbol of the Swiss manufacturer since 1897 and a reference to the special Anniversary Edition are also engraved on the movement.
Each of four Girard-Perregaux Place Girardet timepieces features a unique dial with different types of guilloché or lacquers, as well as with a different index style, a minutes scale and its decoration. Also, there is a choice among white, silver, dark gray and blue color. At the 6 o’clock position there is a microvar variable inertia balance wheel, an adjustment mass, free-sprung balance wheel that is manufactured in-house and promises improved precision and stability after regulation. At the 9 o’clock position there is a gold plate engraved with a specific year. Each of four models is produced in the limited series of 225 pieces and consequently every dial is numbered with different year starting from 1791 and ending with 2016. The leaf-styled hour and minute hands, as well as a large second hand which indicate the passing of time are all crafted from 18-karat rose gold.
In spite of the dials which differ, everything else about the Place Girardet timepiece is standard in this emblematic collection. Each model is housed in an elegant 18-karat rose gold case measuring 41mm in diameter and just under 11mm in thickness. The case and lugs extend into a black alligator leather strap which is secured to the wrist with a rose gold deployment buckle. The water resistance of the watch is assured down to 30 meters (approximately 100 feet).
