An exact replica of the watch in the Girard Perregaux Museum, this magnificent pocket chronometer with one minute tourbillon regulator "sous trois ponts d'or" is part of a very small series started in 1981 and planned to be produced in twenty examples (to date only 17 pieces have been completed; these are regarded by collectors as the most beautiful tourbillons ever made). Fitted with a pivoted detent escapement mounted on a one minute tourbillon carriage, they are identical to the original watch, patented in March 1884. A period model was acquired at auction to provide the required reference. The present watch, the first of the series of these new tourbillons with three gold bridges, was ready by December, 1982. An objective evaluation of that achievement can be found in the opinion of the curator of the International Museum of Horology in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Andre Curtit: "With all the severity of an experienced horology teacher, I'd say that watchmakers thirty years ago or so swore only by the achievements of the old masters of their trade. Yet with all their merits, none of them ever achieved a level of finish on a par with this, even on their most exceptional timepieces. In a word, this Tourbillon embodies the highest degree of quality that I have ever come across in my entire career." The Tourbillon's exacting precision was further confirmed by stringent tests carried out by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Authority. This body issued the Tourbillon a pocket chronometer rating certificate inscribed with the mention "particularly good results". This impressive performance was matched by every other Tourbillon in the series.
Girard-Perregaux
The origins of the firm can be traced back to Jean-François Bautte, who was famous for his extra-flat watches and founded a manufactory in Geneva in which all the various facets of the trade were housed under one roof. In 1837, Jacques Bautte and Jean Samuel Rossel took over the firm. In 1852, Girard & Cie was founded by Constant Girard, who married Marie Perregaux. The combination of their names resulted in the Girard-Perregaux Company, founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1856. In 1903, Constant Girard-Gallet succeeded his father as director of the firm. In 1906, he acquired the maison Bautte, merging it with Girard-Perregaux et Cie. In the early 20th century, Count von Zeppelin used Girard- Perregaux timepieces during aeronautical experiments. In 1928, the German watchmaker Otto Graef, owner of the MIMO Brand (Manufacture Internationale de Montres Or) took over the capital shares of Girard- Perregaux. In 1998, the firm acquired the Villa Marguerite, a turnof- the century building, which was renovated to house the new Girard-Perregaux Museum. In 1999, Girard-Perregaux presented a self-winding version of its famous Three Gold Bridges Tourbillon, thanks to an ingenious system (patented in 1999) featuring a platinum micro-rotor under the mainspring.
?Trois Ponts d?Or? In 1884 patent No. 14919 was filed in the USA patent office for ?a new and original Design for a Watch-Movement? with ?a bridge having a central annular portion, spreadout ends and bar-like portions between the said annular portions and ends, as shown?? The design, which proved to be one of the most successful watch movement designs ever, is still used by Girard-Perregaux today. Their most prestigious watch, the 13??? wrist tourbillon, uses the same design. The simple and bold, yet elegant layout of the ?three bridge? movement lends itself to the display of the tourbillon regulator.