Last year’s Girard-Perregaux Neo-Tourbillon was kind of an impressive and fresh looking piece. Usually, the concept of the three bridges by GP is classic and lack of modernity – even if totally part of the DNA of the brand. However, with the Neo-Tourbillon, GP brought a very refreshing and contemporary interpretation of this concept. This is both a complex movement but designed in a highly clean and architectural way. Previously available in rose gold, the Girard-Perregaux Neo-Tourbillon with 3 bridges now comes in an even more modern DLC coated Titanium case.

The concept of the Tourbillon with 3 bridges by GP is (apparently) simple: all the technical elements, starting from the storage of energy to the regulating organ are positioned vertically perfectly aligned and held in place by 3 thin bridges that cross the movement horizontally from one side to another. In the case of the Neo-Tourbillon, under the first bridge on the top, we can find the main barrel (that delivers here energy for 60 hours power reserve). The upper wheel of the barrel is skeletonized, beveled, polished, circular grained and engraved. Right in the middle sits the axis of the hands with, just below, the third wheel of the gear train. Finally, the last bridge holds the one-minute tourbillon and its very thin lyre-shaped floating cage. That’s all. The result is an easily understandable watch that properly feels mechanical but also very clean with crisp lines all at the same time.

That said, the Girard-Perregaux Neo-Tourbillon DLC Titanium uses the famous concept of the three bridges. Usually, they are made from gold and then patiently shaped, bevelled and polished – as you can see in the Girard-Perregaux Minute Repeater Tourbillon with Gold Bridges. In order to have a more modern and architectural design, the bridges of the Neo-Tourbillon are milled from titanium and sand-blasted finished. This way to manufacture the bridges has 2 main advantages: the first one is the ability to create a complex 3 dimensional shape (that are, due to the use of titanium, lighter). The second concerns the price, that is significantly reduced compared to hand-shaped and hand-finished gold bridges. The movement is fully coated with PVD and matte, leaving just the mobile elements on show: barrel, wheels, hands and tourbillon are thus highlighted to perfection.

This same black scheme is has now also been applied to the whole watch. The robust 45mm case comes in titanium coated with black diamond-like-carbon (DLC). The consequences of the use of titanium are multiple. First, it is a light piece of haute horlogerie, even if it remains a large watch. Also, titanium is known to be solid and resistant. Thus, this metal coated in black mixes perfectly with the concept of a modern and architectural watch. Finally, price will be below the 18k rose gold edition. One of the coolest features of the Neo-Tourbillon is the absence of bezel and the use of a large boxed crystal that gives an impressive and detailed look of the dial and movement from every angle.

The reason for this very clean dial is simple: the only part of the gear train visible is the central wheel. The rest is located on the back of the watch, meaning that the escapement wheel, the first and second wheels are visible from the case back and not on the front. Same goes for the energy section. From the case back we can spot a nice ratchet week (shape like a grand sonnerie style winding ratchet) and a winding wheel with spokes reminding us of the tourbillon’s cage.

As many technical elements are located on the top side of the dial, the movement of the Girard-Perregaux Neo-Tourbillon is rather simple – which doesn’t mean it is not coming with the usual and superb GP finish – frosted main plate with polished bevelled angles, bevelled wheels, black polished screw-heads and chamfered black coated top bridges.

Last feature of this movement: it is an automatic calibre. You may not be able to notice it at first sight but the Calibre Girard-Perregaux GP09400 features a platinum micro-rotor located just below the main barrel. Even if it features a tourbillon (that alone comprises 80 components) and a self-winding mechanism, this movement is made of only 245 components. Sometimes, less is more.

The Girard-Perregaux Neo-Tourbillon is a fresh, modern and spectacular watch. It renews the iconic concept of the brand with an architectural design without losing the roots of the old pocket watches made by GP. This new edition in Black DLC Titanium is even more interesting as it brings an even more contemporary and sporty look to this piece. Price: 133.000 Swiss Francs (reminder: the 18k Rose gold was priced at 145.000 Swiss Francs).

More details on girard-perregaux.com.

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