Girard-Perregaux Unveils Its New Free Bridge Meteorite Watch - Out Of This World

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Girard-Perregaux unveils a new addition to its famous Bridges Collection. This latest model embraces modernity while simultaneously upholding the marque’s fondness for symmetrical styling. Incorporating two meteorite plates, the Free Bridge Meteorite unites avant-garde design with cutting-edge materials. Quite simply, this latest model is out of this world.

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A fondness for symmetry since the 1860s

The famous Bridges is legendary within the watch industry. Regarded as the oldest mechanical signature within the field of Haute Horlogerie, its origins date back to the 1860s. Over time, the bridges have evolved, encompassing different shapes, finishes and materials. Now, the Manufacture has, once again, reimagined the structural components famously located front of house and presented them in a new, highly inventive way.

In 1889, La Esmeralda, a chronometer featuring three gold bridges, a tourbillon and an elaborately engraved case, won a gold medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition. Like the prize-winning pocket watch, the Free Bridge Meteorite is endowed with an inverted movement with bridges located to the front, the balance wheel at 6 o’clock and the spring barrel positioned directly above. This imbues the display with a becoming symmetry, a characteristic it shares with the legendary Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges of the 19^th century.

Fulsome, skeletonised, dauphine-style hour and minute hands sit atop a bridge that straddles various wheels belonging to the gear train and motion works. This tendency to reveal parts normally positioned out of sight endues the model with a unique appearance. It is a design approach that is also manifest with the openworked spring barrel, located below 12 o’clock, that affords views of the mainspring in various states of tension.

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A horological canvas enriched with multiple depths and various textures

The display sits beneath a sapphire crystal box that drinks in light, illuminating the various indications. At the base of the neoteric dial, the aptly-named Neo Bridge spans the mainplate, supporting the balance. Throughout the design, the Manufacture has masterfully played with different depths and textures. The suspended indexes are positioned on a flange and project over the surfaces below, again serving to reinforce the model’s distinctive three-dimensional styling. The 44 mm stainless steel case is endowed with a tasteful blend of polished and satin-finished surfaces, while the crown is enriched with a blend of polished and sandblasted facets.

Two meteorite plates deliver an unworldly allure

As its names implies, the watch incorporates fragments from the asteroid belt. Discovered in Namibia, the Gibeon meteorite is composed of an iron-nickel alloy, incorporating small amounts of cobalt and phosphorous. The meteorite features naturally occurring flow lines termed the Widmanstätten pattern. This endows the fragments with their own identity, making each watch unique and rare. The intricate arrangement of lines, together with the textured surface of the meteorite, delivers an alluring tonal contrast.

The central bridge of the watch features a marquetry of wo meteorite plates, each retained with two gleaming screws. The creation of these plates is protracted and complex. Everything begins with the slicing of the Gibeon meteorite. Thereafter, the slices are machined into the desired shape and pierced with two holes to accommodate the aforementioned screws. Subsequently, each plate is treated in order to accentuate the Widmanstätten pattern, a process that has to be carefully mastered to avoid eroding too much of the material. Finally, the plates are rhodium-plated, providing a protective layer that prevents the iron-rich meteorite from corroding.

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Silicium technology

Consistent with its avant-garde design, the Free Bridge Meteorite is equipped with a contemporary, self-winding movement, the Calibre GP01800-2085. An evolution of the existing Calibre GP01800, this latest iteration features up-to-the-minute know-how. The escape wheel, pallet lever and the arms of the elaborately shaped balance wheel are formed of silicium, a lightweight material that is not liable to corrosion.

Made within a laboratory setting, free of dust, silicium components can be formed into intricate shapes not possible using traditional milling or stamping techniques. This freedom to create intricate shapes means that the geometry of components can be optimised.

Silicium has a low coefficient of friction, mitigating wear and thereby augmenting durability. Moreover, silicium is unaffected by changing temperatures and is less susceptible to magnetic fields when compared with traditional materials.

With the advent of the Free Bridge Meteorite, Girard-Perregaux has produced a variable inertia balance and escapement in the cutting-edge material. The resultant balance is less sensitive to adverse influences such as magnetism and shocks. Moreover, the enhanced shock resistance confers superior rate stability, thereby augmenting precision.

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Unquestionably modern, the Free Bridge Meteorite incorporates several traditional materials synonymous with fine watchmaking. Movement components are embellished with classical Côtes de Genève, bevelling and snailing as well as sandblasted finishes. Consistent with all Girard-Perregaux Manufacture movements, the Calibre GP01800-2085 is also engraved with the Eagle emblem.

While the Free Bridge Meteorite pushes the limits of horological creativity and performance, it shares several characteristics with other members of the Bridges collection, including the legendary arrow-shaped bridges, first seen in the 1867. Today, the Maison’s inventive spirit is perpetuated with the release of the new Free Bridge Meteorite.

The Free Bridge Meteorite goes on sale in March 2024 and will be available worldwide in all authorised Girard-Perregaux retailers.

• FREE BRIDGE METEORITE
  

Reference 82000-11-3259-5CX

Suggested retail price: CHF 24.600 / GBP 21.900 / USD 25.700 / EUR 27.100

Case

Material: steel
Diameter: 44.00 mm
Height: 12.20 mm
Glass: anti-reflective sapphire crystal “box”
Case-back: anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Dial: ring displaying suspended indexes with luminescent material (white emission)
Hands: ‘Dauphine’ type, skeletonized, rhodium-plated with luminescent material (white emission)
Water resistance: 30 meters (3 ATM)

Movement

Reference: GP01800-2085
Self-winding mechanical movement
Hour wheel bridge adorned with Meteorite plates
Diameter: 36.20 mm (16’’’)
Height: 5.94 mm
Frequency: 28,800 Vib/h – (4 Hz)
Number of components: 185
Number of jewels: 23
Power reserve: min. 54 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes

Strap

Material: black rubber strap with a fabric effect
Buckle: triple folding, steel