At this year’s “Jewellery and Watches Exhibition”(JWED) 2023 in Doha, Girard-Perregaux is launching a new La Esmeralda Tourbillon in an ‘A Secret‘ Eternity Edition, this time in white gold. With a blue colour scheme and, three parallel-mounted bridges, the watch represents a tribute to 19th century watchmaker Constant Girard. The avant-garde watchmaker shaped a new era in chronometric design by not concealing the bridges behind a dial, but rather celebrating their aesthetics in their own right.
As early as 1867, Constant developed a pocket chronometer with a tourbillon and three nickel silver bridges. Girard’s bridges, made of gold by 1889, were even awarded a gold medal at the Exposition Universelle and today represent a significant stylistic device in Girard-Perregaux’s DNA. The La Esmeralda Tourbillon ’A Secret’ Eternity Edition, like the rest of the entire Bridges collection, is the modern interpretation of the 1889 watch design.
The case of the La Esmeralda Tourbillon “A Secret” Eternity Edition
The La Esmeralda Tourbillon ’A Secret’ Eternity Edition features a new 18-carat white gold-, engraved case measuring 43 mm in diameter. The case height of the La Esmeralda Tourbillon ’A Secret’ Eternity Edition is fairly thick 15.10 mm. Sapphire crystal protects not only the dial, but also the caseback. The case is additionally water-resistant to 30 m.
The dial
Meanwhile, the dial of the watch is engraved by hand and features a blue enamel dial with a guilloché sunburst motif. In addition, the white-gold dauphine hands provide a classic look, while the three signature bridges, also in white-gold, give the dial an artistic aesthetic. The new interpretation of La Esmeralda is available in blue, green or grey.
The movement
La Esmeralda Tourbillon ’A Secret’ Eternity Edition is equipped with the in-house-GP09600-2083 self-winding tourbillon movement. The calibre, which consists of 323 components, operates at a frequency of 3 Hertz. Offering a power reserve of at least 50 hours. Furthermore, the movement, which includes 31 jewels and, features several decorations that are inspired by Constant Girard’s design philosophy.
Price & Availability
The La Esmeralda Tourbillon ’A Secret’ Eternity Edition comes with an alligator leather strap with hand-stitched seams. It is accompanied by a triple folding clasp in white gold. Each of the three versions of the model is limited to 18 numbered pieces. Finally, the price of the La Esmeralda Tourbillon ’A Secret’ Eternity Edition is 508.000 euros.
| BRAND | Girard-Perregaux |
| MODEL | La Esmeralda Tourbillon „A Secret“ Eternity Edition |
| REFERENCE | 99274-53-3198-5CC |
| CASE MATERIAL | 18 carat white gold |
| DIMENSIONS | Diameter: 43.00 mm Height: 15.10 mm |
| WATER RESISTANCE | 30 m (3~ bar) |
| DIAL | Blue enamel with guilloche sunray motif |
| STRAP/BRACELET | Blue alligator strap with handstitched seam |
| MOVEMENT | GP09600-2083 |
| MOVEMENT TYPE | Automatic |
| POWER RESERVE | 50 Hours |
| FREQUENCY | 3 Hz –(21.600 A/h) |
| FUNCTIONS | Tourbillon, hours, minutes, small seconds on the tourbillon |
| PRICE | EUR 508.000 |