La Esmeralda Tourbillon has a secret

Mexico City, October 23, 2018 .– Its name is a trip in itself. It is the direct “descendant” of a masterpiece of the historical collections of Girard-Perregaux: The Emerald Tourbillon with Three Bridges of Gold, created by Constant Girard-Perregaux and awarded with a Gold Medal at the Universal Exhibition of 1889 held in Paris . The exclusive La Esmeralda Tourbillon watch “À secret” pays homage to its predecessor, with all the duties done. From the splendidly adorned box and cover, to the ingenious construction of the movement with its components magnified by expert hands, and the Tourbillon’s cage weighing only 0.305 g, its creation is based on exceptional talents.

Paying tribute to the iconic model The Emerald Tourbillon with Tres Puentes de Oro means expressing admiration for a magnificent watchmaking work both technically and artistically. It implies recognizing the innovative vision of Constant Girard-Perregaux within which the movement becomes a design element in itself. And it implies proclaiming loyalty to the values ​​of excellence maintained by the Maison and paying tribute to a passionate, generous and eternally inspiring founder.

Journey of a historical clock
1889, Universal Exhibition of Paris. Guarded by the Eiffel Tower, specially built for the occasion, and overflown by hydrogen balloons, the pavilions of the fair hosted the best of art and industry. Electricity was used on a large scale and the shows of Buffalo Bill and his Indians were a magnet for crowds. A clock from La Chaux-de-Fonds also caused a stir when visitors gathered to admire the architecture of the caliber with three parallel arrows from the Maison Girard-Perregaux.

This pocket chronometer with rotating ratchet escapement and three gold bridges was awarded the Gold Medal at the event, and was entrusted to the international agents Hauser, Zivy & C, owners of the luxurious Mexican store La Esmeralda, which offers a excellent range of watchmaking, art and jewelry.

It was not until the late 1960s that this watch with its richly engraved hunter-like box and the Grand Feu enamel dial, purchased from a descendant of Mexican President Porfirio Diaz, returned to his homeland. His name, La Esmeralda, preserves the memory of his epic journey.

From one exceptional model to another
It was in the 1860s that Constant Girard-Perregaux developed this iconoclastic construction in which three parallel arrow-shaped bridges support the moving parts of the movement. In 1867, a Tourbillon pocket chronometer version with three bridges won a First Class Bulletin from the Neuchâtel Observatory, as well as a medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris. For this reason, Constant Girard-Perregaux decided to protect the original design of this movement by filing a patent with the United States Patent Office.

Almost a century and a half later, La Esmeralda Tourbillon with Tres Puentes de Oro “À secret”, made entirely by a single master watchmaker, is inspired by the award-winning model in 1889 and shows a concern for the details that, naturally, the it is a clear reference point for Haute Horlogerie.

The finishing of the components is done entirely by hand, including the upper main plate that is hand-engraved to highlight the guilloché radiating motif; the barrel satin, beveled and also engraved with a spiral motif; as well as the lower main plate adorned with a Côtes de Genève motif and a concentric circular engraving. Finally, even the element that carries the movement number has a straight engraving with hand-polished angles; and the 80 components of the famous Lyre-shaped Tourbillon trolley are also polished by hand. The structure of the internal automatic movement concentrates the attention in this complex device that guarantees a perfectly regular classification even weighing only 0.305 g.

Masterful engraving
Designed as a “secret” watch, for the first time the new interpretation of La Esmeralda has a cover that protects the back of the model. This element increases the precious nature of this creation and promotes a special sense of privileged intimacy with those who wear it.

The rose gold case, entirely hand-engraved, collects the brilliantly executed motifs that adorn the model of 1889. Thus, three horses gallop on the outside of the cover, while the inside is engraved with the inscriptions “Tourbillon” and ” La Chaux-de-Fonds “, leaving enough space for the personalization of the future owner. Other features reminiscent of the 1889 piece include the flowers and the oval “motifs” that adorn the bezel and the top of the ears. Finally, the sides of the box are identical to the model that served as inspiration.

It took 200 hours of patience and absolute concentration to create the various motifs, along with the very essence of engraving: effects of light and depth, the contrast between shiny and matt surfaces, and everything that makes up the heart and soul of this experience exceptional.

This unique model equipped with a triple sapphire crystal that offers a panoramic view of the movement, is delivered with a black hand-sewn crocodile leather strap secured with a pink gold folding clasp.

The Esmeralda Tourbillon “À secret”
Technical specifications

Box
Material: rose gold
Diameter: 44.00 mm
Height: 15.25 mm
Crystal: ‘box’ of anti-reflection sapphire
Dial: without dial
Case back: the secret brooch reveals a sapphire crystal
Needles: type ‘Dauphine’
Water tightness: 30 meters (3 ATM)

Movement
Reference: GP09400-0014, automatic winding mechanic
Diameter: 36.60 mm (16 ” ‘)
Height: 8.40 mm
Frequency: 21,600 Vib / h – (3 Hz)
Number of components: 310
Jewels: 27
Power reserve: min. 60 hours
Functions: Tourbillon, hours, minutes and seconds on the Tourbillon

Tourbillon
Tourbillon cage made with 80 pieces, weight 0.305 g

belt
Material: hand-stitched black alligator leather strap
Closure: pink gold triple folding clasp

Reference
99276-52-000-BA6E

About Girard-Perregaux
Girard-Perregaux is a Swiss watchmaking Manufacture whose origins date back to 1791. The history of the Maison is marked by legendary watches that combine avant-garde design with the most innovative technology, among them the famous Tourbillon under Tres Puentes de Oro, presented by Constant Girard in 1889 as part of the Universal Exposition of Paris, where he received the gold medal.

With more than 100 patents, Girard-Perregaux devotes itself to the research and development of Haute Horlogerie and today it continues to be one of the few manufactures that gathers under its roof all the trades of watchmaking, including the manufacture of the heart of the watch: its movement. In 2013, Girard-Perregaux received numerous distinctions for its revolutionary Escape Constant L.M., among which the most prestigious and most coveted prize in the watch industry: l’Aiguille d’Or of the Grand Prize for Watchmaking in Geneva.

Girard-Perregaux belongs to the Kering business group, a world leader in luxury, sport and lifestyle fashion and accessories, under which several prestigious brands are grouped.