Girard-Perregaux

Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges
An allure, magnified by light

La Chaux-de-Fonds, August 29th, 2024 (10AM CET) – Born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, a city dedicated to watchmaking, the Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges draws on the talents of the Maison’s craftspeople and watchmakers. The location of the Manufacture is optimised to harness light, a resource that has also influenced the design of this contemporary high complication, an ultra-refined expression of Haute Horlogerie. The skeletonised torso of this model masterfully plays with three dimensional shapes, conferring an aerial perspective of the eponymous three gold bridges that seemingly float in a light-filled case.

An Abundance of Light

La Chaux-de-Fonds, once described as a “huge factory town,” has been devoted to watchmaking since the 18th century and is now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. In 1856, Girard-Perregaux opened its first Manufacture in the city, and to this day, the company remains headquartered there, with its Manufacture located on Rue Numa-Droz.

After a devastating fire in the 18th century, La Chaux-de-Fonds was thoughtfully rebuilt with the help of local engineer Charles-Henri Junod. Designed specifically for watchmaking, the city features wide, grid-like streets tiered along the hillside. The tall buildings were constructed with large windows to maximize natural light, illuminating the workbenches where fine timepieces are meticulously crafted.

This rich heritage continues to shape every Girard-Perregaux creation, imbuing each timepiece with the distinctive spirit of a city beloved by watch aficionados around the world.

New, Yet Familiar

In the 1860s, Constant Girard began sketching a bold new idea: a pocket watch featuring three bridges. He redefined the bridge from a purely structural component into a defining design element. When, in 1867, he unveiled a pocket tourbillon watch adorned with three parallel nickel silver bridges, he introduced a groundbreaking design language that explored depth, balance, and form. This vision reached its pinnacle in 1889 with the release of the now-legendary Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges, elevating the concept with the use of noble metal—a mechanical signature that remains one of the oldest and most iconic in the world of Haute Horlogerie.

In 2021, Girard-Perregaux unveiled the Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges, a contemporary masterpiece crafted in the Maison’s Grand Complications Atelier. Inspired by the historic 1889 pocket watch, this modern reinterpretation showcased an inventive architecture that allowed light to flow through the movement—an artful fusion of tradition and innovation.

Beyond Functionality

Forgoing a conventional mainplate, the three signature bridges provide not only structural integrity but also visual impact. Supporting the gear train, barrel, and tourbillon, they appear to float mid-air, anchored delicately by openworked plinths extending from the case’s inner wall. With no traditional dial, the indexes are mounted directly to the case, maintaining legibility while enhancing the watch’s ethereal, open aesthetic.

As part of its ongoing commitment to refinement, the Manufacture has enhanced the Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges in subtle yet meaningful ways for 2024.

The 2024 Evolution

The new edition introduces redesigned hour markers, now featuring twin batons at 12 o’clock for heightened visual balance. The front and back sapphire crystals retain their elegant ‘box’ form but now display more pronounced curvature and symmetrical contours when viewed from the side. The crown has been reimagined with a rounder shape, making it more intuitive to operate.

Comfort has also been reengineered: shortened lugs and a rounder case profile ensure a better fit on slimmer wrists. Even minute details haven’t gone unnoticed—new satin-finished hour and minute hands incorporate additional Super-LumiNova for enhanced readability in low light.

Two straps accompany the watch: a new, fabric-effect strap debuted with the Neo Constant Escapement, and a classic black alligator leather strap with a gold-effect finish for added versatility.

Some Things Never Change

Though refined in detail, the soul of the timepiece remains untouched. The trio of Three Gold Bridges, now dressed in black, continues to define the watch’s identity. Crafted in pink gold, their top and bottom surfaces are coated in black PVD, while their chamfered edges remain uncoated—offering a gleaming contrast that subtly reveals the noble metal beneath.

Each bevel is hand-polished using traditional boxwood tools—a labor-intensive process requiring two full days to finish all three bridges.

About Girard-Perregaux

Since 1791, Girard-Perregaux has embraced the elusive rhythm of time from its home in the Jura Mountains, nestled in the historic watchmaking city of La Chaux-de-Fonds. A true pioneer of Haute Horlogerie, the Manufacture has remained fiercely independent for over two centuries, keeping all production in-house and passing down horological artistry across generations.

Balancing beauty and function with timeless elegance, Girard-Perregaux is instantly recognized for its iconic signatures—from the octagonal bezel of the Laureato, to the architectural brilliance of the Three Gold Bridges.

With over 100 registered patents and accolades including the Aiguille d’Or in 2013 and the Gold Medal at the 1889 Paris Universal Exhibition, the brand continues to redefine what’s possible in watchmaking. Today, Girard-Perregaux looks boldly to the future, blending heritage with cutting-edge technologies and visionary design.

In 2022, it joined forces with sister Maison Ulysse Nardin, forming a new collective of independent Haute Horlogerie Manufactures—committed to excellence, craftsmanship, and innovation.

Reference: 99296-52-3434-5CC

Technical specification

Case

Material: pink gold
Diameter: 44.00 mm
Height: 15.35 mm
Crystal: sapphire anti-reflective ‘box’
Case-back: sapphire crystal ‘box’
Dial: ring displaying pink gold indexes with luminescent material (blue emission)
Hands: pink gold, skeletonized, ‘dauphine’ type with luminescent material (blue emission)
Water resistance: 30 meters (3 ATM)

Movement

Reference: GP09400-1273
Self-winding mechanical movement with white gold oscillating weight
Diameter: 42.00 mm (18¾’’’)
Height: 9.45 mm
Frequency: 21,600 Vib/h – (3 Hz)
Number of components: 260
Number of jewels: 27
Power reserve: min. 60 hours
Functions: Tourbillon, hours, minutes, small seconds on the tourbillon

Strap

Material: black rubber strap with a fabric effect
Buckle: pink gold triple folding buckle

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