A few days ago I met some executives from Girard-Perregaux and we soon started to talk about watches, latest news, upcoming models and a lot of new ideas, included those we are going to discuss on Horbiter (that is about to be revamped very soon). Such meetings are never about photo-shooting or anything else related to watch reviews, bu mostly conversations among friends over a good espresso.
At the table where we were sitting, just at the opposite end, was a mysterious package coming from La Chaux de Fonds (we were in the Italian branch of the Group) and a quite interesting book, called “The New Face of Tradition”, where the manufacturer has described and illustrated the work, life, passions and aspirations of its young talents who assemble, decorate and fine tune every Girard-Perregaux.
After having asked to open the package I was simply delighted to see its contents: a simply glorious Girard-Perregaux Constant Escapement LM. I could not resist and instantly grabbed my Nikon which I quite often, but not always, bring with me.
I just wrote about the Constant Escapement LM nearly a year ago (you might read here that article) but in my opinion there’s always a good reason to talk about and taking photos of a masterpiece of high-end horology that has successfully solved one of the greatest dilemmas for any watchmaker, which is about ensuring a constant release of energy from the barrel down to the escapement, the foundation of a mechanical watch precision.
Some time after my visit at Girard-Perregaux, the Constant Escapement LM was awarded the prestigious “Aiguille d’Or” clearly beating the competition at the GPHG, a prize that has crowned Girard-Perregaux with a new image: not only it is among those manufactures who safeguard traditional watchmaking but, as of 2013, will be officially listed among pioneers in “avant-garde” watchmaking (take a look also at the Neo-Tourbillon for instance).
What you see in these pictures is one of the first pieces, in white gold (a pink gold version has been revealed at Baselworld earlier this year) and retailed at 116.000€, an Italian customer is about to receive along with a personal letter signed from the CEO and an international 5 years warranty.
We’ve not been allowed to get the name of the lucky owner of this watch, and we understand why, we are anyway going to make soon a video of the Constant Escapement‘s mechanism, that will open the second part of this article.
(Photo credit: Girard-Perregaux; Horbiter®)
Gaetano C. @Horbiter®
