Girard-Perregaux Introduces The Highly Complicated Minute Repeater Flying Bridges
Swiss haute horlogerie manufacture Girard-Perregaux expands its collection of high complications with the impressive Minute Repeater Flying Bridges, a new in-house creation that combines some of the most sophisticated elements of traditional watchmaking. The timepiece brings together a minute repeater, a flying tourbillon, and the brand’s distinctive bridges architecture, showcasing both mechanical complexity and contemporary design.
This remarkable watch highlights Girard-Perregaux’s expertise in combining heritage complications with modern aesthetics, placing the movement itself at the center of attention.
Case and Design
The Minute Repeater Flying Bridges comes in a substantial 46 mm case crafted from 18K pink gold, with a thickness of 17.90 mm. The case design emphasizes transparency and depth thanks to the presence of box-shaped sapphire crystals on both the front and the caseback, allowing a clear view of the intricate mechanics inside.
As expected from a minute repeater, the watch features a sliding activation lever positioned on the side of the case opposite the crown. When activated, the mechanism chimes the time on demand, striking hours, quarters, and minutes through a system of finely tuned gongs and hammers.
Although the watch is primarily a highly complicated dress piece, the careful integration of the repeater lever into the case contributes to a water resistance rating of 30 meters. Completing the contemporary look, the watch is paired with a textured black rubber strap secured by a triple-folding clasp, offering a modern contrast to the traditional complication.
A Dial Defined by the Movement
Rather than using a conventional dial, the movement itself forms the display. This openworked layout allows the wearer to fully appreciate the architecture of the caliber and the brand’s iconic Flying Bridges, which appear to suspend key components while maintaining a sense of lightness and visual balance.
Time is indicated by red gold hands, complemented by a red gold inner bezel ring with matching hour markers. Both the hands and the indexes are filled with black luminous material, ensuring that the watch remains legible even in low-light conditions.
At the lower portion of the display sits the flying tourbillon, which also incorporates a small seconds indicator integrated into the tourbillon cage, adding both functionality and visual dynamism to the movement.
The Manufacture Caliber GP09530-2198
Powering the watch is the In-house caliber GP09530-2198, an exceptionally complex movement composed of 475 individual components. The production and finishing of each caliber require approximately 440 hours of work, reflecting the extensive handcraftsmanship involved in its creation.
A large portion of this time is dedicated to traditional finishing techniques, including anglage, with more than 1,300 interior angles meticulously polished by hand. As a tribute to this artisanal work, each watch features a small engraved plate bearing the initials of the watchmaker who assembled the movement, emphasizing the human touch behind every piece.
The movement combines several advanced mechanical elements. It incorporates a minute repeater mechanism, a flying tourbillon, and an automatic winding system powered by a micro-rotor. The architecture also features the brand’s recognizable three bridges with arrow-shaped ends, which have long been a signature design element of Girard-Perregaux.
The white gold micro-rotor, positioned on the reverse side of the movement opposite the main barrel, contributes to the watch’s power reserve of approximately 60 hours. The movement operates at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz), ensuring reliable timekeeping alongside its complex functionality.
Engineering for Sound Quality
Because the minute repeater is designed to produce audible chimes, Girard-Perregaux paid particular attention to optimizing the acoustic performance of the watch. The titanium mainplate is attached directly to the gold case, a construction that helps improve the transmission of sound.
The gongs encircle the movement and remain visible from the front, highlighting the mechanical complexity of the repeater system. Nearby, two hammers positioned on either side of the brand’s logo strike the gongs to produce the distinct tones that indicate the time. The use of box-shaped sapphire crystals on both sides of the watch also contributes to sound resonance, helping to enhance the clarity of the chimes.
Exclusivity and Price
As is typical for such high complications, production of the Minute Repeater Flying Bridges will be extremely limited due to the significant time required to manufacture and assemble each movement. While the watch is not officially a limited edition, the complexity of the piece naturally restricts the number of watches that can be produced each year.
The Girard-Perregaux Minute Repeater Flying Bridges is priced at approximately CHF 564,000, positioning it among the most exclusive creations within the brand’s modern collection.
Read more on www.girard-perregaux.com.
General Specifications:
Brand: Girard-Perregaux
Model: Minute Repeater Flying Bridges
Reference: 99840-52-2013-5CC
Dial: Openworked
Case Material: 18k Pink gold
Case Dimensions: 46 mm diameter, 17.90 mm thickness
Crystal: Sapphire Glass
Case Back: Sapphire Glass
Water Resistance: 30 Meters
Strap: Black rubber strap with a pink gold triple folding clasp
Calibre: GP9530-2198
Functions: Hours, minutes, 60-seconds tourbillon, minute repeater
Winding: Automatic with micro-rotor
Frequency: 3 Hz (21,600 Vph)
Jewels: 47
Components: 475
Power Reserve: 60 Hours
Price: CHF 564,000
Limited Edition: No
Availability: Now
