[Watch Review] In 2013, GP Girard-Perregaux won the highest honor, the Aiguille d’Or (Golden Hand) award at the Geneva Watch Awards, with its Constant Escapement L.M. watch. This watch also marked a revolutionary chapter in modern watchmaking technology. However, that was already ten years ago. Just recently, after a decade, GP Girard-Perregaux launched a brand new Constant Escapement watch. So, what breakthroughs has GP Girard-Perregaux made in Constant Escapement technology over the past ten years? Let’s find out with the real-life photos below.
Watch in real life:
The Constant Escapement L.M. watch introduced in 2013:
The new Constant Escapement watch is significantly different from its predecessor in terms of appearance. It combines rich aesthetics and advanced technology, drawing inspiration from other modern products of the GP Girard-Perregaux Golden Bridge series. It not only creates a highly attractive timepiece but also showcases the revolutionary energy control method of GP Girard-Perregaux. Worth noting is that the new watch introduced in 2023 not only renovates and interprets the previous generation of watches but also introduces multiple new technologies. It incorporates 13 patented technologies, with 30% of them being new patents.
This new Constant Escapement watch is crafted with Grade 5 titanium for the case, measuring 45 millimeters in diameter. Despite its large size, it does not weigh heavily on the wrist due to the characteristics of the titanium material. The watch has a thickness of 14.8 millimeters, which may sound thick, but considering its power reserve of at least 7 days, this thickness is acceptable.
Compared to the case, the crown of this watch appears much more delicate. It is also made of titanium, and we can see that its anti-slip pattern extends from the bottom to the top, surrounding the GP Girard-Perregaux brand logo, showcasing great precision.
Unlike other watches with regular watch crystals, this watch uses a “box” made of sapphire crystal glass, which has the advantage of ensuring sufficient light on the dial. The wearer can identify various elements on the dial from the side.
Compared to its predecessor, the new Constant Escapement watch has a more modern aesthetic in its design. The twin barrel boxes at the top of the dial are designed like blooming lotus flowers. Combined with the fine polishing and treatment by GP Girard-Perregaux, it looks extremely exquisite. Additionally, the watch removes the design on the dial, replacing the small GP Girard-Perregaux logo at 12 o’clock with the larger GP logo, giving it a more minimalist and fashionable appearance.
The dial features openwork Prince of Wales-style hands and minute hands, treated with rhodium plating and coated with luminescent material. This ensures clear visibility during the day and in low light conditions. The black bezel on the periphery is adorned with white markings, complemented by curved luminescent hour markers, creating a three-dimensional effect on the main dial area.
You may not have noticed, but between the two gold bridges, there is a very fine “line”. This is actually one of the challenges in the production of this watch. This leaf-shaped spring is only 14 micrometers, which is 1/4 to 1/6 the size of a human hair. It is not easy to notice its existence in the real-life photos. To create this special shape for the spring, GP Girard-Perregaux used silicon material combined with a technique called “photolithography,” which tests the craftsmanship.
Flipping the watch over will astonish you once again. The back and front of this watch are very similar, and GP Girard-Perregaux’s attention to detail makes it seamless to wear on either side. The watch is powered by a GP09200 hand-wound movement, certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC), with a power reserve of at least 7 days. The watch is water-resistant up to 30 meters, making it suitable for daily wear.
The watch comes with a black rubber strap that presents a fabric-like effect. This design ensures both a comfortable fit and a casual yet fashionable look. Like the case, the buckle of this watch is also made of titanium and comes with a micro-adjustment feature, allowing the wearer to easily and quickly adjust the strap for a comfortable fit.
In conclusion, the development of the Swiss lever escapement system took 250 years, but GP Girard-Perregaux perfected its Constant Escapement technology in just 20 years, demonstrating its innovative watchmaking technology. In the past ten years, GP Girard-Perregaux has upheld the spirit of “high-end watchmaking” and launched this masterpiece that represents the culmination of their efforts. Whether in terms of appearance or performance, it has reached new heights and can be regarded as a work of art. This “work of art” is priced at 816,000 yuan and is currently available in all authorized GP Girard-Perregaux retail stores worldwide. However, due to the complexity of this watch, mass production is not feasible, which means there is a very limited stock available in China. If you are interested in this watch, you can visit offline stores to try it out. Remember to make an appointment in advance. Of course, there are many other details about this watch that require careful appreciation. You can also leave a comment and let us know, and I will provide a more detailed explanation.
