Girard-Perregaux World Time Tourbillon

Girard-Perregaux
World Time Tourbillon
Ref. 99350

by Ron DeCorte

February, 2006

Click the images to view larger versions

It was with great pleasure that I spent three days recently with the Girard-Perregaux team in La-Chaux-de-Fonds Switzerland. Nestled close to the French border in the Jura Mountains the setting was perfect for making this report, and another upcoming report on the Opera 3.

Announced in 2005, G-P is starting to make delivery of this new watch. This is the first in-depth article for this calibre. For the most part you will see various different possibilities for this new calibre. Your unbiased opinions are welcomed by myself and G-P. The cased watch, above, is a proto-type that has been around the world several times so please excuse any small imperfections that may be slightly visible.

Let’s start with the dial. The inner portion of the dial is straight forward, while the middle ring, 1 – 24 hours, is rotating once per 24 hours and synchronized with the inner dial but rotating counter clock wise. The outer ring with world cities is adjusted via the crown located at 9:00 in relation to the particular time zone the inner dial is set. Notice that the outer ring, with world cities, is also orientated in a counter clock wise formation and shows the relative night/day time in the 24 hour system.

A view of the dial, and the middle ring, 1 – 24 hours. The world cities ring is not presented.

The middle ring, 1 – 24 hours, is driven by an enlarged hour wheel “A” with 75 teeth, via an intermediate wheel “B” with 37 teeth. The middle ring (not shown) has 150 internal teeth and therefore rotates in the same counter clock wise direction as the intermediate wheel, once per day.

Note: If you click the image above, you will see a larger version without the letter labels. The movement quality is such that it merits unadulterated viewing.

The hour wheel is unique in that it has two levels of teeth. The larger portion has 75 teeth as mentioned previously…..

….while the smaller portion has 60 teeth and is driven by the minute wheel ”C”.

From the back the movement is clean and simple. The gold bridges are grained and beveled, and the main plate is matt finished. A refreshing combination in my opinion.

Now let’s have some fun. The following 9 photographs are some “ideas” that G-P provided for our consideration and objective critique. Finishes 1 - 5 are a black oxide, and Finishes 6-9 are a more conventional gold flash. Excuse any minor imperfections as these are prototypes and not finished plates. You may click the images to view larger versions.

Obviously not all the finishes will appeal to everyone, but your opinions are welcome - please post them in the G-P Forum. What’s your favorite, or least favorite?

Remember, G-P will be looking in, and listening!

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