Reviewing the Girard-Perregaux Neo Tourbillon

One of Girard-Perregaux’s new releases, the Neo Tourbillon represents a radical transformation of the Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges, and showcases the Manufacture’s potential for innovation, as well as its rich past. Here’s a look at the new design.

If the design is once again, symmetrical, it also presents quite a few novelties, with new bridges, a larger tourbillon case at the 6 o’clock position and a micro-rotor mounted under the barrel at the 12 o’clock position.

The most notable change however, is in Girard-Perregaux’s signature triple bridges, which are presented with a radically different cut and structure to previous models.

Made of titanium, which is stronger, yet 45% lighter than steel, they have been skeletonized to give them an even more lightweight appearance.

They have also received a sandblast and a black PVD treatment, for stronger lines, set against an inclined grey base plate coated in ruthenium, which offers a great sense of depth to the dial.

This timepiece doesn’t have a bezel. Instead, a box-shaped sapphire crystal set directly in the case protects the dial, and offers a much greater view of the tourbillon, and micro-rotor.

This is the first Girard-Perregaux to feature a titanium one-minute tourbillon, which is larger (14.44 mm) and lighter (0.25 grams) than in previous editions.

In a very interesting move, the white gold micro-rotor has been relocated under the barrel, and not around it as seen with previous Tourbillon with Three Bridges calibres.

Because of these changes, it’s a much larger watch on the wrist, with a rose gold case that measures 45 mm in diameter, and is 14.45 mm in height with the domed crystal.

Inside, the Neo-Tourbillon houses the GP09400-0001 automatic movement, a redesigned self-winding caliber that can be viewed through the sapphire caseback. Made from 245 components, it features several exclusives.

Unlike earlier automatic versions of the tourbillon, the Neo Tourbillon has the micro-rotor under the barrel at 12 o’clock, instead of around it. The power reserve has been increased to 72 hours, by integrating a larger barrel drum, which allows a longer spring to be used.

A dark, arrow-shaped bridge, sits across the movement, and pays tribute to the Tourbillon with Three Bridges, an iconic pocket watch made by Girard-Perregaux nearly 150 years ago, which first featured a movement with three parallel nickel-plated bridges.

All these elements, presented in a new architecture with modern materials, come together beautifully, and make the Neo Tourbillon an avant-garde timepiece that respects Girard-Perregaux’s iconic past.

The Neo Tourbillon comes with a hand-stitched black alligator leather strap with pink gold folding buckle, and is priced at $163,000. For more information, please visit Girard-Perregaux.