Girard-Perregaux unveils a luminous tribute to Constant Girard’s lauded pocket watch

From the city of natural light — La Chaux-de-Fonds — is a fresh interpretation of Girard-Perregaux’s La Esmeralda pocket watch, which won the 1889 gold medal at the Exposition Universelle in Paris for its chronometric and aesthetic excellence.

This latest rendition, named the La Esmeralda Tourbillon “A Secret” Eternity Edition, builds on the success of the modern-day version debuting in 2021, integrating a rich honeyed glow and a symphony of pink gold. Light, essentially, becomes an integral element of its design.

Inspired by the Swiss watchmaking city’s distinctive arrangement of tall buildings that optimises natural light, resulting in a golden illumination that bathes the summer evenings, the timepiece embraces this warmth with a contemporary twist.

Girard-Perregaux, renowned for its in-house movements, proudly showcases local craftsmanship, with 99 per cent of its components meticulously sourced from La Chaux-de-Fonds’ workshops.

This creation of artisanal brilliance features a 43mm pink gold case, and comes embellished with three gold bridges and a grand feu enamel dial — just like the groundbreaking pocket watch. Each component, from the case and bezel to the buckle, is precisely engraved, echoing the allure of the 1889 original.

The dial, with sunray and circular guilloche patterns, is hand-crafted using a traditional rose engine lathe. The honey-toned grand feu enamel for the dial and case, created using the champleve technique by Girard-Perregaux’s sister company Donze Cardrans, imparts a sense of enduring beauty.

At its heart lies the manufacture’s signature tourbillon with three gold bridges, which is powered by the GP09600 calibre. In addition to a discreet white gold micro-rotor for automatic winding, this movement is adorned with elaborate engravings that are a nod to the 1884 patent for brand co-founder Constant Girard’s in-house tourbillon.

The equine scene on the hinged caseback cover, with its fluted pattern and depiction of three galloping horses, does not just infuse a layer of mystique, but references the historic pocket watch’s magnificence.

As only 18 of these masterpieces exist globally, owning a Girard-Perregaux doesn’t just make a statement; it’s a rare distinction.

This story was originally published on The Peak Malaysia.