Introducing: The Girard-Perregaux Free Bridge Infinity Edition

August 27, 2020

With Geneva Watch Days underway, Girard-Perregaux has announced two models, the Free Bridge and the Free Bridge Infinity Edition. One model is a standard production watch cased in stainless steel. The other C and the one that we will focus on here C is the Infinity Edition, a steel DLC-coated case, with 18k pink-gold accents throughout, limited to 88 pieces only. This is a distinctly modern timepiece, as evidenced by the case finishing, but with several design cues which pay tribute to the brand's heritage.? Initial Thoughts The stated intent behind this watch's design is to quite literally bridge the traditional with the modern. In the 1860s, Constant Girard developed a tourbillon pocket watch, which featured three nickel bridges (more on that story here). The design of this watch is meant to pay respect to that three bridge heritage. ?Both the Free Bridge Infinity Edition and the standard production Free Bridge feature an arrow-shaped "Neo Bridge" that spans the base of the mainplate. Its shape is designed to evoke the brand's oft-used arrow-shaped bridge design, while simultaneously serving as a reinterpretation of contemporary architecture. This idea of modern inspiration stretches to the materials used in the in-house caliber GP01800. The Three Bridge design as seen on a 19th century Girard-Perregaux pocket watch. In creating the movement for this modern watch, Girard-Perregaux utilized silicon to make the escapement and parts of the balance wheel. In 2013, the brand created a silicon blade for its prize-winning Constant Escapement. According to GP, the action of the silicon blade flexing backwards and forwards delivers a uniform supply of energy to the escapement, thereby enhancing precision. The brand also says that silicon's low coefficient of friction mitigates both wear and energy consumption. The watch features what is called a sapphire crystal box, which is distinctively domed. This crystal box requires four to five times more material in order to create the domed shape. Without being able to see it in the metal, I can't really speak to what this design looks like. Beneath the crystal is the inverted movement which allows for a dial-side view of various components, including the balance, the escapement, and the barrel located at the top of the dial. The movement boasts a C?tes de Genve motif, bevelling, sandblasting, and snailing. A feature specific to the Infinity Edition is an 18k pink-gold oscillating weight.? From this angle, you can see the shape and look of the sapphire crystal box. As mentioned, the Free Bridge Infinity Edition is made of steel but finished with a DLC coating and features a case size of 44mm. The hands are a skeletonized dauphine style, while the markers are suspended above the dial and finished in pink gold, adding to the dimensionality of the overall design.? The watch comes fitted on a leather strap, color-coordinated to the watch via two stitches adjacent to each lug. The Girard-Perregaux Free Bridge Infinity Edition will be available October 2020. ? The Basics Brand: Girard-PerregauxModel: Free Bridge Infinity EditionReference Number: 82000-11-632-FA6ADiameter: 44mmThickness: 12.2mmCase Material: Steel with DLC treatmentDial Color: Display of inverted movementIndexes: Pink-gold suspended indexesLume: YesWater Resistance: 30mStrap/Bracelet: Leather strap enriched with two prominent stitches adjacent to each lug The Movement Caliber: GP01800-1170Functions: Hours, minutesDiameter: 36.2mmThickness: 5.94mmPower Reserve: 54 hoursWinding: Self-winding mechanical movement with pink-gold oscillating weightFrequency: 4HzJewels: 23Chronometer Certified: No Pricing & Availability Price: CHF 19,410Availability: October 2020Limited Edition: Yes, 88 piecesFor more, click here.