Introducing: The Girard-Perregaux Quasar (Live Pics & Pricing)

February 15, 2019

Girard-Perregaux has been making movements with the Three Golden Bridges (capitalization theirs, not mine) for well over a century, as Jack has shown you before, and the distinctive movement architecture remains an important part of the brand and its visual language today. This latest take on the three-bridged watch takes that 19th-century principle to a totally new level, rendering the movement in matte black titanium and wrapping it in a solid sapphire case. The movement itself is based on that of the Neo-Tourbillon With Three Bridges Skeleton released last year, but the sapphire case is something totally new for GP. In this case, the sapphire takes over 200 hours to make and machine into shape, and the result is a watch that basically looks like a highly skeletonized movement floating on your wrist. Initial Thoughts This is one of those watches that you have to see up close to appreciate. I only got a few minutes with it last night, but I'll admit that it really impresses. This isn't the first sapphire-cased watches we've seen over the last few years C hat tips to Hublot and Greubel Forsey here in particular C but it is one of the more interesting. Many sapphire-focused watches either opt for maximum transparency, a la that Hublot, or simply wrap an existing caliber and dial in the material, a la that GF), but the Quasar instead goes for contrast. The lightness of the case (both physical and visual) juxtaposes nicely with the matte black titanium bridges of the movement, which you can appreciate on a whole new level now that you can see all the way through them and better understand the way they create the caliber's fundamental structure. My only real complaint here? Legibility. With all the negative space and the openworked hands, telling the time can be a bit of a pain. I know that's like complaining that visibility isn't great out the back of your supercar, but such is the world of haute horology these days. The Basics Brand: Girard-PerregauxModel: QuasarReference Number: 99295-43-000-BA6A?Diameter: 45mmThickness: 15.25mmCase Material: SapphireDial Color: NoneIndexes: NoneLume: Yes, on handsWater Resistance: 30 metersStrap/Bracelet: Black alligator leather strap with titanium triple folding clasp The Movement Caliber: GP09400-1035Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, tourbillonDiameter: 36mmThickness: 9.54mmPower Reserve: 60 hoursWinding: AutomaticFrequency: 3 Hz (21,600 vph)Jewels: 27Total Components: 260 Pricing & Availability Price: $194,000Availability: March 2019For more click here.