Manufacturer: Girard Perregaux Year: Circa 1993 Movement No: 36 PT Case No: 36 PT Model Name: Tourbillon Sous Trois Ponts D’Or Material: Platinum Calibre: Manual, cal. 9000, 20 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold Girard-Perregaux pin buckle Dimensions: 39mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed Accessories: Accompanied by Girard-Perregaux Certificate of Authenticity, letter, product literature, outer packaging and fitted presentation box.
Catalogue Essay
Introduced in 1991 at Baselworld, the Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon Sous Trois Ponts D’Or is a grand statement to the industry from the firm. With a visually striking dial depicting its iconic “three bridges”, securing all its components of the movement, the symmetrical layout features a mainspring barrel at 12 O’clock secured by the top bridge, the center bridge secures its hours and minutes hands and the third bridge beneath holds the tourbillon escapement. It is believed that the three bridges have a meaning inspired by the Holy trinity, father, son and the Holy Spirit.
The present example in platinum from circa 1993, belongs to the very first model. With an attractive and comfortable 39mm round-shaped case, the three golden bridges fitted inside can be spotted from a mile away. Complete with its Certificate of Authenticity and its original presentation box, the present Girard-Perregaux tourbillon wristwatch is with no doubt a superbly attractive example and further offered in attractive value.
Celebrating its 225th anniversary in 2016, the company earned its fame as the first vertically integrated Swiss watchmaking company, manufacturing high-grade movements, cases and dials within its premises. Particularly noteworthy are the brand's three-gold-bridge tourbillon pocket watches built by Constant Girard beginning in 1867 — considered amongst the most beautiful movement architectures ever made. An active participant in Switzerland's observatory chronometry competitions, the brand won so many precision awards that they were excluded from competing in 1901.
Key models include nineteenth and twentieth century pocket watches with three gold bridges, modern tourbillon wristwatches with three gold bridges, minute repeating pocket and wristwatches, as well as sport watches such as the Laureato and Sea Hawk.