Girard-Perregaux

Within the Girard-Perregaux maison, the Tourbillon Sous Trois Pont D’Or is perhaps one of their most renowned masterpieces. Translated from French, the model name reads “Tourbillon Under Three Gold Bridges.” Thus, like the name suggests, the defining feature at the heart of the present watch is its iconic ‘three bridge movement.” First patented by Constant Girard in 1884, it took only five years for Girard’s first three-bridge tourbillon watch to win gold at the 1889 Paris Universal Exhibition. Two Hundred years later in 1991, just in time for the brand’s bicentenary, Girard-Perregaux introduced the Tourbillon Sous Trois Pont D’Or at Basel.

The watch features a myriad of stunning and impressive design elements. First, the visibility of the tourbillon from the dial side is not only a magnificent aesthetic approach, but also a legendary technical feat. This duality, too, extends to the centerpiece of the watch: the three bridges. While most would readily assume that the bridges were implemented for the sole purpose of artistry, they, in fact, also double for purposes of functionality—specifically to ensure the highest level of accuracy for the tourbillon as technically possible. The topmost bridge works to secure the mainspring barrel at 12 o’clock, the center bridge works to secure the hour and minute hands, while the third and bottommost bridge works to secure the tourbillon escapement. Since its release 30 years ago, the watch has become one of the brand’s most prized collections.