USER MANUALLA ESMERALDA TOURBILLON«A SECRET»

LA ESMERALDA TOURBILLON
Girard-Perregaux is pleased to present an exceptional Esmeralda Tourbillon inspired by theTourbillon with Three Gold Bridges pocket chronometer that won the gold medal at the Universal
Exhibition in Paris in 1889. This majestic timepiece is the mechanical expression of an aesthetic
quest dedicated to achieving the Maison’s goal of ultimate accuracy.
The history of Girard-Perregaux has always been punctuated by innovations and technical feats.
Renowned for the quality of its complication watches and for the care devoted to their finishes,
the Manufacture pays particular attention to the aesthetics of its creations.

THE TOURBILLON WITH THREE GOLD BRIDGES – A REFLECTION OF THE
MANUFACTURE’S EXPERTISE
Since founding his Manufacture and especially with the development of the first Tourbillon withThree Bridges in 1860, Constant Girard had been drawing ever closer to watchmaking perfection. In
designing a benchmark caliber featuring a unique layout, Constant Girard immediately distinguishedhimself by inventing the concept of dramatizing mechanics. Thanks to his ambitious staging of thecomponents, he succeeded in lending an artistic dimension to the tourbillon, previously considered
to be a purely technical mechanism. In 1867, this almost minimalist layout won its first timekeeping
award from the Neuchâtel Observatory and most likely enabled Girard-Perregaux, once the layout
had been patented in 1884, to create the ethereal Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges complication,
an utterly unique signature.

This watch structure, which was already considered visionary at the time of its creation, enabled the pocket
watch with a tourbillon, pivoted detent and three gold bridges, presented at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in1889, to win the gold medal in its category. With its magnificent case engraved by renowned artist Fritz Kundert,then at the very pinnacle of his career, this piece – whose name “La Esmeralda” is derived from the name of
the Paris and Mexico boutiques of Hauser, Zivy & Cie, the famous jeweler and watch merchant – was to become
the property of General Porfirio Diaz, then President of Mexico.
With its exemplary finishes, this wonder embodied a watchmaking pinnacle in terms of graphic balance andbecame a supreme benchmark for both its finishes and its attention to detail. In 1970, thanks to a lucky chainof events, the piece reentered the collection of the Manufacture Girard-Perregaux Museum. Transcendent andmajestic with its inimitable and unequaled design, the Tourbillon with Three Bridges caliber has earned a placein watchmaking history as the oldest watch movement still in production, since its overall layout has remained
unchanged since 1860.

THE QUALITIES OF A TOURBILLON WITH THREE BRIDGES CALIBER
The stylistic minimalism of the Tourbillon with Three Bridges caliber has always been in harmony with theideals of fine watchmaking. This consummate work of art, which presents a layout that respects the principlesof the golden ratio, is assembled from start to finish by a master watchmaker, with its components finished andembellished by craftsmen who are experts in their art.
A truly successful blend of aesthetic, technical and symbolic principles, the mainplate features a barrel bridge,
gear train bridge and tourbillon bridge made from solid gold. Their double-headed arrow design is entirely
hand-decorated and doubtless inspired by the bridges of the historical Esmeralda. The surface of the arrows is
mirror-polished, the edges are chamfered by hand and the flanks are drawn. To increase the visual contrast andto better catch the light, the arms of the bridges are delicately rounded by hand using a burnisher. In this strict
spatial layout, the three bridges are positioned parallel to one another, creating a pleasing visual effect. The
tourbillon carriage, which is comprised of 80 components, is entirely hand-finished and requires extreme skill
from the watchmaker assembling it. With its characteristic hand-polished lyre, the signature of the Manufacture,
this perfectly balanced organ that performs a simply captivating rotation once per minute houses a balance
wheel which oscillates at 21,600 vibrations per hour (3Hz) and benefits from a large moment of inertia.
The three-part layout of the mainplate is apparent from the very first glance. All these components – the gold
bridges visible on the front face, and even the number of arms of the tourbillon carriage – convey a message. Areminder that the number three and its multiples underlie the measurement of past, present and future time.

MASTERFUL ENGRAVING
Designed like a “secret” watch, the new interpretation of La Esmeralda Tourbillon 'A secret' features for the firsttime a cover protecting the back of the model. This element further adds to the precious nature of this creationand promotes a special sense of privileged intimacy with the wearer. The entirely hand-engraved case picks up
the brilliantly executed motifs adorning the 1889 model. Three horses gallop across the outside of the cover,while the interior is engraved with the inscriptions “Tourbillon” and “La Chaux-de-Fonds”.
Two hundred hours of patience and absolute concentration were required to craft the various motifs, alongwith the very essence of engraving: light and depth effects, the contrast between shiny and matt surfaces…
and everything composing the heart and soul of this exceptional expertise.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
WINDING
The self-winding system keeps your Tourbillon fully wound if you wear it at least 14 hours a day. If
your watch has not been worn for some time, rewind it manually.
Crown in two positions:0.
Manual-winding position (crown not pulled out).
1.
Time setting position (crown fully pulled out).

Manual-winding:To wind, turn the crown backward and forward when it is in position 0). When fully wound, yourwatch has a power reserve of approximately 60 hours.
Warning: do not force the crown once the resistance increases as this could damage themovement.

SETTING THE TIME
1.

Pull your crown out to the time setting position 1).

2. Turn your crown clockwise to position the hour and minute hands at the selected time. At thetime signal, push the crown back to position 0). Your watch will restart immediately.
Warning: after making any setting, always return the crown to its original position, to preserve
the water resistance of your watch and prevent any damage to the mechanism. To do so, press
the crown against the case in position 0).

abdc0

1

FUNCTIONS
a | Hoursb | Minutes
c | Tourbillon
d I Small seconds on the tourbillon

GIRARD-PERREGAUX GP09400
SELF-WINDING MECHANICAL MOVEMENT
Diameter:Height:Frequency:
Jewels:Power reserve:
Functions:36.60 mm (16‘’’)
8.40 mm21,600 Vib/h – (3 Hz)
27
min. 60 hoursTourbillon, hours, minutes, small seconds on the tourbillon

CASE
Diameter:
Crystal:Case-back:Water resistance:

44.00 mm
sapphire anti-reflective ‘box’
sapphire crystal ‘box’
30 metres (3 ATM)

MDE-0081
www.girard-perregaux.com