.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
With Girard-Perregaux Certificate of Authenticity dated 27 July 2004 and signed by Luigi Macaluso (1948-2010), the firm's president at the time, confirming the production of the present "Opera Two Tourbillon sous trois ponts d'or, répétition minutes à carillon "Westminster", quantième perpétuel, remontage manuel, no. 99740.0.52.811 OR" in July 2004 and gilt metal setting pin.
The designation "Tourbillon sous trois ponts d'or" or "Tourbillon under three gold bridges" refers to one of the earliest conceptually artistic applications of the tourbillon regulator, first created by Constant Girard-Perregaux in 1867 for his pocket chronometers. Furthermore delivered with Girard-Perregaux wooden "écrin à résonance" or resonance presentation box and outer packaging, top and key decorated with Girard-Perregaux's tourbillon regulator. A drawer to the lower half contains a soundboard and its holder; by placing the watch onto the soundboard and activating its repeating and chiming mechanism, the beholder can fully admire its melodious sound.
Consigned by a private collector and fresh to the market, this technical and aesthetical masterpiece is preserved in excellent overall condition.
Introduced in 2001 and succeeding the firm's "Opera One", the "Opera Two" offers yet another horological feature, the perpetual calendar, further addition to the highly sought after complications of a minute repeater with Westminster carillon and tourbillon. The arrangement of the dial is elegant and easy to read, indicating the calendar on three subsidiary dials which will show the correct date also in leap years. The transparent apertures allow the wearer to admire the two most appreciated functions of the watch, tourbillon and minute repeating works. The Westminster chime indicates the past quarters by means of four hammers playing the "Big Ben" melody on four different notes.
Made in an exceedingly small series only, the Girard-Perregaux "Opera Two" was meticulously assembled and decorated by hand, requiring around 500 hours' work.
The "Opera Two" model is illustrated and described in Girard-Perregaux by François Chaille, pp. 190 & 191.
The designation "Tourbillon sous trois ponts d'or" or "Tourbillon under three gold bridges" refers to one of the earliest conceptually artistic applications of the tourbillon regulator, first created by Constant Girard-Perregaux in 1867 for his pocket chronometers. Furthermore delivered with Girard-Perregaux wooden "écrin à résonance" or resonance presentation box and outer packaging, top and key decorated with Girard-Perregaux's tourbillon regulator. A drawer to the lower half contains a soundboard and its holder; by placing the watch onto the soundboard and activating its repeating and chiming mechanism, the beholder can fully admire its melodious sound.
Consigned by a private collector and fresh to the market, this technical and aesthetical masterpiece is preserved in excellent overall condition.
Introduced in 2001 and succeeding the firm's "Opera One", the "Opera Two" offers yet another horological feature, the perpetual calendar, further addition to the highly sought after complications of a minute repeater with Westminster carillon and tourbillon. The arrangement of the dial is elegant and easy to read, indicating the calendar on three subsidiary dials which will show the correct date also in leap years. The transparent apertures allow the wearer to admire the two most appreciated functions of the watch, tourbillon and minute repeating works. The Westminster chime indicates the past quarters by means of four hammers playing the "Big Ben" melody on four different notes.
Made in an exceedingly small series only, the Girard-Perregaux "Opera Two" was meticulously assembled and decorated by hand, requiring around 500 hours' work.
The "Opera Two" model is illustrated and described in Girard-Perregaux by François Chaille, pp. 190 & 191.