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Lot Essay
Possibly made for exhibition purposes, the present watch is a horological phenomenon, being one of the smallest tourbillon watches ever made. As such, it is an exceptional rarity and one of only three examples by Girard-Perregaux of a three-bridge tourbillon of this diminutive size. Not seen in public for almost 20 years as part of one of the world’s greatest private watch collections, collectors and those who appreciate haute horology are now offered an unprecedented opportunity to acquire this fascinating treasure.
In the world of watchmaking, it is said that only five true miniature tourbillon pocket watch movements have ever been made successfully. Girard-Perregaux have the unique distinction of being the maker of three of these five watchmaking masterpieces.
With Girard-Perregaux’s famed ‘Three-Bridge’ movement and featuring tourbillons made by the legendary master watchmaker Ernest Guinand, they were at the time the smallest one-minute tourbillons with pivoted detent escapements ever made, with a movement diameter of an incredible 31.9 mm. Indeed, it was not until almost 40 years later in 1927, that a smaller tourbillon was made by James Pellaton with a movement diameter of 23.6 mm., followed in 1945 by Fritz-André Robert Charrue’s famous miniature tourbillon of 19.7 mm. diameter.
The three known examples of Girard-Perregaux’s miniature three-bridge tourbillons are:
- No. 133'336, yellow gold hunting case, carriage by Ernest Guinand.
- The present watch, two colour gold openface, carriage by Ernest Guinand.
- A third example, made in 1901, 30 mm. diameter movement, whereabouts unknown.
When these amazing miniature watches were made in the closing years of the 19th century, they were the smallest tourbillon movements in the world and represented an incredible achievement of the master watchmaker's art. Guinand must have made the tourbillon carriages towards the end of his career and at the height of his watchmaking experience. The style of the three-bridge movement used in the present watch was patented in 1884, and as Guinand had died in 1879, Girard-Perregaux must have completed its construction around 1890. The watch’s tiny size combined with the special and unusual enamel dial inscribed ‘ Tourbillon by Ernest Guinand’ suggest that it was intended for exhibition purposes.
Girard-Perregaux’s three golden bridge movement is one of the most instantly recognizable and most attractive ever created by any maker. Developed by Constant Girard by 1860, the design of three parallel gold bridges securing the barrel, centre wheel and balance wheel was revolutionary at the time, combining as it does both precision watchmaking and aesthetics. Girard presented his first tourbillon with three gold bridges in 1867, the bridges of the early examples are straight, the arrow-shaped bridges were introduced in 1884 when the design was patented. Constant Girard submitted to the United States Patent Office a patent of the design of the movement “Tourbillon with three gold bridges.” The design went on to be awarded a Gold Medal at both the 1876 (with straight bridges) and 1889 International Exposition in Paris. In 1901, the three golden bridges tourbillon was declared “hors concours”, for its matchless quality.
The Three Golden Bridge tourbillon has unsurprisingly become Girard-Perregaux's most prestigious innovation and their most famed of productions. The patent for it was filed in the United States on March 24th of 1884 (Patent No. 14919) :
Be it known that I, Girard-Perregaux of Chaux-de-Fonds, Republic of Switzerland have invented and produced a new and original Design of a Watch-Movement, of which the following is a full, clear and exact description....In a watch movement the design for a bridge, consisting a bridge having a central annular portion, spread-out ends and bar-like portions between the said annular portions and ends, as shown....
Ernest Guinand (c.1810-1879) was an important master watchmaker from Le Locle, who, together with the famous Auguste Grether, specialized in the production of tourbillon carriages. Guinand supplied his tourbillons to renowned watchmakers such as Girard-Perregaux and Montandon. Study of the records of the Neuchâtel Observatory shows that Guinand’s production of tourbillons probably began between 1865 and 1867. He designed three models of tourbillon carriages, always based on an A-shaped frame. The Observatory of Neuchâtel records indicate that the number of tourbillons that Guinand supplied to Girard-Perregaux is something between 22 and 25. Most were fitted with a pivoted detent escapement. Although Guinand’s carriages were rarely signed, they are easily identified by their distinctive A-shaped frames.
In the world of watchmaking, it is said that only five true miniature tourbillon pocket watch movements have ever been made successfully. Girard-Perregaux have the unique distinction of being the maker of three of these five watchmaking masterpieces.
With Girard-Perregaux’s famed ‘Three-Bridge’ movement and featuring tourbillons made by the legendary master watchmaker Ernest Guinand, they were at the time the smallest one-minute tourbillons with pivoted detent escapements ever made, with a movement diameter of an incredible 31.9 mm. Indeed, it was not until almost 40 years later in 1927, that a smaller tourbillon was made by James Pellaton with a movement diameter of 23.6 mm., followed in 1945 by Fritz-André Robert Charrue’s famous miniature tourbillon of 19.7 mm. diameter.
The three known examples of Girard-Perregaux’s miniature three-bridge tourbillons are:
- No. 133'336, yellow gold hunting case, carriage by Ernest Guinand.
- The present watch, two colour gold openface, carriage by Ernest Guinand.
- A third example, made in 1901, 30 mm. diameter movement, whereabouts unknown.
When these amazing miniature watches were made in the closing years of the 19th century, they were the smallest tourbillon movements in the world and represented an incredible achievement of the master watchmaker's art. Guinand must have made the tourbillon carriages towards the end of his career and at the height of his watchmaking experience. The style of the three-bridge movement used in the present watch was patented in 1884, and as Guinand had died in 1879, Girard-Perregaux must have completed its construction around 1890. The watch’s tiny size combined with the special and unusual enamel dial inscribed ‘ Tourbillon by Ernest Guinand’ suggest that it was intended for exhibition purposes.
Girard-Perregaux’s three golden bridge movement is one of the most instantly recognizable and most attractive ever created by any maker. Developed by Constant Girard by 1860, the design of three parallel gold bridges securing the barrel, centre wheel and balance wheel was revolutionary at the time, combining as it does both precision watchmaking and aesthetics. Girard presented his first tourbillon with three gold bridges in 1867, the bridges of the early examples are straight, the arrow-shaped bridges were introduced in 1884 when the design was patented. Constant Girard submitted to the United States Patent Office a patent of the design of the movement “Tourbillon with three gold bridges.” The design went on to be awarded a Gold Medal at both the 1876 (with straight bridges) and 1889 International Exposition in Paris. In 1901, the three golden bridges tourbillon was declared “hors concours”, for its matchless quality.
The Three Golden Bridge tourbillon has unsurprisingly become Girard-Perregaux's most prestigious innovation and their most famed of productions. The patent for it was filed in the United States on March 24th of 1884 (Patent No. 14919) :
Be it known that I, Girard-Perregaux of Chaux-de-Fonds, Republic of Switzerland have invented and produced a new and original Design of a Watch-Movement, of which the following is a full, clear and exact description....In a watch movement the design for a bridge, consisting a bridge having a central annular portion, spread-out ends and bar-like portions between the said annular portions and ends, as shown....
Ernest Guinand (c.1810-1879) was an important master watchmaker from Le Locle, who, together with the famous Auguste Grether, specialized in the production of tourbillon carriages. Guinand supplied his tourbillons to renowned watchmakers such as Girard-Perregaux and Montandon. Study of the records of the Neuchâtel Observatory shows that Guinand’s production of tourbillons probably began between 1865 and 1867. He designed three models of tourbillon carriages, always based on an A-shaped frame. The Observatory of Neuchâtel records indicate that the number of tourbillons that Guinand supplied to Girard-Perregaux is something between 22 and 25. Most were fitted with a pivoted detent escapement. Although Guinand’s carriages were rarely signed, they are easily identified by their distinctive A-shaped frames.