Girard-Perregaux is pleased to unveil the Quasar Azure, a new iteration of the original Quasar encased in azure blue sapphire crystal, recalling the Manufacture’s first Bridges timepieces created in 1867. This new model is a limited edition of eight pieces, conferring a notable degree of exclusivity. The ability to showcase the art of precision engineering is among Girard-Perregaux’s greatest achievements, just as they did with the Three Gold Bridges employed on La Esmeralda, the world-famous pocket watch of 1889. The new Quasar Azure honors this legacy by engineering transparency to the extreme.
Named after an extremely luminous galactic nucleus called Quasar, the Girard-Perregaux Quasar Azure features a 46 mm blue sapphire crystal case sculpted from a single sapphire disc. Because of its hardness, sapphire is extremely difficult to craft. The case is formed, colored, milled and polished by Girard-Perregaux artisans through a protracted process, taking over 200 hours. Once completed, the case must be a uniform shade and free of any inclusions.
Featuring a display case back along with its transparent case provides striking views of the in-house skeletonized automatic movement calibre GP09400-1035. This 260-part movement with tourbillon, hours, minutes, and small seconds provides a power reserve of at least 60 hours when fully wound. The tourbillon cage powered by the unidirectional automatic winding system features a micro-rotor made of white gold. The micro-rotor is intentionally positioned behind the barrel, contributing to the pure, uncluttered appearance of the Quasar Azure’s fully skeletonized movement. Comprised of 80 components and weighing a mere 0.25 grams, the low mass of the tourbillon cage consumes only small quantities of energy, augmenting the movement’s available power-reserve.
In the words of Girard-Perregaux’s CEO Patrick Pruniaux:
“When the tourbillon is bathed with light, the Quasar Azure shines like a star in the mysterious darkness of space. This model is testament to our mastery of Haute Horlogerie and is rooted in our design language, albeit in this instance, it is seen through a prism of cutting-edge technology. The Quasar Azure is a brilliantly bold expression of the company’s technical mastery, contemporary design and rich heritage. Indeed, the Quasar Azure embodies the very essence of Girard-Perregaux.”
Set within the azure blue case, the tourbillion seemingly floats. Its cage is lyre-shaped, a historical design dating back to the 19th century. However, this contemporary creation indulges the wearer with unobstructed views of the Neo Bridges, a Girard-Perregaux signature inspired by architectural structures. While these bridges appear futuristic, they continue to uphold the styling of La Esmeralda. The Grade 5 titanium bridges are set against the NAC treated main plate, revealing the smallest details of the mechanism. Despite the modernity of this model, traditional hand-finishing is much in evidence.
Touches of blue luminescent material on the Dauphine-style hours and minutes hands, as well as the blue strap’s stitching, perfectly demonstrate the company’s fastidious attention to detail. Available in a limited edition of 8 pieces, the watch is readily available by special order.
Sticker Price CHF 274,000 Swiss Francs —approximately $300,000 USD. For more info on Girard-Perregaux click here.
