Girard-Perregaux Neo Constant Escapement
Girard-Perregaux's Neo Constant Escapement features an innovative silicon blade escapement spring designed to deliver consistent precision by compensating for mainspring tension variations. This hands-on review explores the 45mm pink gold model, highlighting its openworked design and the "purple butterfly" escapement mechanism.
- 45mm pink gold case
- Seven-day power reserve
- Price: €140,000 / US$134,000 / £114,000
The watch utilizes a 14-micron wide and 120-micron thick silicon blade as an escapement spring, six times thinner than a human hair, to achieve consistent precision.
The "purple butterfly" is the visual representation of the pulsating silicon escapement spring, which is wound with each oscillation of the balance wheel.
The movement, GP09200-2680, is an in-house caliber resulting from 20 years of R&D, featuring a skeletonized design, a linear power reserve indicator, and COSC certification.
The pink gold case features a combination of brushed and polished finishes, and the watch includes newly designed skeletonized hour and minute hands with blue-glowing black luminescent material.
The watch's design incorporates GP trademarks such as the two golden bridges at 6 o'clock and the suspended pink gold hour markers.
The concept for the blade escapement was inspired by a watchmaker observing a train ticket buckling into a C-shape.
The watch is described as large and heavy due to its precious metal construction, intended to be a showcase of horological innovation rather than an inconspicuous timepiece.