Monday, February 8, 2021

GIRARD-PERREGAUX – BRIDGES “Quasar Infrared” Tourbillon Sapphire Edition

 GIRARD-PERREGAUXBRIDGES Quasar Infrared” Tourbillon Sapphire 46 Edition Unique Pieces - 2021


Quasar Infrared – Making the invisible, visible

La Chaux-de-Fonds, 2021 - Building on the success of its Quasar Light and Quasar Azure models, Girard-Perregaux releases a new timepiece housed in a clear sapphire crystal case paired with red accents. The Quasar Infrared pays homage to the Chinese New Year with its red tones, employing a colour that evokes energy, vitality and prosperity. Beyond the model’s vibrant hues, the watch wonderfully plays with shapes and harnesses the Manufacture’s vast watchmaking expertise. Moreover, the Quasar Infrared makes the invisible, visible, transforming bridges from a technical element to an integral part of the timepiece, a characteristic Girard-Perregaux pioneered in 1867 with its legendary Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges.
 
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As China looks forward to celebrating the New Year, a sense of optimism is omnipresent. With the start of the new Chinese Zodiac comes the opportunity for loved ones to come together, celebrate and look forward to better times. Girard-Perregaux shares this positive outlook and, in order to mark the occasion, is releasing a special one-off timepiece, the Quasar Infrared. This model is housed in a sapphire crystal case, a horological genre which has become a speciality of the house.

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A quasar is a massive, extremely luminous and remote celestial object which emits large amounts of energy. When viewed through a telescope it resembles a star-like point of light. The Manufacture chose this name for its Quasar creations as it encapsulates the model’s generous proportions, shapes, energy, its notable scarcity and its play with light. Inevitably, this provokes the question, ‘Why Infrared?’
 
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Infrared light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum and essentially invisible to the naked eye. However, with its distinctive red hues, Girard-Perregaux has made Infrared visible. In the 19th century, Girard-Perregaux viewed movement bridges as not merely functional components, but also as aesthetic elements. Over the years, the Manufacture has released a number of models sharing the same trait, namely, making the invisible, visible.

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 Patrick Pruniaux, CEO of Girard-Perregaux, remarks, “We wanted to create a watch that exudes vitality and evokes thoughts of good fortune and positivity. In Chinese culture, the colour red conveys these sentiments. The Quasar Infrared combines red hues with transparency and iconic shapes as well as our signature Three Bridges. This creation is modern but employs Girard-Perregauxs vast expertise amassed over its 230-year history.
 
The clear case allows Girard-Perregaux to showcase the art of precision engineering with every element of the model’s composition refined to the nth degree. The sapphire case is fashioned from a single sapphire disc. Thereafter, the disc is formed, milled and polished to create a smooth, homogenous surface, free of inclusions. This latter phase alone takes over 200 hours of work and hundreds of operations, employing techniques perfected over two centuries. Making the case, lugs and crown is protracted, but excellence is seldom achieved in haste.

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A notable attribute of the Quasar Infrared relates to its breathtaking transparency. Components which are normally hidden from view are freely shown. It is therefore imperative that each part is presented in flawless form. However, with 230 years of experience, Girard-Perregaux is able to meet such technical challenges.

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 aerial 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 mainplate, revealing the smallest details of the mechanism. Despite the modernity of this model, traditional hand-finishing is much in evidence.

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The tourbillon cage is powered by a unidirectional automatic winding system featuring a micro-rotor made of white gold. Comprised of 79 components and weighing a mere 0.25 grams, the low mass of the tourbillon cage consumes only small amounts of energy, augmenting the movement’s available power-reserve.
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The micro-rotor is intentionally positioned behind the barrel, contributing to the pure, uncluttered appearance of the Quasar Infrared’s fully skeletonised movement. The Dauphine-type hour and minute hands feature red luminescent treatment. The strap is presented in the same ebullient hues, bestowing the composition with a harmonious visual aspect.

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The Quasar Infrared is housed in a handblown floating glass sphere made in Switzerland, ensuring consistency with Girard-Perregaux’s origins. This unique piece is available in Girard-Perregaux’s Hong Kong boutique, located in K11 Musea.

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TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Model:  Quasar Infrared

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Reference:  99295-43-2004BAHA  - Unique Pieces

Movement
Reference: GP09400-1439

Winding: Self-winding mechanical
Diameter: 36.00 mm (16’’’)
Thickness: 9.54 mm
Power reserve: min. 60 hours
Number of components: 260, of which 27 jewels
Frequency: 21,600 Vib/h – (3 Hz)

Functions: Tourbillon, hours, minutes, small seconds on the tourbillon
Tourbillon
Tourbillon carriage composed of 79 components weighing only 0.250 grams
The iconic Girard-Perregaux bridges are made out of sapphire
Case
Material: Sapphire
Diameter: 46 mm
Height: 15.25 mm
Glass: sapphire anti-reflective ‘box’
Case-back: sapphire crystal ‘box’
Water resistance: 30 meters (3 ATM)
Dial
No dial. Skeleton
Hands: skeletonised, white gold, ‘Dauphine’ type, with luminescent material
Strap
Material: 
high-gloss red calfskin strap featuring hand-stitching
Buckle: triple folding, white gold


Limited to Only 1 Pièce 
 
PRICE :
322,000 EUR
$ 319,000 USD 
 
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Press release - 2021
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Press Contact:
Manager: Ivanne Perrinjaquet, iperrinjaquet@girard-perregaux.ch
Girard-Perregaux,
International PR : christine.giotto@girard-perregaux.com
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Saturday, February 6, 2021

OMEGA – Seamaster Diver 300M “Beijing 2022” Special Edition

OMEGASeamaster Diver 300M “Beijing 2022Special Edition

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It’s now just one year until the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 begin in China. As the Official Timekeeper of this historic event, OMEGA has begun the celebrations early with a new timepiece dedicated to the occasion.

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The Seamaster Diver 300M “Beijing 2022Special Edition features a 42 mm case crafted from stainless steel, and includes a unique grade 5 titanium bezel ring with a 60-minute diving scale in positive relief.

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On the sun-brushed blue ceramic [ZrO2] dial, owners will find laser-engraved waves along with rhodium-plated indexes and hands filled with Super-LumiNova. 

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As a special tribute to Beijing 2022, there are also five special minute-markers at 2H, 4H, 8H, 10H and 12H, with each one created in the five colours of the iconic Olympic Rings.

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On the reverse side of the watch, the polished and brushed caseback includes a stamped Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 emblem. OMEGA’s patented NAIAD LOCK system keeps all the engravings in perfect alignment, while behind the caseback sits the OMEGA Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8800

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This powerful movement and the entire watch have passed the 8 tests set by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS), guaranteeing the industry’s highest standards of precision, performance and magnetic resistance.

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Inside the special presentation box, the timepiece is set on a polished and brushed stainless steel bracelet including OMEGA’s patented extendable foldover rack-and-pusher with an extra diver extension.

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OMEGA
has been the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games since 1932. During that time, the company has been proud to record the dreams of the world’s greatest athletes and time many of the most famous sporting moments in history. 

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Beijing 2022
will mark the company’s 30th occasion in the role.

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Technical Specifications

Collection: Speedmaster

Model: Seamaster Diver 300M “Beijing 2022Special Edition

Co‑Axial Master Chronometer 42 mm

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Reference   522.30.42.20.03.001 -  Steel bracelet

Movement
Omega 8800 Calibre
Self-winding movement with a Co-Axial escapement Certified Master Chronometer,
approved by METAS, resistant to magnetic fields reaching 15,000 gauss
Free sprung-balance with silicon balance spring, automatic winding in both directions
Special luxury finish with rhodium-plated rotor and balance bridge Geneva waves in arabesque.
Power reserve: 55 hours
Case
Steel
Diameter: 42 mm
Domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with antireflective treatment on both sides
Screw-in crown
Unidirectional rotating bezel; grade 5 titanium bezel ring with a titanium diving scale
Case back: The caseback, embossed with the emblem Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022
Helium escape valve
OMEGA’s innovative NAIAD LOCK.
Lug width: 20 mm
Water resistance: 30bar (300 metres / 1000 feet)

Dial
Blue sun-brushed ceramic [ZrO2] 
Laser-engraved waves along with rhodium-plated indexes
Hands filled with Super-LumiNova.
Five special minute-markers at 2H, 4H, 8H, 10H and 12H, with each one created in the five colours of the iconic Olympic Rings.
Special features
Anti-magnetic
Chronometer
Master Chronometer Certified
Helium escape valve
Screw-in crown
Unidirectional rotating beze  
Strap
Black rubber strap with steel buckle
Stainless steel bracelet


Availability: Special presentation BOX

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Price: US $  - 7,200 (excl. taxes)


All OMEGA timepieces have a 5-year warranty.

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Press releases - 2021
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