Girard-Perregaux

Girard-Perregaux, No. 133336, carriage by Ernest Guinand, circa 1890. Exceptionally fine, 18K gold, hunting-cased, keyless "gold three bridge" patented movement, the smallest one-minute tourbillon at the time, and the smallest one-minute tourbillon with pivoted detent escapement ever made. Four-body, "bassine", polished, gold hinged cuvette over glazed gold bezel for viewing the movement. White enamel, Breguet numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary sunk seconds. Blued steel Breguet hands. 31.9 mm. (14.1’’’), nickel with patented three parallel gold bridges, pillar plate finely damascened on both sides, going barrel damascened in radial "sunburst" pattern, 18 jewels, top ones on gold settings, tourbillon with pivoted detent escapement, gold train including the escape wheel, 21,600 beats per hour, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring with amplitude safety device. Signed on dial, case and movement, movement numbered under the dial. Diam. 50 mm. Notes Constant Girard-Perregaux (1825-1903) After a happy childhood, Constant Girard learned the watchmaker’s trade, slowly and patiently absorbing its secrets as they were passed on by demanding master craftsmen. The years passed and his talent was confirmed. In 1825, Constant Girard and his mother Numa founded a watch manufacturing company in La Chaux-de-Fonds. They called it Girard & Cie. Barely two years later, at the age of 29, Constant Girard married Marie Perregaux, the daughter of a