Timeless Beauty of Girard-Perregaux’s Cat’s Eye Eternity Edition

Girard-Perregaux commemorates its 230th anniversary by drawing inspiration from its rich history and introducing the Cat’s Eye Eternity Edition. Featuring a grand feu enamel dial, this new model is designed to maintain its youthful appearance for many years to come.

In 1889, Girard-Perregaux was honored with a gold medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition for its remarkable horological creation, the Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges. Unlike previous pocket watches featuring three parallel nickel-silver bridges, this model boasted a trio of exquisitely shaped gold plates. Each bridge took on an arrow-shaped design, a patent obtained a few years earlier in the United States in 1884. While these bridges served a practical purpose, the Maison also incorporated them as a design element, seamlessly blending functionality with aesthetics. This fusion of purpose and style would ultimately become a cornerstone of the Girard-Perregaux brand.

The Girard-Perregaux ‘Three Gold Bridges’ not only radiated opulence through their noble materials but also showcased a variety of shapes. Following the introduction of the Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges, Girard-Perregaux crafted numerous round watches. However, the brand didn’t limit itself to circular designs and ventured into experimenting with various other shapes beyond the common circular form. For instance, the original Laureato model from 1975 boasted a round dial encased within an octagonal bezel, perched atop a circular base, all housed within a tonneau-shaped case.

Eternal Appeal: Discovering Girard-Perregaux’s Cat’s Eye Eternity Edition

In 2004, the Manufacture introduced a fresh creation, the Cat’s Eye collection. Encased in a unique oval-shaped casing, this model continued the Maison’s commitment to unconventional shapes. Designed from the very beginning to embody femininity, the watch received the Ladies’ Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG).

A careful inspection of the case unveils elegantly curved lugs and a gracefully arched sapphire crystal. These numerous curves play with light, causing some areas to shine brilliantly while leaving others in shadow, creating a sense of quiet reflection.

Throughout its history, Girard-Perregaux has crafted numerous iterations of the Cat’s Eye, some incorporating intricate complications and others adorned with precious gemstones, all enclosed within the elegant oval case. Today, the Manufacture is delighted to introduce the Cat’s Eye Eternity Edition. Its name pays homage to the grand feu enamel dial and its exceptional ability to maintain a perpetually pristine appearance. There’s no fading or cracking, just an enduring beauty that remains truly extraordinary.

The grand feu enamel dials are meticulously crafted within the company’s own facility. This enamel blend consists of silica, minium, potash, and soda, which are finely ground into a powder. Various metal oxides are then introduced to create an array of vibrant enamel colors. The powdered mixture is delicately applied to the dial surface before undergoing firing in an oven typically reaching temperatures of around 800°C. This intricate procedure is repeated between 5 to 10 times to achieve the desired luminous finish.

Mastery of grand feu enameling demands considerable expertise, and even with experience, the repetitive firing stages can sometimes result in challenges such as cracks, air bubbles, or imperfections in color. Consequently, numerous dials do not meet the rigorous standards and are ultimately discarded. Nevertheless, the primary advantage of this meticulous process lies in the fact that the flawless grand feu enamel dials will retain their vibrant colors indefinitely, offering a promise of eternal delight.

The oval-shaped dial is enriched with an exquisite guilloché sunray pattern, which shines through the translucent blue enamel coating, elevating the opulence of the dial’s appearance.

Elegant leaf-shaped hour and minute hands gracefully indicate the time. The brand’s initials are placed at the 12 o’clock position, while the remaining four-hour markers are skillfully applied to the dial’s surface, with the others being precisely placed decals. Connoisseurs will observe that the date display at 3 o’clock showcases white numerals on a colored disc, perfectly matching the hue of the main dial, in accordance with horological tradition.

Encased in a stainless steel housing adorned with 62 brilliant-cut diamonds (approximately 0.85 carats), this newest timepiece has dimensions of 35.40 x 30.40mm. The case maintains a subtle height of just 9.10mm, ensuring a snug fit on the wrist without excessive protrusion.

From its inception, the Cat’s Eye has consistently blended feminine aesthetics with mechanical excellence, and the latest iteration, the Cat’s Eye Eternity Edition, upholds this tradition without compromise. The self-winding movement, the GP03300-1739 calibre, is meticulously crafted at the company’s La Chaux-de-Fonds production facility. It boasts a flower-shaped oscillating weight fashioned from pink gold, adorned with exquisite decorative finishes. Further enhancements to the movement include straight Côtes de Genève on the bridges, precise beveling, blued screws, circular graining on the main plate, and intricately engraved gilded text, all executed to the company’s revered standards.

Technical specification

CAT’S EYE ETERNITY EDITION
Reference: 80484D11A432
Both references are limited to 88 pieces, not numbered
Seddiqi exclusive in December 2021
Limited edition of 88 pieces, not numbered
World Price: CHF 15,700

Case
Material: steel set with 62 brilliant-cut diamonds -0.85 ct
Dimensions: 35.40 x 30.40 mm
Height: 9.10 mm
Glass: anti-reflective sapphire
Case-back: sapphire crystal
Dial: blue enamel with a guilloche sunray motif
Hands: leaf-shaped, rhodium-plated
Water resistance: 30 metres (3 ATM)

Movement
Reference: GP03300-1739
Self-winding mechanical movement
Diameter: 25.60 mm (111/2″)
Height: 3.36 mm
Frequency: 28,800 Vib/h – (4 Hz)
Number of components: 165 Number of jewels: 28
Power reserve: min. 46 hours Functions: hours, minutes, date

Bracelet
Material: blue alligator strap
Buckle: steel folding buckle