Girard-Perregaux reveals all of the Quasar Azure
Girard-Perregaux unveils 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.
The Quasar Azure honours the Girard-Perregaux’ legacy by engineering transparency to the extreme. Named after a luminous astronomical entity – the Quasar – its azure blue case is sculpted from a single sapphire disc. This case, with its sapphire crystal box, provides striking aerial views of the Manufacture’s skeletonised movement, the Calibre GP09400-1035.
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. 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.
The tourbillon cage is powered by a unidirectional automatic winding system featuring a micro-rotor made of white gold. 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. The micro-rotor is intentionally positioned behind the barrel, contributing to the pure, uncluttered appearance of the Quasar Azure’s fully skeletonised movement. Touches of blue luminescent material on the Dauphine-type hours and minutes hands, as well as the blue strap’s stitching, perfectly demonstrate the company’s fastidious attention to detail.
