DAZZLE AND TRANSPARENCY
Total transparency exalted with dashes of vermillion and impeccable engineering superbly center staged: in a nutshell, the magic formula the brand from La Chaux-de-Fonds has embraced to create an incredible timepiece.
Although the word quasar may conjure up far-distant, exotic lands for those with fertile imaginations, as it happens, it’s in the realm of astronomy that we discover that it’s actually a quasi-stellar source of radio-wave emission, an extremely luminous active galactic nucleus. This explains why Girard-Perregaux borrowed this name and gifted it to a collection of totally transparent, exceptional timepieces, which includes the new Quasar Infrared which spectacularly center stages the famous three-bridge architecture, the watch brand’s highly-technical and highly-visual signature.
The case of the Quasar Infrared, waterproof to depths of 30 m, impresses with its size as well as with the material which fashions it. Firstly, it measures some 46 mm in diameter and 15.25 mm thick and, secondly, it is entirely crafted in sapphire crystal. Here, nothing’s hidden because, what’s more, the watch is proposed without a dial: everything is visible! Although the revamped, openworked, white gold dauphine-style hour and minute hands tipped with a dash of bright red luminescent material are securely attached to the central pivot, they appear to be floating through space. As for the seconds, they are displayed along with the tourbillon which twirls at 6 o’clock. These time features come to life thanks to the GP09400-1439 caliber, an automatic movement set at a frequency of 3 Hz and delivering a power reserve of 60 hours when fully wound.
This watch is worn on a vermillion calfskin strap attached by a white gold folding clasp.
Price: CHF283,000
By Sharmila Bertin