Girard-Perregaux Constant Escapement L.M.
The highlight of Girard-Perregaux’s presentation at this year’s Baselworld is undoubtedly the Constant Escapement watch — the first model to be formally equipped with the brand’s revolutionary constant-force escapement system. This debut piece continues GP’s hallmark elegance and understated sophistication.
Starting with the dial design, the main time display features a staggered combination of trapezoidal hour markers and Arabic numerals, creating visual rhythm while maintaining excellent legibility. The twin barrels are symmetrically positioned on both sides of the dial in a concentric arrangement — a stroke of genius that not only balances the overall composition but also visually echoes the escapement mechanism on the opposite side.
At 9 o’clock, the linear power reserve indicator mirrors the “CONSTANT ESCAPEMENT” inscription at 3 o’clock. The designer’s meticulous attention to detail is evident here: the power reserve bar is positioned slightly closer to the barrels, while the constant escapement marking lies nearer to the escapement mechanism, subtly reflecting the flow of energy within the movement.
From a mechanical standpoint, the mainspring delivers its greatest torque when fully wound, which gradually decreases as it unwinds. This drop in torque leads to fluctuations in the balance wheel’s amplitude, thereby affecting timekeeping precision. In other words, the energy transmitted from the barrel to the escapement weakens over time, making true constant force difficult to achieve.
To overcome this inherent limitation, GP approached the problem from the escapement side. By introducing an innovative mechanism, the watch ensures that the energy delivered from the mainspring barrel is transmitted to the gear train with uniform force. The system incorporates a butterfly-shaped silicon blade that flexes and stores energy. Once it reaches a calibrated threshold, it releases this energy to the balance wheel in a constant and regulated manner. This process repeats continuously, ensuring that the balance wheel receives identical impulses every time.
The prototype of GP’s Constant Escapement was first revealed in 2008, and it took five years of development to transform this groundbreaking concept into a commercially available timepiece.
Girard-Perregaux Constant Escapement L.M. Ref. 93500-53-131-BA6C
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Case: Polished white gold, 48 mm in diameter, 14.63 mm thick
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Crystal: Domed anti-reflective sapphire glass
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Crown: White gold, engraved with GP logo
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Dial: Silver textured finish, rhodium-plated details, dauphine hands
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Movement: Caliber MVT-009100-0007, manual winding
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Features: Twin barrels, 271 components, 28 jewels
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Frequency: 21,600 vibrations/hour
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Power reserve: 7 days
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Indications: Linear power reserve display, constant-force escapement system
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Strap: Alligator leather
This masterpiece represents not only a major technical milestone for Girard-Perregaux but also a poetic expression of the pursuit of perfect mechanical precision.
