Girard-Perregaux presents the new Quasar Azure, a declination of the original Quasar, encased in a blue sapphire crystal reminiscent of the first bridged watches created by the Manufacture in 1867. This exclusive new model is being produced in a limited edition of only 8 pieces. The ability to express art in precision engineering is one of Girard-Perregaux's greatest gifts. The three gold bridges used on La Esmeralda, the world-famous 1889 pocket watch, for example, were both functional and aesthetically seductive. The Quasar Azure pays tribute to this tradition with a transparency that is, if possible, pushed to the extreme. The watch takes its name from the Quasar, an extremely luminous celestial body, and features an azure case sculpted from a single sapphire disc. The case thus offers exceptional views of the skeleton calibre GP09400-1035 movement. As stated by Girard-Perregaux CEO Patrick Pruniaux, "When the tourbillon is flooded with light, the Quasar Azure shines like a star in the mysterious darkness of space. This model testifies to our mastery of Haute Horlogerie and is rooted in our design language, although, in this case, it is seen through a prism of cutting-edge technology. The Quasar Azure is a brilliant and bold expression of the brand's technical mastery, contemporary design and rich tradition. The Quasar Azure embodies the very essence of Girard-Perregaux'. Sapphire is very difficult to work with due to its hardness. The 46-mm case is therefore shaped, coloured, milled and polished by Girard-Perregaux craftsmen in a lengthy process that takes over 200 hours. When finished, the case must be uniform in colour and free of inclusions. The creation of the Quasar Azure's case, including lugs and crown, requires exceptional craftsmanship, a quality that rhymes with Girard-Perregaux. Inside the case, the tourbillon appears to float. The cage is lyre-shaped, a historical design dating back to the 19th century. However, its contemporary declination allows the Neo-bridges, Girard-Perregaux's stylistic signature inspired by architectural structures, to be admired at its best. The grade 5 titanium bridges are fixed to the NAC-treated plate and reveal every single detail of the mechanism. The tourbillon cage is powered by a unidirectional automatic winding system with a white gold micro-rotor: it consists of 80 components and weighs a mere 0.25 grams. The micro-rotor is purposely positioned behind the barrel and thus contributes to the pure and clean appearance of the Quasar Azure's entirely skeletonised movement. Touches of blue luminescent material on the Dauphine hour and minute hands and the stitching on the blue strap are further proof of the company's meticulous attention to detail.
