The New Girard-Perregaux Neo Fixed Escapement (Incl. Video)

Girard-Perregaux brings again a charming idea, which was, to many, some of the attention-grabbing technical developments in trendy watchmaking; the Girard-Perregaux Fixed Escapement. This novel escapement is among the most refined solutions to a vital query for watchmakers: deal with the waning driving drive provided by barrels? The primary-generation Fixed Escapement was a technical marvel, which acquired a lot reward from insiders and collectors. It now is available in a brand new type integrating each aesthetic and technical evolutions. Meet the Girard-Perregaux Neo Fixed Escapement.

The Fixed Escapement: Idea & Historical past

Fixed drive is a holy grail of watchmaking and chronometry. In a mechanical watch, the vitality is saved by the mainspring contained in the barrel. The vitality is launched by way of the gear prepare that drives the fingers. The velocity at which the gears rotate is managed by the regulator that includes the escapement and the oscillator. The escapement transfers vitality to the oscillator (the steadiness wheel and its coiled hairspring) by way of impulses. In return, the oscillator regulates the escapement. Its oscillations unlock the escapement at a daily price permitting the gears to rotate. Because the barrel unwinds progressively, the stress of the mainspring decreases. The various driving drive delivered to the regulating organ of watches impacts their price.

Watchmakers have lengthy been engaged on an answer to supply a constant driving drive of their actions. Trendy barrels and the Swiss lever escapement provide passable regularity. And completely different enhancements have been imagined to eradicate drive or torque variations: the fusée-and-chain, stopworks or remontoirs d’égalité… Nonetheless, of their ongoing seek for precision, watchmakers are displaying renewed curiosity in deal with the variations of the mainspring driving drive. Some 15 years in the past, Girard-Perregaux introduced some of the attention-grabbing options to this quest, making use of fixed drive the place it issues most – the escapement – the mechanism that works instantly with the oscillator. Fixed impulses are subsequently given to the steadiness wheel whatever the variations doubtlessly attributable to the barrel or by the going prepare.

The brainchild of watch engineer Nicolas Déhon, the Fixed Escapement employs an unprecedented method to attaining fixed drive. The story truly begins in 1996, whereas Déhon was taking part in with a prepare ticket. As he was bending the ticket between his fingers and pushing the centre of the bend, the ticket would snap to the other place. Déhon had the concept to reap the benefits of the elastic and bistable properties of a buckled blade to construct a relentless drive escapement. When storing vitality in a buckled blade, as soon as a crucial threshold is reached, the blade snaps to its different secure place. Because it does so, the quantity of vitality launched is all the time the identical. Dehon’s good thought was to make use of this property of a bistable compliant mechanism to present fixed impulses to the steadiness wheel. 

A patent (WO9964936A1) was filed in 1998 and the primary sequence of prototypes of his buckled-blade escapement (Echappement à Lame Flambée in French or ELF) was developed as Déhon was working with Rolex. 

The story continues some 10 years later at Girard-Perregaux as Déhon had moved to this model a couple of years earlier. When he was offered with the idea, Gino Macaluso instantly jumped on the concept and an escapement prototype can be offered to the press on the SIHH 2008. The Fixed Escapement was a double-wheel escapement, reminiscent on this respect of Breguet’s pure escapement. The “Fixed” identify was chosen for its performance but additionally as a nod to the model founder Fixed Girard-Perregaux. It will take 5 years to lastly current watches fitted with the Fixed Escapement…

The usage of trendy applied sciences – DRIE for silicon elements and LIGA for pure nickel elements – the place instrumental with a view to receive passable outcomes, significantly with regard to engineering precision or elastic properties, tribology… To offer an thought concerning the manufacturing precision, the fixed escapement silicon buckled blade is simply 14 microns, which is about 6 occasions thinner than a human hair!

Within the meantime, Nicolas Déhon had left Girard-Perregaux to affix Patek Philippe (2008-2017) the place he additionally filed patents relative to bi-stable mechanisms. He then made a come-back to Girard-Perregaux the place he filed new patents on the Fixed Escapement – EP3599514A1 in 2018. He has now been working for Breitling since 2021. It will be troublesome to checklist the names of all of the watchmakers which have labored on the venture. We’ll point out Stéphane Oes, who took over from Déhon as he first left to Patek Philippe to develop the primary actions, Laurent Calame (laboratory watchmaker) and Matthieu Kummer, who has lengthy been concerned within the venture and who’s now accountable for its improvement.

The Girard-Perregaux Neo Fixed Escapement

With its 2023 Neo Fixed Escapement, this fascinating watch has developed in each method, each technically and aesthetically. If at first look not a lot appears to have modified from a technical perspective, the Neo Escapement integrates substantial evolutions. In fact, the basic precept stays unchanged however the interactions with the buckled-blade/bi-stable construction are considerably modified.

The 2 escapement wheels at the moment are two smaller stars fitted with 3 tooth (matching the 3Hz frequency). The decrease radius permits for a bigger drive that’s now transferred to the buckled blade by way of two new rocking levers. As the 2 wheels rotate in the identical route, these are asymmetrical. Specifically, the objective of this new association is to keep away from the sliding frictions seen with the earlier escapement wheels. Apparently, 2 wheels similar to these earlier escapement wheels have been saved however they’ve an inertial operate solely (extra data on this beneath).

The escapement choreography is a posh sequence and has considerably developed. Because the steadiness wheel swings in its free arc, one of many escapement wheels pushes its rocking lever. This permits to build up vitality within the buckled blade till it’s nearly able to flip. The locking lever ensures that the system is locked. Because the curler engages with the central lever’s fork, it will get the blade to flip. Because the blade flips, it supplies an impulse to the steadiness wheel. The escapement is then freed. To make sure a easy sequence, the inertia wheel ensures that there’s a slight delay earlier than the escapement wheel restarts and pushes additional its lever. Doing so it positions the second rocking lever in entrance of the second escape wheel. The latter will then take over to build up vitality within the blade and begin one other sequence yet again.

These enhancements enable for a a lot increased effectivity for the Fixed Escapement. The minimal energy reserve is now assured at 7 days (with the identical barrels as earlier than and regardless of a bigger, heavier steadiness wheel). This association additionally permits the escapement to be self-starting. Final, all Neo Fixed Escapement watches are licensed by the COSC – which in addition to the precision-related matter can be an indication that the idea appears mature sufficient to enter serial manufacturing. From the preliminary “tick-tock” of the prototype to the Neo Fixed Escapement, the venture was staked out by an extended sequence of steps and rebounds. However such a venture does require perseverance. The event of a brand new escapement is a extremely advanced endeavour… it took a long time to optimize the Swiss lever escapement.

As with the earlier variations of the Fixed Escapement the usage of slicing applied sciences was essential. If again in 2008. the primary silicon elements had been made with CSEM in Neuchatel, the technical companion for silicon elements is now Sigatec, an organization that’s collectively owned by Mimotec and Sowind Group, the dad or mum firm of Girard-Perregaux and Ulysse Nardin. 

In addition to the technical facet, the Neo Fixed Escapement additionally seems to be completely different. In fact, it has by no means resembled another watch with its openwork design displaying up the massive silicon escapement spring and the fascinating undulations of its microscopic blade. Its fascinating symmetrical structure now shares the design language of the modern members of the Bridges assortment. The case is now 45mm, which is way more wearable than the earlier 48mm diameter. Product of grade 5 titanium, it options a big box-shaped sapphire crystal granting lateral views on the dial and motion. The time indications are not offset however are displayed on the centre of the watch.

The hand-wound caliber GP09200 nonetheless options 2 barrels. It’s wearing a mixture of black PVD and anthracite NAC, and the form of the escapement bridges has adopted the model’s trendy “Neo” form. The linear energy reserve indicator at 9 o’clock shows how a lot autonomy is left. Turning the watch over, the exhibition case again means that you can uncover the opposite aspect of the calibre. It’s merely lovely too with its silver-tone in-line going prepare and symmetrical design.

The Girard-Perregaux Neo Fixed Escapement is offered on a fabric-like rubber strap. The triple folding buckle is fitted with a micro-adjustment system. The watch isn’t a restricted version, however manufacturing will likely be restricted by the complexity of the product. The value is about at EUR 105,000. For extra data, please go to www.girard-perregaux.com.