Girard-Perregaux Opera Three Watch

The Girard-Perregaux Opera Three watch is one of the world's most delightful creations of haute horlogerie. An artful realization of more than 200 years of experience in manufacturing mechanical complications, the Opera 3 enables its owner to mark the passage of time with a choice of two musical selections, each of which play for up to a full twelve seconds. Truly, time's passage has never been marked with such charm!

Crafted from platinum--the most precious of metals--the Girard-Perregaux Opera Three watch case measures a stately 43mm in diameter. No mere concession to modern tastes, this ample case volume allows the sound to unfold with optimal results. The slightly off-centered time display, which incorporates a small-seconds subdial and polished dauphine hour and minutes hand is crowned by the distinctive regulator whose function controls the tempo of the music. A scale on the right indicates the amount of power reserve in the spring barrel dedicated to the musical mechanism, while a second field at upper left indicates the melody the owner wishes to hear--chosen by the selector at the lower left section of the case. When first introduced, the Girard-Perregaux Opera Three watch featured famous melodies composed by Mozart and Tchaikovsky, but clients who desire can now have a watch made to order which can play virtually any two melodies that may be desired.

A sapphire exhibition caseback reveals the exceptional complexity and fine traditional finish of the manually wound Girard-Perregaux 00950 caliber. Comprised of hundreds of hand-finished components, this movement presents its remarkable carillon complication--a miniature 20-blade keyboard and drum which is meticulously fitted with hand-mounted pins. The mechanism is designed in such a way that the music can be set to play "in passing" upon each hour, or upon demand. The movement comprises two mainspring barrels--one for the movement itself, and the second dedicated for the musical function. Power reserve of the barrel dedicated to the movement is 50 hours.

Connoisseurs will delight in the exceptional finishing of each component; in particular, bridges feature luxurious Cotes de Geneve decoration and meticulous beveling, while each finely finished screw is framed in a beautifully chamfered screw setting. Two lovely touches of special note are the perfectly finished swan-neck fine adjustment and the "Scroll" coverplate which is hand-engraved with the names of the composers and the melodies.

The Girard-Perregaux Opera Three watch is a spectacular creation of horological artistry, and represents a rare achievement whose accomplishment is the result of dedicated efforts by the most skilled watchmakers--only a tiny handful have been produced by Girard-Perregaux, with the delight of the most passionate collector in mind. A crocodile strap and a platinum buckle completes this enchanting masterpiece.