GP TOTW 30

The design of a new caliber is one of the longest and most complex operations that a watchmaking manufacturer can undertake. From the first sketch to the finished watches, the development procedure takes several years. New performance levels, an original combination of functions, a specific diameter: once the spark of inspiration has provided the design outline, it remains to define all the details that will bring the idea to life. For a Girard-Perregaux movement, the challenge is one of scale: 200 to 300 microscopic components need to be assembled within a diameter of a few millimeters, ensuring their long-term durability and controlling their thousands of interactions. Resolving these issues of space and interlocking takes months, or sometimes years of research. The watchmaker develops the mechanism by pushing back the limits of the possible, with the help of advanced software and 3D simulations.