The Girard-Perregaux Cat’s Eye collection continues its celebratory 10th anniversary year with a new Power Reserve edition.
Girard-Perregaux Cat’s Eye Power Reserve – Ten Years on the Wrist
A good indication of the advancement of mechanical ladies watch collections is the increased attention given to complex and technical pieces, and in this genre 2014 has been a particularly good year. This is great news for the growing number of female watch aficionados who have grown weary of the dated approach to designing watch collections for women.
Girard-Perregaux’s relationship with their female customers is, and always has been anything but patronizing and they have a watch portfolio which reflects this. Ten years ago their Cat’s Eye collection was unveiled, and it has remained a nurtured part of the company’s portfolio ever since.
In the decade since its inception, both the design department and also the Master Watchmakers at Girard-Perregaux have unleashed their talents upon the Cat’s Eye with aplomb, producing a wide assortment of exquisite editions, many with complications such as moonphase indications, retrograde displays and tourbillons – all beautifully finished and presented in a case shape which conforms with femininity like no other.
This has been a highly successful year for the collection so far. For its Tenth Anniversary edition which featured tricky gem-setting and also the Bloom model which showcased an embroidery-like peony motif, Girard-Perregaux concentrated on artisan techniques where timekeeping was secondary to the meticulous hand-crafting. For this latest Power Reserve model the focus is once again on time-telling indications and those voluptuous numerals are back.
Girard-Perregaux Cat’s Eye Power Reserve – The Devil is in the Detail
For this model, careful consideration ensures that every indication reflects the gentle curve of the case. Using a guilloche finish, asymmetrical rays emanate from the small seconds at 9 o’clock heightening the pleasure of the soft oval form. Clever recessing of the small seconds and the deeply set date aperture at 3 o’clock adds interest, and the barely-there power reserve which rests just below and between them is surrounded by a charming cluster of little stars. The generous Arabic numerals 12, 6 and 9 are highly polished and as playful as ever. Diamond hour markers count off the remaining hours with just the right amount of panache with the added sparkle of 64 brilliant-cut diamonds set into the bezel.
Inside, the piece is powered by the automatic manufacture calibre GP03300-0070, visible though the sapphire caseback and of particular note is the oscillating weight which features a repeating pattern of the Girard-Perregaux logo.
In many ways Girard-Perregaux were ahead of the others when they created their Cat’s Eye collection. The oval case is not just beautiful but is also a rather clever feature, which promises to wear comfortably while at the same time providing broad enough proportions to make a statement. Mother-of pearl dials in varying colours, high jewellery gem-set editions and compendiums of indications – the Cat’s Eye collection can take whatever the Girard-Perregaux design department decides to give it, proof if it were needed that good design will always endure.