Any Girard Perregaux Experts out there?

[wspohn]

Apparently GP had some demonstration movements installed in special clear casings in the early 1950s. The copper coloured centre holds a GP 47 (1950-55) Gyromatic movement with slightly oversized crown, also copper coloured.

The upper plate of the movement is engine turned like production examples, but the rotor has no markings and the movement is marked "A. Hirsch Co." and "GXM" on the bridge as in regular movements, but that is all. The housing is solid copper coloured metal with the words "Girard Perregaux Gyromatic" cut into it and the whole is enclosed bewteen two lenticular pieces of glass.

The watch is functional although of course cannot be set as the crown is not accessible.

I was wondering if anyone had seen these before.

http://www.rhodo.citymax.com/i/non-rhodo/2d_2.JPG

[wspohn]

http://www.rhodo.citymax.com/i/non-rhodo/2d_1.JPG Movement

[Chascomm]

http://www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1144291100.JPG MovementThe photos are not showing. Is there somewhere else you can locate them and edit the links in your post?

[wspohn]

The photos are not showing. Is there somewhere else you can locate them and edit the links in your post?

There you go!

[Ray MacDonald]

http://www.rhodo.citymax.com/i/non-rhodo/2d_1.JPG Movement
Interesting and no I haven't seen one before. Strange that the watch cannot be set as that makes it rather useless as a demonstration of GPs technical merit.

[wspohn]

Interesting and no I haven't seen one before. Strange that the watch cannot be set as that makes it rather useless as a demonstration of GPs technical merit.



Well I don't think that was the intention, Ray. I think it was simply meant to offer an eye-catching promotional display of their movement, not at any technical level but just an aesthetic 'grabber'

The rotor does not carry any of the engraving that the production movements do, and I can't see a serial number. I also don't recall production movements engraved with 'Hirsch' on them, and I was wondering if this was specially made, or why it would otherwise lack the normal detailing of a production item.

It is at least possible that these were issued prior to actual delivery of the watches for sale and the lack of detailing may indicate a pre-production run to get them into vendor's hands before regular production details were finalised.

[Roland Ranfft]

The rotor does not carry any of the engraving that the production movements do, and I can't see a serial number. I also don't recall production movements engraved with 'Hirsch' on them, and I was wondering if this was specially made, or why it would otherwise lack the normal detailing of a production item.
The GP 47 is actually the same as the first ETA automatic ETA 1256:
http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&&uswk&ETA_1256 (http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?00&ranfft&&uswk&ETA_1256)

So I guess, the original GP movement was replaced by an ETA 1256.

Regards, Roland Ranfft

[louis]

Send your question with pics to GP Swiss. I´m sure they´ll help you.

louis