Girard-Perregaux Cat’s Eye Haute Joaillerie Watch: Diamond-Set Luxury At Its Pinnacle
Dazzling. Extravagant. Splendid. For some reason, descriptors such as these all fall woefully short when your eyes first light upon the Girard-Perregaux Cat’s Eye Haute Joaillerie watch. When a brand of such prestige and lengthy history as Girard-Perregaux–a manufacturer of some of the world’s most exquisite watchmaking masterpieces–produces something that is likely their “most expensive” creation ever, it certainly gives you a sense of perspective.
Among the things you might ponder are, how much gemological and setting expertise are demanded to acquire a collection of nearly 400 perfectly matched baguette diamonds and then mount them on the oval case and integral bracelet with such breathtaking precision. It’s in no way difficult to believe Girard-Perregaux’s claims that more than 1,000 hours are demanded to craft this magisterial Cat’s Eye
watch. Much like a tourbillon, minute repeater or some other wondrous watchmaking complication, diamond-setting on this level exacts a heavy price in terms of time and dedication.
With such a wondrous display of the jewelers art at center stage, Girard-Perregaux could have just gone the “quartz route” with the movement. However, GP didn’t take that easier path: like other watches in the Cat’s Eye group the Cat’s Eye Haute Joaillerie uses a slender, self-winding mechanical caliber produced in-house by the manufacture. Here, even it gets the royal treatment–look through the exhibition back and you’ll find a white gold rotor that is entirely pave-set with round brilliants. Quite an effective ploy to entice women to the art of the mechanical watch!
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