Girard-Perregaux extends the Neo Constant Escapement with two contrasts in character: an 18K pink gold reference and an ultra-limited carbon and silicium composite. Both lean on the same idea that made the 2013 Constant Escapement L.M. a GPHG Aiguille d’Or winner – a flexing silicium blade that delivers steady torque to the balance until the barrels breathe their last.
The origin story remains disarmingly simple. A train ticket bent between two fingers jumps from one curve to the other – buckling – storing and releasing energy in a consistent way. Transposed to watchmaking, the silicium blade meters power with a precision that keeps amplitude even as the mainsprings wind down. The result here is COSC timing, a 7 day reserve, and a very modern way of solving a very old problem.
Both new models are driven by the hand wound calibre GP09200, developed in house over two decades and protected by 15 patents, with two pending. It beats at 3 Hz, uses 29 jewels, counts 266 components, and provides hours, minutes, central seconds, and a power reserve indicator. The blade in the escapement is a mere 14 microns wide, while the escapement spring measures 120 microns.
The pink gold Neo dresses the architecture with warmth. Pink gold Neo bridges draw the eye to the oscillating balance, while skeletonised hands gain lume for legibility. The flange and indexes have been refined, and the holding plate carries gold markings, with the GP logo rendered to match. Case size is 45 mm, with mixed finishes that play quietly with light.
The composite version is another mood. Limited to 2 numbered pieces, its 45.35 mm case is formed from powdered carbon, silicium carbide, and silicium. The material is very hard yet notably light, with a mass quoted at roughly half that of titanium, and it resists scratches, corrosion, and thermal shock. Its black grey surface shows subtle flecks that catch the light. Here the silicium blade appears in green, a hue arising from the fabrication process. The crown is black DLC treated titanium, and the caseback engraving reads “1 of 2” or “2 of 2”.
La Chaux-de-Fonds has pursued this idea since the 2013 debut, and the 2023 Neo brought aesthetic and technical refinement. These two follow that line. Large, technical, and unapologetically focused on rate stability, they put the escapement at center stage – where it belongs.
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