Girard Perregaux Cat's Eye Haute Joaillerie

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed)
Dec 27th 2008 at 12:01PM

Not to be outdone by those 'other' ultra expensive gem rich timepieces, watch maker Girard Perregaux creates what is possibly it's most expensive watch yet - and it's for the ladies. The popular Cat's Eye line serves as the base for the Girard Perregaux Cat's Eye Haute Joaillerie fully diamond encrusted watch.

For those who haven't made the connection (or know French) "joaillerie" means "jewelry." This watch is as much decoration as it is a fine timepiece with a Girard Perregaux automatic GP033R0 mechanical movement inside; visible through the sapphire crystal covered caseback window. The 35.25mm x 30.25mm case itself is18k white gold, with an interesting close-link bracelet (can you wear the extra links as jewelry too after sizing the watch?). I really like how the crown, with its star shape engraving, is set into the case itself, only protruding when you set the watch. Aside from the small seconds dial (part of the crescent moon), the face features a power reserve indicator that makes up the comet trail for the star in between the 3 and 4 o'clock position.

Now on to the diamonds. Girard Perregaux claims that each watch undergoes over 1,200 hours of labor to cut and set each of the hundreds of diamonds on the watch. The case, face, and bracelet themselves feature 394 baguette diamonds (52 carats!), while another 145 diamonds are set into the gold rotor which serves to wind the movement. The decoration, polish, and build quality in this watch is immaculate, and it is nice to see Girard Perregaux pay attention to the jewelery and watch dimensions in the Cat's Eye Haute Joaillerie equally.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Girard Perregaux Cat's Eye Haute Joaillerie