NIB Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 Foudroyante Chrono RG 18K Rose Gold Foudroyante/Split Sec: 90210.52.651.BA6A Start Price USD 21,995.00 Current Price USD 21,995.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, September 02, 2008 End Time Friday, September 12, 2008 Location Spokane, Washington See more about 'NIB Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 Foudroyante Chrono RG' Description Hello All:Up for your consideration is my BNIB 2007 Girard-Perregaux “Vintage 1945” Foudroyante XXL, Split-Second Chronograph. This is GP’s “King Size ’45” in solid 18K-Rose Gold, and Jet-Black Crocodile. Grabbing hold of the Croc’s tail is a beautifully machined, and GP signed, single-fold deployant. It too is cast in solid 18K-Rose Gold. This is GP Reference No.: 90210.52.651.BA6A.1945 was a year of horological renaissance. Like today, where elite mechanical timepieces are seeing a renewed appreciation among both plebian and aristocratic, the mid-forties were a boon for Swiss Timepiece Manufactures. The fabulous artwork, and mechanically inspired complications made possible by man’s humble mastery of miniature-mechanics epitomized the zeal emitting from both sides of this horological fence This was way back then.As expected, Girard-Perregaux was at the forefront of this Post WW-II revival, introducing their Art-Deco inspired rectangular opus. At the time, it was available in standard “time only” trim, and was on the threshold of becoming a classic…!1995 was the fiftieth anniversary of GP’s seminal 1945 creation. The year was celebrated by GP, and us, with the re-birth of the original “1945.” This was a no-brainer in La Chaux-de-Fonds, given the massive resurgence of timepieces of this shape.Girard-Perregaux’s au fait reintroduction of the 1945 makes for a crescendoing opus, that has taken on a vigorous life of its own. The creation of this modern “Vintage 1945” has catapulted it into today’s torchbearer of GP’s chic-artistic, and technologically-brilliant resurgence. With added gusto the Vintage is available in several iterations, several metals and several complications, from simple to sublime…!! These again are boom times. Modern times, too, with the elegant and mechanically spectacular Foudroyante raising the Vintage bar considerably…!Beneath the curved and AR-coated sapphire crystal, a casual myriad of aesthetic finishes and design concepts attempt to disguise some very clever, and mechanically-connected complications within.The subtle-dial craftsmanship is rather straightforward. Two Super Luminova filled white-enamel hands point at a mixture of two large Arabic’s, and eight long batons. All time markers are done in Super Luminova too, making this useful tool a literal blast in the darkness. The Foudroyante hand is red, of course, and the minute totalizer is enamel white with a dab of Super Luminova. An inner Tachymeter scale is particularly useful.The hand-painted palette is a deep matte-black, which creates a backdrop primed for easy legibility. The contrasting segments made up of hashes, markers and sub dials have created an Art Deco trimming that is wonderfully reminiscent of their above mentioned “1945.” Again, GP’s mission statement is quite effectively here…!As a Split-Second Chronograph, Girard has elevated this 1945 to “Complicated” status. A rung on the latter of Haute Horology reserved for the finest Manufactures.What they also did was add an the incredible “Foudroyante” mechanism for precise 1/8th second timing. Furthermore, GP’s Keebler’s also made room for the Foudroyante’s own spring barrel, as the power consumption of the Foudroyante mechanism is immense.The Foudroyante, from the French “Foudre,” meaning “lightning,” refers to the mechanism that drives the red chrono hand. This little red pointer spins a blazing full circle in just one second. Since the GP movement has a 28,800 VPH, the simple mathematical calculation requires the Foudroyante sub dial to be graduated in 1/8th segments, or 1/8th of a second.This rapidly spinning mechanism is also referred to as a “Jumping Seconds” Chronograph, because of its obviously hectic 1/8th of a second shudder through each of its one-second revolutions. The advantage of this mechanism is a precise measurements to 1/8th of a second intervals. Furthermore, because the Foudroyante’s red hand is set inside an over-sized sub dial, it is easily and quickly read.While this complex and accurate function is toolishly cool, watching the “Lightning” fast hand spin like an axel-jumping mad man is giggle fun. What it really is though, is extremely impressive.More impressive though, is the design of this two column-wheel Chronograph with its Rattrapante function and its Foudroyante mechanism. Many would argue that the mechanics involving the elaboration of such a movement, requiring the operation of a Foudroyante and Rattrapante mechanism, are more complex that that of a Tourbillon.I say this conversation is more dangerous than one of politics or religion. However, that the two complications are considered in one breath speaks well of the magnificent Foudroyante-Rattrapante complication.The movement inside this Girard-Perregaux is their elaborated Caliber EO4CO. Its automatic, with 40 jewels, two spring barrels, and two column wheels. That is absolutely amazing, a dual-column-wheel Rattrapante Chronograph, with a Foudroyante mechanism…Wow…!!The technological genius within this water and dust protected sepulcher are intimidating to lesser Marques…it’s Girard-Perregaux’s sole nature to excel in this regard. Well, maybe not their “sole” nature…they are also quite adept artisans, as well. Proving this, GP has decorated this muscular movement with Côtes de Genève, Perlage, 45-degree beveling, an 18K rotor supplying 46-hours of power reserve…this is incredible…!!At 37 mm x 37 mm with a thickness of 15.34 mm, the “Vintage Chrono” is indeed a “King Size” effort from Girard-Perregaux. Somehow adding dimension to its already grandiose size is GP’s Rose-Gold case. The rich luster is one of the deepest and richest among elite Manufactures from Switzerland…you will be delighted…!!From case to Croc, to the signed 18K-Rose Gold, cut from billet, single-fold deployant; this Brand-New GP is gorgeous in every way, with every function operating with expected Swiss precision and reliability. The highly polished, and solid 18K-Rose-Gold case, are flawless, with all Gold hallmarks looking freshly struck. The original GP curved-sapphire crystal is also pristine, as is the never removed four-screw, solid 18K-Rose-Gold caseback. Timekeeping, after one a one-day wind-up, was +3 seconds.Again, there is an abundance of Super Luminova on this “1945”…our dad’s feared not the Dark-Eight, but I guess we do…! The Girard-Perregaux signed Crocodile strap is done in deep-ebony, and is satin-chrome tanned. It has never seen a wrist.If you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing and touching the near perfect Crocodile that this manufacture uses, then you are indeed in for a treat. They must milk-feed these perfectly symmetrical Crocodiles near the glacial lakes in the Vallée de Joux. Crocodiles from Switzerland are exactly what you would expect from Continental reptiles…visually pleasing, refined, and wonderfully aromatic…nothing like your typically arrogant North American reptile…!!All factory goodies follow this Foudroyante Chronograph. They include: Both boxes, operating manual, document box, Girard-Perregaux propaganda booklet, warranty manual, hang tag with matching numbers and an authorized Girard-Perregaux dealer stamped and dated international warranty card.The suggested retail for the Vintage 1945 Chronograph Foudroyante in this “King-Size,” and 18K-Rose-Gold iteration is $38,400. These GP’s are hard to come by, as this manufacture keeps productions extremely limited on their Complicated timepieces, as well as on their Gold and Platinum models. Finding one with this particular complication combination is extremely toilsome, to say the least. They are all hand assembled, elaborated and finished by their master watchmakers and artisans. GP is certainly near the top of most enthusiasts and aficionado’s top-ten lists. My “Buy-It-Now” price represents a horological gift, my reserve is even more attractive.The payment terms are as follows; PayPal (Confirmed Only), cashier’s check, money order, wire transfer or personal check (clearing time).Please note: Along with the above forms of accepted payment, I am also happy to accept the three main credit cards; Visa, Master Card and American Express.Insured UPS "Second-Day Air" shipping will be "Free" to anywhere in the USA. Insured international shipping will be $85 more.I respectfully ask that zero-feedback bidders please contact me prior to bidding.I am happy to answer all questions. Please feel free to call: 201-816-2559.Finally: With my new format I will be consistently showcasing more and more elite timepieces from Switzerland, so please take a look at my other auctions while you’re here. Thanks for looking and good bidding all.Peace,Phil Place a Bid!