Girard-Perregaux Constant Escapement timepiece

Revealed late last month in Zurich, Switzerland, the Constant Escapement timepiece is the result of five years of research and development in the field of constant force – an aspect of watchmaking that has vexed the industry for years.

The result is the Constant Escapement watch, with its revolutionary movement housed in a round 48mm diameter case in white gold with a curved case band.

The principle of a constant force escapement is that whatever the energy supplied by the barrel, the escapement returns a constant energy to the regulator (balance wheel).

To achieve this, Girard-Perregaux had the idea of integrating an intermediate device into the escapement, consisting of an extremely thin blade that stores the energy up to an invariable threshold bordering on instability, and then transmits it all instantaneously, before recommencing the cycle.

Other notable features include a dial silvered with grained finish and rhodium-plated appliqués and dauphine style hands, a black alligator strap and water resistance up to 30 meters.

The Constant Escapement is priced at $100,000 (€77,808).