Girard-Perregaud unveils its new model Cat's Eye La Fenice. This watch is named after one of the three finest houses in Italy (La Scala in Milan, San-Carlo in Naples and La Fenice in Venice). Its name reads like an invitation to ‘La Serenissima’ and its legendary theatre, La Fenice (the phoenix), one of the world’s most beautiful opera houses. With its neoclassical exterior, its baroque interior featuring fresco paintings, gildings, beautifully arranged tiers and Italian-style partitioned boxes, La Fenice is a creative hub whose red curtain has risen on legendary first performances including Hernani, Rigoletto and La Traviata. Girard-Perregaux pays tribute to this iconic site by draping this model in diamonds, daintily secured by a hand-polished white gold ribbon bow.
A dial remembering the red curtain of La Fenice
The opportunity of attending an opera at La Fenice naturally commands respect for a certain dress code. Being finely attired is an integral part of the pleasure procured by such an evening. The Cat’s Eye La Fenice is entirely in tune with this festive mood, glittering with more than 200 emerald-cut diamonds of exceptional quality. The dial features a decor composed of 83 emerald-cut diamonds (approx. 3.97 cts), along with 10 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 0.21 ct). The emerald cut was initially developed for the eponymous gem, which is subject to inclusions that make it fragile to work with. The rectangular shape of the oblique corners protects it from mechanical stresses. The emerald cut also magnificently suits diamonds, highlighting both their radiance and their transparency. On this model, the setting of the dial and case has been performed using the “Clou de Paris” technique. It consists of fixing several stones around a rod – the Clou – which is then cut and filed to bring it smoothly level with the diamonds, which must be calibrated with rigorous precision. This paving creates a mirror-type effect that magnifies the fiery glow of the gems.
A personalised graded shades
The curtain of diamonds is held by a ribbon bow suspended above a cut-out mother-of-pearl marquetry inlay that is hand-painted in subtly graded shades which may be personalised at will. The palette of colours is left entirely up to the woman who will choose the watch. A flurry of mauve, purple or garnet red… Delicate pastels or naturalistic inspiration with moss green or glossy chestnut… The iridescent shimmer of mother-of-pearl reflects the radiance of the diamonds. The colour of the lower dial section instils a resolutely haute couture spirit. Girard-Perregaux offers the owner of the Cat’s Eye La Fenice the privilege of having an alligator leather strap crafted to exactly match the shade chosen for the mother-of-pearl inlay.
A personalised engraving on the caseback
Inside the white gold case of this model beats an in-house mechanical self-winding movement driving hours and minutes functions and endowed with a 46-hour power reserve. The solid caseback of the watch provides an additional area that Girard-Perregaux wished to dedicate to personalisation. The Manufacture offers a choice of several engraved motifs relating to the theatrical world, composing an exquisite background for the names or messages that may be added.
The Cat’s Eye La Fenice comes with an additional black alligator leather strap secured by a buckle set with 14 brilliant-cut diamonds.
