A woman’s beauty lies in the perfection of her features, as well as the nobility of her bearing and the inner beauty that she radiates. The Cat’s Eye collection that Girard-Perregaux has dedicated exclusively to women was designed to reflect this intense aura of femininity. A variation on the theme of Fine Watchmaking, it combines supreme design excellence with a mechanical movement reflecting the finest traditions upheld by the Maison. This alliance gives rise to watches exuding a powerful appeal. Cat’s Eye Celestial, the latest addition to this prestigious line, infuses it with an emotional and subtly complex dimension.

Generous and radiant

The generous moon phase occupies almost the entire dial space of the Cat’s Eye Celestial. It is the belle of the ball and reminds us that the moon already played a leading role in the dance of the stars whose observation led to the first divisions of time. The sun enabled humankind to distinguish day from night, as well as to determine the seasons, while the lunar cycle gave rise to the concept of months. The moon is the hourglass of waters and of our biological rhythms. This fecund maternal symbol speaks to our imagination.

The focus of attention

The iconic Cat’s Eye case provides it with a setting worthy of its radiant face. Its opulent oval shape is a vibrant appeal to sensuality, gently embracing the curve of the wrist and adorning it like a living jewel. Crafted in pink gold and set with 62 brilliant-cut diamonds, it exquisitely frames a guilloché hand-polished white mother-of-pearl dial. The guilloché motif, along with the gem-set drop-shaped hour-markers, draw the eye to the moon phase whose broad 8.9 mm-diameter disc performs a full rotation in 59 days. Contrary to usual practice, the device driving the display of this complication is not linked to the arbour of the hour’s wheel, but is instead connected to the barrel and therefore moves smoothly without any jerking.

“It’s a date” 360 years from now…

Girard-Perregaux wanted this complication to be as beautiful as it is accurate. Slightly domed in order to create a depth effect, the moon phase is depicted in mother-of-pearl marquetry and aventurine glass that the artisan has then polished by hand. We owe this distinctive type of glass, so inimitably captivating due to its copper inclusions that sparkle like gold dust, to an 18^th century Murano glassblower who accidentally dropped copper shavings into molten glass. He named this new material aventurine (based on the Italian expression “per aventura”, meaning ‘by chance’). Girard-Perregaux wished to endow the moon phase on the Cat’s Eye Celestial with a degree of precision testifying to the high standards upheld by the Maison. A classical moon phase accumulates a one-day discrepancy every two and a half years, while the one on the Cat’s Eye Celestial requires only one correction every 360 years.

Inner beauty

In the same spirit, this new model is driven by a self-winding movement designed, developed and crafted by the Manufacture Girard-Perregaux in keeping with the finest Swiss watchmaking traditions. This 240-part movement with its 46-hour power reserve is also distinguished by its superb finishing, with Côtes de Genève and circular-graining adorning the main plate, blued steel screws, as well as an oscillating weight bearing a “GP” tapestry-style motif.

In a supreme touch of refinement, the Cat’s Eye Celestial is fitted with a pink gold bracelet matching the case, or with an alligator leather strap graced by a midnight blue shade eminently suited to a watch celebrating the night star.