Author Archives: Timmy Tan

Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon Bi-Axial Tantalum and Sapphire: Two’s company, three’s perfect

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Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon Bi-Axial Tantalum and Sapphire. Where is the third sapphire bridge? Photo: © TANG Portfolio, at BaselWorld 2013

Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon Bi-Axial Tantalum and Sapphire. Where is the third sapphire bridge? Photo: © TANG Portfolio, at BaselWorld 2013

Two main features will strike the observer when they first lay their eyes on the Tourbillon Bi-Axial Tantalum and Sapphire made by Girard-Perregaux: the bi-axial tourbillon and secondly, the darkened bridges made of sapphire which have undergone metallic black finishing.

There is actually a third noticeable feature and that will the colour of the case which is made from tantalum.

However, there are not two but three sapphire bridges on Girard-Perregaux’s Tourbillon Bi-Axial Tantalum and Sapphire; so where is the third bridge located?

The third and smallest bridge is actually on the bi-axial tourbillon which has two cages; the first makes one complete rotation on its axis in 45 seconds while the second external cage will complete one rotation in one minute and 45 seconds.

The third sapphire bridge is affixed onto the bi-axial tourbillon which is in continuous motion when the movement is running. Therefore, the three bridges will only be in parallel alignment for perhaps a few seconds or maybe even much less than that. Photo: © TANG Portfolio, at BaselWorld 2013

The third sapphire bridge is affixed onto the bi-axial tourbillon which is in continuous motion when the movement is running. Therefore, the three bridges will only be in parallel alignment for perhaps a few seconds or maybe even much less than that. Photo: © TANG Portfolio, at BaselWorld 2013

Therefore, the third sapphire bridge can only be parallel with the other two fixed bridges for only a very few seconds during each rotation.

Sightings of Girard-Perregaux’s Tourbillon Bi-Axial Tantalum and Sapphire will be rare as only 12 pieces will be made.

The Tourbillon Bi-Axial Tantalum and sapphire bridges is priced at 450,000 Swiss francs without tax and 486,000 Swiss francs with tax.

Spook Sighted: Fortis B-42 Pilot Professional Chronograph Phantom Edition F-4F Phantoms Phorever

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The Fortis B-42 Pilot Professional Chronograph, from what we understand, pays tribute to the F-4F Phantom II of the German Air Force. Priced at around US$3,200 / 2,400 euros / 3,000 Swiss francs / SGD4,000 / 10,000 Malaysian Ringgit. Limited to 175 pieces. Photo: © Fortis

The Fortis B-42 Pilot Professional Chronograph, from what we understand, pays tribute to the F-4F Phantom II of the German Air Force. Priced at around US$3,200 / 2,400 euros / 3,000 Swiss francs / SGD4,000 / 10,000 Malaysian Ringgit. Limited to 175 pieces. Photo: © Fortis

In June 2013, the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) decommissioned their last squadron of F4-F Phantoms after 40 years of military service. The F-4F Phantom has been replaced with the Eurofighter Typhoon.

There are a few variants of the F-4 Phantom II fighter-bomber and the F-4F Phantom used by the German Air Force was a simplified version which was eventually upgraded.

The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II fighter-bomber first entered active military service in 1960 with the US Navy and having proven itself, it was subsequently used by the US Marine Corps and the US Air Force.

The F-4 Phantom was also used by military forces of several countries. However, due to its age, F-4 Phantoms have been gradually decommissioned over the years.

While military duties of the F-4F Phantom in the German Air Force has ceased, its memory lives on; it is understood that Fortis has created the B-42 Pilot Professional Chronograph Phantom Edition “F-4F Phantoms Phorever” watch as a tribute to the F-4F Phantom of the German Air Force.

Firstly, the F-4 Phantom is remembered by the text “Phantoms Phorever” inscribed above the 12 hour chronograph counter on the Fortis Phantom Edition.

Secondly, what may also interest those into pilot’s watches is the illustration of the Phantom fighter-bomber at the 9 o’clock position where the continuous sweep seconds is located.

The text “F-4F Phantom II” is below the day and date display at the 3 o’clock position. Just beside the “F-4F Phantom II” is the “Spook”. The Spook is the mascot of the F-4 Phantom and was created for a shoulder patch by McDonnell Douglas technical artist Anthony Wong.

On the chest of the Spook is the Roman numeral “II”, a reference to the F4 Phantom II fighter-bomber.

The Spook has been adopted by many Phantom fighter squadrons and its inclusion on this Fortis B-42 Phantom Edition dial is a nice finishing touch.

The Fortis B-42 Pilot Professional Chronograph Phantom Edition F-4F “Phantoms Phorever” is limited to 175 pieces, the same number of F-4Fs flown by the German Air Force. This is indeed a limited quantity which provides the watch with added appeal as any sighting of it will be quite rare.

Did you know? In 1970, Royal Air Force F4 Phantoms were deployed to Singapore for operation “Bersatu Padu” (meaning “Complete Unity”), one of the largest peacetime military exercises conducted by the British forces.

Other articles on Fortis watches on timewerke.com that may be of interest:

i. Fortis B-42 Black Mars 500: SuperLuminova orange or red?
ii. Fortis Colors