The foudroyante function mechanism
In a world premiere, Girard-Perregaux’s new Haute Horlogerie model combines a Tourbillon with a foudroyante second. A new structural design was created to achieve this combination.
Normally, the escapement wheel supplies the energy for the foudroyante second while the Tourbillon, turning on its axis, draws its energy from the escapement wheel. In the GP9973 movement, the foudroyante train, comprising a foudroyante second wheel, the foudroyante escapement wheel and the foudroyante star, draws its energy from a special barrel with slipping spring.
The ingenious gearing system based on this train enables accuracy to 1/6th of a second.