Girard Perregaux Tourbillon Fountain Pen

[rinellatony]

Appearance & Design 10/10 (If your familiar the watches)

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x180/rinellatony/GP%20Tourbillon%20Pen/GPTourbillonPen023.jpg

 

As a watch collector this pen was a must have for me, if you don't know much about Girard Perregaux then you may not get the design or appearance of this pen right off the bat. The tourbillon movement is one of most expensive and complicated movements a watch can house. Typically watches with this movement from high end watch brands sell for well into the six figures. The tourbillon movement was created over 200 years ago to help make pocket watches more accurate and the movement itself can take over a year to produce.

 

Girard Perregaux has a signature way they present their tourbillon watches as they align the movement in three bridges. The clip of this pen is one of the bridges that you would see in their tourbillon watches and the somewhat odd color of this pen happens to be the company's flagship color.

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x180/rinellatony/GP%20Tourbillon%20Pen/GPTourbillonPen025.jpg

 

The packaging this pen comes in is one of the best, if not the best, I have ever seen!

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x180/rinellatony/GP%20Tourbillon%20Pen/DSC02547.jpg

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x180/rinellatony/GP%20Tourbillon%20Pen/DSC02546.jpg

 

 

 

Construction & Quality (10/10)

 

The construction and quality of this pen is off the charts (it should be with a $2740 retail) Girard Perregaux collaborated with Montegrappa on this pen and both companies did an outstanding job.

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x180/rinellatony/GP%20Tourbillon%20Pen/GPTourbillonPen004.jpg

 

The pen is somewhat heavy but feels very comfortable in your hand. The square body of the pen is more comfortable than it looks.

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x180/rinellatony/GP%20Tourbillon%20Pen/GPTourbillonPen014.jpg

 

The celluloid is breath taking to look at. The pen posts but I like to use it unposted as it’s a little unbalanced posted.

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x180/rinellatony/GP%20Tourbillon%20Pen/GPTourbillonPen021-1.jpg

 

Nib & Performance (10/10)

 

My best writer, it’s as smooth as smooth can be. Doesn't skip and the F NIB is a perfect size for me.

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x180/rinellatony/GP%20Tourbillon%20Pen/GPTourbillonPen028.jpg

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x180/rinellatony/GP%20Tourbillon%20Pen/GPTourbillonPen005.jpg

 

 

Filling System & Maintenance (10/10)

 

This is a piston filled pen, what more could you ask for.

 

Cost & Value (7/10)

 

At $2740 this pen is a little pricy and one would think the market for it is somewhat limited to watch collectors who also like pens. I will say that if you fall in that category then this pen is a must have.

 

Conclusion 9/10

 

I would give this pen a 9 out of 10. There are only two things that aren’t perfect for me the first being the top of the cap.

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x180/rinellatony/GP%20Tourbillon%20Pen/GPTourbillonPen013.jpg

 

It’s an engraving of the tourbillon movement and I think GP could have done a better job with it. My second knock would be the high retail price. Otherwise this pen is nearly perfect.

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x180/rinellatony/GP%20Tourbillon%20Pen/GPTourbillonPen020.jpg

 

One final shot with my other watch themed Breguet fountain pen. A review on this pen will follow in the near future as well. I hope you enjoyed the photos and commentary!

 

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x180/rinellatony/Breguet%20Fountain%20Pen/Breguet024.jpg

 

Tony

[kazoolaw]

Thanks for the review of a pen I thought only live in advertising. Not being a watch guy, your explanation of the tie-in was very well done. I appreciate your evaluation of the Tourbillon as a pen to be used. I confess the price takes my breath away: I assume there are no steep discounts!

gary

[MYU]

I'd heard about this pen but never saw a non-commercial shot of it. Great job on the review! I take it the stepped down segment at the end of the pen is the piston screw? Is it easy to grip without slipping? I'm not surprised Montegrappa collaborated with GP on this, as the section is unmistakably Montegrappa in design. Looks like a really solid, well made pen. It's especially meaningful how real watch parts were used in the cosmetic accents. And that roll top case is gorgeous!

[hari317]

Thanks for sharing this review, I am not a watch guy, but your review has certainly upped my interest.

 

Best,

hari

[Jonst]

Great review Tony and great pictures (I also enjoyed them on the watch forums)!

 

Whilst I would prefer a three golden bridges tourbillon, that sure looks a lovely pen!

 

Given that you have Breguet and GP pens presumably you are now going to get the FP Journe pen to complet your set?

 

Best wishes

 

Jon

[diplomat]

Now, that is a good addition to the forum! For me too these are the first non commercial photos from the pen. I didn't know it was made by Montegrappa. Is there any "made in italy" mark?

 

Given that you have Breguet and GP pens presumably you are now going to get the FP Journe pen to complet your set?

 

And we should not forget about the Frank Muller fountain pen made by Omas...

[youstruckgold]

very nice

[georges zaslavsky]

very original and nice thanks for sharing

[rinellatony]

Thanks for the review of a pen I thought only live in advertising. Not being a watch guy, your explanation of the tie-in was very well done. I appreciate your evaluation of the Tourbillon as a pen to be used. I confess the price takes my breath away: I assume there are no steep discounts!

gary

 

I bought mine off a grey market watch dealers site at a decent discount. The Breguet pen on the other hand can only be bought new at the boutique and of course you can't get a discount at a Breguet boutique.

 

Tony

[rinellatony]

I'd heard about this pen but never saw a non-commercial shot of it. Great job on the review! I take it the stepped down segment at the end of the pen is the piston screw? Is it easy to grip without slipping? I'm not surprised Montegrappa collaborated with GP on this, as the section is unmistakably Montegrappa in design. Looks like a really solid, well made pen. It's especially meaningful how real watch parts were used in the cosmetic accents. And that roll top case is gorgeous!

 

Thanks, yes your right. The end of the pen is the piston screw. The pen is very easy to grip, I have never had any problems with slippage. As you thought, this pen is very well made. Thanks again for the comments!

 

Tony

[rinellatony]

Now, that is a good addition to the forum! For me too these are the first non commercial photos from the pen. I didn't know it was made by Montegrappa. Is there any "made in italy" mark?

 

Given that you have Breguet and GP pens presumably you are now going to get the FP Journe pen to complet your set?

 

And we should not forget about the Frank Muller fountain pen made by Omas...

 

No made in Italy marks from what I see, although Girard Perregaux is a Swiss brand.

 

Tony

[rinellatony]

Great review Tony and great pictures (I also enjoyed them on the watch forums)!

 

Whilst I would prefer a three golden bridges tourbillon, that sure looks a lovely pen!

 

Given that you have Breguet and GP pens presumably you are now going to get the FP Journe pen to complet your set?

 

Best wishes

 

Jon

 

Thanks for the comments, If I ever saw a Journe come up for sale at a "reasonable" price I would probably add it to the collection. It does have a funky look to it though.

 

Tony

[Brian]

Nice that you have this pen. A good review with many photographs. Always wondered what it could be like and who the manufacturer was.

 

Perhaps if you have a three bridges tourbillon or pics to compare it against you might do an update.

 

Thank you.

[rinellatony]

Nice that you have this pen. A good review with many photographs. Always wondered what it could be like and who the manufacturer was.

 

Perhaps if you have a three bridges tourbillon or pics to compare it against you might do an update.

 

Thank you.

 

I tried placing an internet picture of the watch and couldn't figure out how to post it. If you do a quick google search a bunch of photos of the GP Tourbillon watches will pop up.

 

Tony

[rinellatony]

Here's the link to the Breguet fountain pen review that I just posted.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=131417

 

Tony

[TSR]

Is there any market today for this pen? I have one (#324) that I received as a gift and have hardly ever used it and am hoping to find a new home for it.

[jar]

Is there any market today for this pen? I have one (#324) that I received as a gift and have hardly ever used it and am hoping to find a new home for it.

Probably not within the general fountain pen community. Your best chance would be among folk that collect Girard Perregaux watches and accessories.