The Haute Horologerie exhibition (SIHH) started in Geneva this week. One of the catchiest watches on this show is the the Girard-Perregaux 1945 Jackpot Tourbillion Watch: a massive, classy watch made of 18K pink gold featuring a really fine piece of craftsmanship: a fully-working slot machine, modelled after the first ever slot machine, the Liberty Bell. It even includes the
specific chimes of such a machine.
The clock mechanism is of a completely new design and modified so that the slot machine will also fit inside the case. At 6 o’clock there’s a cut-out that reveals the Tourbillon, behind its gold bridge. A glass window on top reveals the 3 gold reels, with carved suits of spades, hearts, diamonds, horseshoes and the jackpot-granting bells.
Pulling the handle will start the spinning of the reels. The stoppers are connected to a striking mechanism, so that chimes are heard every time a reel stops.
Some other specifications:
- 18k pink gold case
- 4,3×4,4×1,73 cm
- Sapphire crystal window, crystal case back
- Alligator straps with folding buckle
- 30m water resistant
The few which will afford to buy this limited-edition watch will surely enjoy this very strong contrast of the precision of Swiss watches and the randomness of a slot machine and it’s another gadget approved by nerds.