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For its latest collaboration with Aston Martin, Girard-Perregaux unveils the Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition, a Laureato with the British Racing Green color favored by Aston Martin front and center.

The watch marks the first time Girard-Perregaux has fashioned its Laureato using a green ceramic case and a green ceramic bracelet.

The new Girard-Perregaux Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition. The watch will be offered in 38mm and 42mm case sizes.

Girard-Perregaux will make the Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition in two case sizes: 38mm and 42mm. The 42mm model is fitted with the Caliber GP01800, while the 38mm version is equipped with the Caliber GP03300.

Both are in-house movements that are visible through the watch’s see-through sapphire case-back on which Girard-Perregaux has engraved the Aston Martin logo.

On the back of the movement, Girard-Perregaux has applied straight Côtes de Genève and has embellished the oscillating weight with circular Côtes de Genève. These movements offer a power reserve of at least 46 hours (38mm) and 54 hours (42mm).

In addition to the green coloring, the dial itself marks an homage to Aston Martin. There you’ll see a cross-hatch, diamond-like pattern that the automaker used on its logo in the 1920s. The pattern also matches the look of certain Aston Martin quilted seats.

While Girard-Perregaux famously made the first Laureato collections in steel in 1975, in recent years the manufacture has launched many editions of the octagonal-bezel series using a range of other materials, including precious metals, sapphire and ceramic.

To make the case and bracelet for the new Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition, Girard-Perregaux employs ultra-modern ceramic, a lightweight material made with zirconium oxide and color-infused metallic oxides.

The watchmaker explains that its ceramic mixture is particularly hard (up to seven times harder than steel), making the watch highly scratch resistant. The material will also never fade as ceramic is unaffected by changes in ambient temperature.

Price: $25,000 (38mm, limited to 188 pieces) and $25,800 (42mm, limited to 388 pieces). 

Bucherer adds watches from Girard-Perregaux, H. Moser & Cie and L’Epée to its Bucherer Blue series of customized, limited edition models.

All are finished in the Bucherer Blue color, meant to reflect its place in the watch retailer’s collection of custom-made, similarly hued watches made in partnership with a wide range of Swiss watchmakers. Each watch will be available as a limited edition of eighteen pieces.

The new Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges Bucherer Blue.

Girard-Perregaux

The new Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges Bucherer Blue builds on this watchmakers’s Neo series, a contemporary version of its famed Tourbillon with Three Bridges.

The watch is cased in titanium and features a trio of blued bridges also made from titanium. The three bridges not only support the geartrain, barrel and tourbillon, but also act as the mainplate. This design creates the impression that the bridges are floating.

Girard-Perregaux fits the 44mm case between two sapphire crystal glass boxes, which enhances the transparency – and the modernity – of the piece. Price: $167,000.

The H. Moser Streamliner Tourbillon Bucherer Blue.

H. Moser & Cie. 

Independent watchmaker H. Moser sets its Deco-styled Streamliner Tourbillon with sixty baguette-cut blue sapphires (2.90 carats), apparently the first gemstone setting for this award-winning series.

Fit with the superb HMC 804 caliber, which features a flying tourbillon with double hairspring and a three-day power reserve, the watch also features a Moser fumé dial, set within the Streamliner’s 40mm steel case with integrated steel bracelet with articulated links.

The watch is the first Streamliner limited edition H. Moser has created for a partner. Price: $119,000.

The new L’Epée Time Fast Bucherer Blue.

L’Epée 1839 

The new L’Epée Time Fast Bucherer Blue combines the independent Swiss clockmaker’s existing Time Fast series with Bucherer’s blue hue. L’Epée’s design is meant to evoke memories of a 1950s-era single-seater race car.

Under the hood L’Epee builds a tiered movement with an eight-day power reserve shaped to the bodywork.

The user winds the 15-inch-long clock the same way a mechanical motor is wound in a pull-back toy car. The hours and minutes are displayed on the side through an aperture resembling a typical competition number, via two engraved stainless steel disks. Price: $34,000. 

The new Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph AM F1 Edition, the third model in partnership with Aston Martin and its Formula 1 team, once again is a winner right at the starting line. The watchmaker mixes racing carbon with titanium powder and rubber to premiere a watch with a very sharp-looking lightweight case and an ultra-strong high-tech Racing Green strap.

The new Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph AM F1 Edition.

As noted, the new watch, a very sporty black and green chronograph with an unusual carbon case, is the third collaboration from Girard-Perregaux and Aston Martin. The companies have previously collaborated on two watches: the Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges Aston Martin Edition and the Laureato Chronograph Aston Martin Edition.

Carbon case

In keeping with its partner’s racing lineage, Girard-Perregaux’s case makers mixed various carbon components used in two 2021 F1 race cars with titanium powder to forge the new watch’s case.

When combined with a green-tinted resin, the resulting 44mm octagonal Laureato case is as tough as steel, according to the watchmaker. In addition, this mixing of materials means each watch will display a slightly different green and black pattern on its case, bezel and crown protector.

The dial on the watch is presented in sunray ‘Aston Martin Racing Green’ and is adorned with a cross-hatching motif that can be traced back to the Aston Martin ‘AM’ badge of 1921.

Girard-Perregaux also extends its technical innovation to the watch’s strap to create another first for the watchmaker: The strap is made of rubber and carbon elements taken from two 2021-season Formula One racecars. The strap is then combined with Aston Martin Racing Green fabric covering and linked to the wrist with a micro adjustment system.

Inside Girard-Perregaux fits its excellent Caliber GP03300-1058, which is visible via a sapphire caseback­. That visibility is a first for any Laureato Absolute Chronograph.

Girard-Perregaux is limiting its Laureato Absolute Chronograph AM F1 Edition to 306 pieces, which represents the total distance in miles drivers Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel will aim to cover on race day at the 2022 British Grand Prix.

Price: $27,800.

 

Specifications: Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph AM F1 Edition (Reference: 81060-41-3071-1CX
, a limited edition of 306 pieces).

Case: 44mm by 15.15mm titanium and carbon case, with carbon extracted from two Formula One racecars. Sapphire crystal and back. Back with white Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team decal.


Dial: Sunray ‘Aston Martin Racing Green’ with cross-hatching, indexes with luminescent green emission. 
Hands: skeletonized baton type with luminescent green emission. Chronograph hands in yellow. Water resistance to 100 meters.

Movement: GP03300-1058 automatic, frequency of 28,800 Vph, power reserve of 46 hours. 
Functions: Chronograph, hours, minutes, small seconds, date.

Strap: GP Rubber Alloy in Aston Martin Racing Green – a mix of rubber and carbon extracted from two Formula One race cars used during the 2021 season, fabric effect and green stitches. Buckle: Folding with micro adjustment system, titanium with black PVD treatment.

Price: $27,780

 

With the new Casquette 2.0, Girard-Perregaux revisits its Casquette, a futuristic tubular LED watch first seen in 1976. The watchmaker this week introduces an updated version of the quartz-powered watch with new case materials and new functions.

The new Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0.

Like the original model, which Girard-Perregaux offered from 1976 to 1978, the new version retains a forward-facing, driver’s-watch-style case and characteristic red LED display showing the hours, minutes, seconds, day, and date.

For the Casquette 2.0 update however, Girard-Perregaux has added several functions to the display, including the month, year, a chronograph, a second time zone display and a ‘secret’ date. (The latter function allows the wearer to save a memorable date, such as an anniversary or birthday, to appear each day at a time specified by the wearer.)

To complement the new features Girard-Perregaux also updates the Casquette’s watchcase by utilizing black ceramic and grade 5 titanium. The original Casquette was offered in three case variants: polycarbonate, yellow gold plate and steel.

The original Casquette, from a 1975 ad.

Only Watch

Astute observers may recall that Girard-Perregaux entered a Casquette into last year’s Only Watch charity auction. That one-off watch featured a new movement, the Caliber GP03980, which now powers the Casquette 2.0 series. Made in collaboration with Bamford Watch Department, the watch sold for CHF 100,000, and foreshadowed the release of the Casquette 2.0.

“Not all watches retain their looks and desirability with the passage of time,” says Patrick Pruniaux, CEO of Girard-Perregaux. “However, since production of the original Casquette ceased in 1978, the interest in this watch has never diminished. We regularly receive inquiries and have witnessed these models attract much attention, fetching 10 times their original sales price on the pre-owned market.”

To display the time or access any of the new Casquette 2.0 features, the wearer must first press a pusher. This on-demand feature extends the quartz movement’s battery life, which Girard-Perregaux estimates is two years.

The newly designed ceramic bracelet features a rubber interior that Girard-Perregaux says is “more flexible and comfortable than its counterpart fitted to the original Casquette.” And you’ll now find a folding titanium buckle holding the bracelet to the wrist.

Girard-Perregaux is limiting the production of the new Casquette to 820 pieces– a reference to 8,200, the total number of Casquette watches made in the 1970s. The pricing for the Casquette 2.0 is almost as retro as the watch design: $4,700. Already sold out on the Girard-Perregaux website, you might find it in select Girard-Perregaux retailers.

Specifications: Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0

(A
 limited edition of 820 pieces)

Case: 42.40mm by 33.60mm by 14.64mm
 black ceramic and grade 5 titanium, grade 5 titanium pushers, sapphire crystal. Case-back: titanium secured by 4 screws. Water resistance: 50 meters.

Dial: Tubular LED display.

Movement: GP03980
quartz. Frequency: 32,768 Hz, 45
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, day, date, month, year, chronograph, second time zone, secret date.

Bracelet: Black ceramic with rubber interior and folding titanium buckle.

Price: $4,700.

 

Kering, the multi-national fashion house that owns Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga and many other well-known clothing, leather and jewelry brands, has agreed to sell Swiss watchmakers Girard-Perregaux and Ulysse Nardin to their current management team.

The Kering press release is below. We’ll keep you informed as we hear additional details about the deal.

“Kering announces the signature of an agreement to sell its entire stake (100%) in Sowind Group SA, which owns the Swiss watch manufacturers Girard-Perregaux and Ulysse Nardin, to its current management.

With a long tradition in watchmaking, Girard-Perregaux and Ulysse Nardin have continuously evolved since their acquisition by Kering, while preserving their identity. Combining an innovative approach to design and technical know-how, they have revamped their product universe, launched new iconic models, and reorganized their distribution, with the opening of directly operated stores and stronger ties with the leading watch distributors.

The Group has supported the two Houses in their development, strengthened their positioning and ensured they have adequate resources to finance their growth. It has confidence in the management in place to successfully pursue the work undertaken.

This transaction is in line with Kering’s strategy, giving priority to the Houses with the potential to become sizable assets within the Group, and to which it can provide decisive support over time.

“The extensive work carried out by the Group in recent years at Girard-Perregaux and Ulysse Nardin has laid the foundations for sustainable growth. Kering has demonstrated its ability to secure the conditions for the long- term development of entities leaving the Group, in the interest of their employees, partners, customers and local communities,” declared Jean-François Palus, Kering’s Group Managing Director.

“On the sound foundations laid thanks to Kering’s support and investments, we have the right setup and resources to implement a plan capable of ensuring the long-term development of both brands” declared Patrick Pruniaux, CEO of Girard-Perregaux and Ulysse Nardin since 2018.

The financial impacts related to this disposal will be reported in the accounts closed on December 31, 2021. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of the first half of 2022.”