GP Laureato-Olimpico 8017 & 8010 Case/Bracelet Maker

Happy Sunday ☀️ some pics taken today from the car.

As I sat waiting for the wife, I thought of this statement I hear often from many folks new to GP:

“I really wish there was a 40 mm Laureato.”

Well, there IS a special Laureato that is 40 mm. It’s called the Laureato-Olimpico ref 8017 using GP Calibre 3170.

The ref 8017 was made to mark the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The Olimpico line was subsequently discontinued (after almost 30 years of being in the GP collection offering).

The Laureato-Olimpico is dual model … half Laureato and half Olimpico. This is the first Laureato to be offered as a chronograph. It has “Laureato” and “Olimpico” engraved on the caseback with its LE number. Tritium indices that we see indicated on the dial with the “T” before and after the “Swiss Made”.

999 pieces were supposed to be made in 3 dial colors. But rumour has it that just under 600 were made. (Omega and the Olympic council may have had something to do with this). If only 600 made, we can gauge about 200 or so in either Eggshell, Grey and this Yves-Klein Blue.

🔔 More news …

After MUCH research of archives and speaking to folks that worked in the industry back then, I have learned who made the superb bracelets and cases for the GP ref 8017 and the 8010.

It was the very same folks that made the bracelets and cases for the AP Royal Oaks. 😮

Some history …

🔔 The bracelet and case of the ref 8017 was made by the famed jewellers Fontana (renamed to Lascor and finally renamed to GTF (Based in Sesto Calende, north of Milan).

🔔 As stated above, GTF also made Royal Oak bracelets and cases for Audemars-Piguet. In the late 1990s both GP and AP began to switch to GTF from Gay Frères (GF) for their cases and bracelets manufacturing. The reason for this is unclear but we remember that Rolex bought Gay Frères in 1998.

Interestingly, AP eventually bought GTF and continues to own them.

🔔 We also remember that Desco owned GP from 1979 to the late 1980s … Desco also owned part of AP and was their distributor for most of Asia. GP also supplied all the quartz movements to AP for several years.

We start to see how related GP and AP actually were … perhaps we begin to piece together this history to reveal how the Swiss watch industry in the 1980s to 2000 worked closely together.

I am a collector of AP as well as GP. I’ve always liked both Maisons and can clearly see the difference and beauty in both their design languages. Those that have put on a Laureato 8017/8010 and a Royal Oak will clearly see and feel the similarities in quality and exacting tolerances … and be able to celebrate BOTH in tandem. I certainly have.

I am thrilled to discover that GTF built the bracelets and cases for both Royal Oaks as well as the Laureato-Olimpico 8017 and the Laureato 8010.

It’s a testament to the commitment to quality by both brands. One brand perhaps more “discovered” than the other. 😉

I firmly believe that the Laureato-Olimpico is still a largely undiscovered NEO-vintage gem 💎 and that it will be recognised and become highly collectible in the future.

As always, all questions and comments are welcome.

🤝






















Luigi (Gino) Macaluso💐

We take a moment today to remember the man and his contribution to the world of horology.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luigi_Macaluso