PeterCDE
10167
A very merry christmas and a happy 2008 in good health to all of you!
Dear enthusiasts and fellow watch nuts,
we´re close to reach the holiday season, which will cause Girard-Perregaux and JeanRichard to close until January 8th in 2008.
A well deserved break after another exciting year.
Both JeanRichard and Girard-Perregaux underwent some strategic changes for an even brighter future, which is most obvious from the product portfolio.
At Girard-Perregaux, 2007 is the first year after cease of producing "Pour Ferrari" models and the year of BMW ORACLE Racing. That´s certainly a major change, but looking back i´m sure all agree GP is doing at least similarly well. And that´s a good thing, indicating the watch brand to have gained in recognition and popoularity. Definetely it´s no longer about prancing horses on watch dials, which at the same time is a very nice award for the hard work involved on side of the brand.
It´s been a year of innovations at the same time; the funky "Jackpot Tourbillon", of which the very first units will be available in the US and Switzerland right before christmas, the "Richeville Day/Night" and the "WW.TC Lady" mark the direction. In some way it´s been a year of consolidation either, as GP currently is reducing the tremendously wide and large product portfolio to a smaller number of models and variants, which i think is a very good measure promising to allow for much better focus on each individual model, but also new styles such as the very classic "Vintage 1966 Full Calendar" aka the "Nash" watch. While the "Sea Hawk II" models aren´t around and no longer in production, other beautiful watches such as the "Sea Hawk 1.000m" for sure equal out!
At Jeanrichard, stunning additions made their way through in-house development into the watch world.
The "2Timezones" GMT model is one, catering practical needs with a propietory solution that is easy to handle and safe in daily use.
The "Time Square" is the world´s first to integrate satellite wheels to create a most unique appearance and functionality; it´s another in-house development and for sure it´s different from what has been around so far.
Many, if not most, models by Jeanrichard already do feature the brands manufacture-made in-house calibers, of which there are 10 different calibers (including complications with modules) by now. That´s certainly not less than other brands do have, which certainly is a very respectable effort given Jeanrichard is on the block for a couple of years only.
Notwithstanding the fiscal year still to be in full swing, all indicators point at 2007 being among the most successfull years for Girard-Perregaux and Jeanrichard.
There are LONG wait lists for more than one model and several models are wildly oversubscribed. Not everyone interested in a "Jackpot Tourbillon" or "Laureato Tourbillon Sapphire Bridges" will be delivered such as a piece, at least not without patiently waiting for the next decade. Particularly GP´s high-end models, but other parts of the collection of both brands too, do face a great demand much surpassing supply. This does not only refer to the tourbillons, but pieces like the very special "Evo Moon" Laureato 80185 truly caught up in customer appreciation and literally fly off the shelves in most regions.
All in all, to me it seems 2007 is a year of changes, but the outcome indicates GP´s slightly changed strategy turned out to be an excellent decision.
This of course goes with a lot of efforts, leading to wonderful surprises as the show-stopping "Jackpot Tourbillon".
To me, 2007 is another confirmation the brand is on a good way!
Girard-Perregaux´s and Jeanrichard´s unique philosophy, structure and portfolio, make me feel very confident both brands are doing more successfull and better from year to year, with an even greater time to come! Like GP´s new advertisement campaign "WAIT" indicates; just it doesn´t need the same time to turn charcoal into diamond 
Spreading the word and sharing the passion in another exciting year was my pleasure here on the GP Forum.
Meanwhile it´s the 5th year for me to do so and i´m not only thankful for all GP and JR fans to make this such a special place, but the continued support of both brands as well.
As they say, life is change. 2008 will be an exciting year with significant changes in private life for me; new challenges are ahead, a new residence and new impressions to be gathered. It may sound sentimental, but i know our all "virtual home" here in the forum and a GP watch on my wrist is promising to make me smile every time looking at either. Whatever will be, it´s a great thing to have a place like this to come back to and for sure i´ll try my best to provide you with news, insights and fun to the best i can do.
And i´d like to thank all of you not just for this.
My sincere thanks for the amazing support and ongoing friendship of the wonderful staff at Girard-Perregaux and JeanRichard, headed by Dr. Gino Macaluso!
My sincere thanks to all of you GP and JR fans; a special "thank you" to Tim (timerider) for kicking off a wonderful meeting at GP earlier this year. But to all of you; it´s you who make this such a special place. And a place i do look forward to visit every single day.
My best wishes to all of you.
Do have a peaceful christmas time, great holidays and a wonderful 2008 in good health!
And one more watch to all of you
Warm regards,
greetings from Germany,
Peter
