Girard Perregaux

Girard-Perregaux is celebrating its 220th anniversary this year. The year is just beginning and they are quite discreet so far but this year of celebration begins with several new watches presented at the SIHH. I can say to begin that I'm quite appealed by many of those. Several were pre-launched in the winter and it was the first opportunity to see them. The jewel of the crown was a surprise. My visit to Girard-Perregaux at the SIHH was also the opportunity to see again some already known very beautiful pieces.

Let's see all that!

What's this thing on my wrist

Let's begin with the watch celebrating the anniversary. I've shown here my latest Girard-Perregaux this fall, a blue dialed 1966 in palladium and it was very well received like each time we discuss a 1966. This is indeed the 1966 range that is currently the star range in the Girard-Perregaux portfolio and this is a 1966 Tourbillon with Gold Bridge that celebrates!

The 1966 case is very refined and understated and answers the present desire for elegant watches.  Obviously the clean implementation of a Toubillon with one Gold Bridge doesn't decrease the appeal of the piece;

The Tourbillon bridge shows a « bassine » finish, a round finish that is particularly smooth looking.and unusual on Girard-Perregaux models. This finish is difficult to realize and gives an additional appeal to the piece.

The Girard-Perregaux 1966 Tourbillon with one Gold Bridge is produced in pink gold in a limited series of 50 pieces.

The 40mm case is quite modern in size but remains elegant. It is in fact perfect on my moderate wrist used to my own 38mm 1966.

The back is solid and shows a very beautiful hand engraving remembering the historical tourbillon pocket watches by Girard-Perregaux.

I take this opportunity to say that a pocket book "Patrizzi Pocket Expert" about the Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon with Gold Bridge watches was published at the end 2010. If you happen to be a fan of the Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon watches you need to put your hands on it!

The 1966 Tourbillon is the new tourbillon this year but there are other new offerings in that range.

The first is a white gold round watch with straight bridges. I can say it is my favourite of the new offerings.

The same watch in pink gold was presented last year. I find it even more appealing in white colour. I love the straight design of the bridges and the "President" case.

The « President » case was mainly seen some years back in Ferrari watches.

The straight bridges design comes from an historical Girard-Perregaux pocket watch.

I  love those straight bridges as they give a modern look to the watch face, with some Art Deco touch.

In fact I find the bezel, plate and bridges to be perfectly matched and the marvellous tourbillon needs no more to be superbly exposed.

The WWTC with enamel dial is another new tourbillon variation this year. Yes this watch is sporting a three bridges tourbillon on the back!

The unique enamel dial slows us and detracts us from having a look, at the back. Four of such watches should be produced.

Even If I would be more tempted by a straight bridges tourbillon, it is always a real pleasure to see such backs. If you doubt ask Amanico !

It has always been impossible for me to decide if would prefer a tourbillon on the back or on the front. Tourbillons on the back are somewhat more exclusive as they reserve their pleasure for the owner alone!

Another option this year is the Vintage 1945 version of the straight three bridges tourbillon in white gold.

The watch shows a kind of technical finish on the back (same as on the round version), a finish that reminds the Enzo !

I also had the opportunity to see again the Laureato Tourbillon with three sapphire bridges. This watch crosses admirably the years and keeps its subtile appeal.

Do you have enough? In fact I got to see even more. I had a look at the Bi-axial tourbillon. Amazing watch!

It was just a beginning as I then saw the Opera One. I had never had the opportunity to handle this watch before. This watch is just amazing

The series of Opera waches are the fruits of a collaboration with Chrisotphe Claret. These watches add the repeating function to the tourbillon for the One and Two; and offer a unique musical experience for the three.

I unfortunately had little time and no quietness to appreciate the sound of these three pieces and consquently hope to have someday another opportunity with those.

The Opera three offers a choice between two melodies. These melodies can be heard on demand or at the passage of each hour.

While the Opera one and two are very much girard-Perregaux in their DNA, the Opera three is a quite different watch and more specific to Claret.

After all these tourbillon and repeating  watches you may wish to see some more affordable new offerings.

They are in fact very appealing new watches and they will help you accept to let the tourbillon watches to others if necessary.

The Girard-Perregaux 1966 with enamel dial was presented before the SIHH but it was the first opportunity to put it on the wrist. It was worth the wait.

My poor pictures won't give it justice. If you like the 1966 case, and like enamel dials, you have to try it on as soon as possible.

The white gold or pink gold watch is not a limited series and is offered at a very interesting price point.

The next watch is no less appealing.

The 1966 chronograph was launched last year and the blue dialed version is certainly going to be the best seller in this range.

Again I love blue dials and this one is just perfect. The special dial gives a very strong presence to the watch on the wrist and a class second to none.

If you prefer the triple date with moon phase you can also opt for the new black dial. I'm sure this version will also have a great success even if for me it can't beat the blue dialed chronograph.

I would be tempted to see an even blackier version with black hands ! That would be a perfect stealth.

The Vintage 1945 range was not forgotten this year and the new XXL version comes in a very pure and sexy form.

The new XXL is offered in pink gold or steel. The watch is really well done and should be the competitor of the year for the Reverso Tribute to 1931.

Both versions are superb but for once I prefer the pink gold version, mainly for its painted dial. Of course you may prefer the applied numbers of the steel version.

Clearly the simpler dial with a seconds hand at six and no date is a winner. The watch instantly becomes a potential great classic.

The seconds hand at six required a new seconds module to off center the hand and equilibrate the dial. The same module is used in the new 1966 enamel dial.

Girard-Perregaux launched in 2010 a brushed steel version of the WW-TC. We've not really seen that watch last year and here are a few pictures.

The WW-TC range really needed a steel vesion IMO and the choice of a brushed case gives it a very sporty look. The dial is easily readable and luminous. It is a watch perfect for travelling in such version.

Women got new offerings too and I particularly liked the Cat's Eye Small Second with mother of pearl dial. The dial can be black of white and here is my favourite the black version.

The watch is offered in white or pink gold.

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The Cat's Eye is a modern option for women looking for diamonf set watches. The automatic calibre makes it a worthy haute horlogerie watch.

Let's finish with a clock that you can't order. This WW-TC clock is made for decorating retailers' shops. Don't you think they should sell it?

I hope you enjoyed the visit. This SIHH was another great one for Girard-Perregaux, showing us enough tempting watches to celebrate the anniversary in dignity.

It was also the first SIHH without Luigi Macaluso. An homage was paid to him at the opening of the show. Long live his legacy!

Dje