AndrewD
[HoMe Moderator]
12829
Pusher feel
Hi Mike,
Thanks for your kind words. There seems to be more than a few who love this reference. The closest watch in the current GP catalogue is the Ref. 49585 which is 40mm in size and has a solid case back, but otherwise has a very similar dial. I will do a post on this shortly as an alternative option.
In relation to pusher feel there are a lot of differences. The Zenith El Primero is obviously a column wheel design compared with the cam/lever of the GP. The Zenith has a shorter 'throw' to activate, is softer to press (although still finishes with a distinct 'click'), and you can almost feel the column wheel rotating under your fingers. Functionally it is let down by the smaller pushers.
In contrast, the mushroom pushers on the GP are nicer to use, but there is more 'dead space' before it activates and with the cam it is more a notchy hard click to finish.
All difficult to describe over the internet! Neither watches are as smooth as a VC or ALS chronograph. And of the two I prefer the Zenith. I will take some photos of the Zenith Prime and 1999 Chrono side by side at some stage.
Regards
Andrew
Review: Girard-Perregaux 1999 Chronograph, Ref. 4946
Hi All, I loved the cream-dialled 1999 Chronograph from the moment I saw it seven years ago. Unfortunately the Ref. 4946 was only made between 1999 and 2002, with perhaps less than 500 pieces in this colour combination (there was a black dialled version a...
Thank you so much for sharing this Chrono with us, Andrew.
This is a lovely GP you got here. You explaiend very well all the details whiich made your decision, and, to make it short, I concur. The only small thing which disturbed me was and still is the bloody date, located between 4 and 5 o'clock. I think this d...
Symmetry and date
I hear what you are saying, Nico. In regard to the Ref. 4946 all I can comment on is that GP have included the date very tastefully. There is no border around the date window, the font is the same as the dial markings and, most importantly, the window doe...
Thanks for the photoshop efforts, Andrew. ;)
Yes, it speaks a lot with outh the date, and much louder to me. But this is just my opinion, and as I said, a minor detail which can't damage the appreciation on this Chrono.I am more and mopre turning around this brand, by the way. There are some pure tr...
A touch of asymmetry...
is critical to the beauty of many things. Our faces are not perfectly bilaterally symmetrical, but slightly off. Symmetry is so powerful that it can take attention away from the physical and material qualities of the elements of the composition, in this c...
That's a very helpful observation ...
I have been looking again at the photoshoped image without the date, and looking at the watch on my wrist and the watch is much more interesting with the 'beauty spot'. To borrow one of Art's usual succinct analogies: Cindy Crawford ... With or without? A...
GP purchase
Andrew, I have come across a cream dial GP ref 4946 like yours and was wondering what you think a reasonable price to pay for it is? Thanks, Mark
Beautiful
This is in my opinion the perfect chronograph watch. I have been searching for this particular model for a long time, in the end I ended up getting a ref 49580 which is similar. Wear it in good health, glad you finally managed to catch it!
One question Andrew...
Andrew, Congratulations on the beautiful GP 1999 chronograph. This is one of my all-time favorites and I wish GP would introduce another reference similar to yours for those of us who have not been able to locate the 1999. Also, great photos and report as...
Pusher feel
Hi Mike, Thanks for your kind words. There seems to be more than a few who love this reference. The closest watch in the current GP catalogue is the Ref. 49585 which is 40mm in size and has a solid case back, but otherwise has a very similar dial. I will ...
Thanks Andrew for the good description...
I look forward to seeing your GP and Zenith side-by-side for a comparison. Again, congratulations on a beautiful piece! Best, Mike
Thanks for the review Andrew.
I like its dial, especially the applied figures. There is something classic and elegant But again, a modular movement... I'm a bit worried by this not in terms of performance or efficiency but we have a view on a three hands movement... Fx This message ha...
The view from behind ...
Thanks FX. I agree that it would be nice to have a column-wheel movement visible under that sapphire. It may be why the current Ref. 49585 has a solid case back. But you can't argue about the performance of the calibre - it's a very well thought out desig...
Excellent review - a cousin says hello
Andrew, Congratulations on this acquisition; like you I was smitten by a similar model (see below) as I found the aesthetics very irresistible. I must say that I admire your taste! As you say, it wears pretty big and over time, I've forgiven GP for the da...
"Manufacture"
Thanks Nomer, you clearly have great taste in watches. ;-) Thanks for the photos of your Ref. 49585 which adds a lot to this thread; it's great to see these watches evolve. The 40mm is more in keeping with modern size standards. Although I like the enlarg...
You found a keeper...
The vintage appearance with applied numerals make this an attractive chronograph to me. I appreciate the information provided by the date also and find it a tasteful addition. Thanks for providing us with information about such a nice timepiece. tempusfug...
Patience paid off ...
I had always been impressed by this watch, but put it out of my mind. But when it became available I jumped at it. Pleased you like it too. Andrew
What doesn't come out in the photos is ...
Thanks Sanro, the dial, and actually the case work, really make this watch. What doesn't come out in the photos very well is the perfect eggshell yellow of the dial. And there is also a graininess to the dial, much like the surface of an egg. It greatly a...
Marvelous piece
As big GP fan I thank you for this great review of beautiful watch Congrats Best Damjan
New definition as....
Tradi ng with ra tional I'm veeery traditional in many things my friend Best Damjan
Here's the 'traditional' Damjan ...
... I know and love: Deep down, perhaps, but there is no doubt in my mind. A...
Thank you for your review Andrew
Hi, I can say I like your watch, and prove it since I have nearly the same one: gp.watchprosite.com In fact since they made mine in 2007 they issued at least another series of 4946 in late 2007 or early 2008, the "Chronographe Monte Carlo 1965", a cream o...
Excellent review of the history and evolution ...
... of these vintage mushroom pusher chronographs, Jerome. Thanks for the link. It reminds me again what treasures are in the archives here. I certainly remember your Ref. 49460 and it was your watch that kept the fire burning for me with this piece. So w...
Beautiful watch, Andrew
I love vintage style chronographs, and GP's models are among my favorite along with Patek and VC. I prefer rose gold cases with the exception of a white metal case with rose or yellow gold numbers and indexes. The contrast between the numerals/hands and t...
Thank you very much once again, Andrew...
Where do you find the time for these thorough and thoughtful reviews of the pieces that you stalk, run down and bag? Whatever - it was terrific to learn more about this watch; thanks for that. Reflecting on our offline discussion, though: are you sure tha...
Hmmmm...
...better on the strap for me in this case. Not that I don't like it on the bracelet, but something about the vintage styling cues of the dial and pushers calls for a strap IMO. I'd be happy to have either version in my watch box, of course! Cheers, Daos
Two personalities perhaps?
Thanks for the photos on bracelet. You make a strong case that the 1999 Chrono is a a very suitable sports chronograph. The bracelet adds heft to the otherwise demure 38mm case and many have commented on the quality of the GP bracelet and the invisible cl...
Great catch, Andrew!
It's a fantastic piece. The blued hands are particularly nice. I'd love to own one of these! Wear it in good health! Cheers, Daos
That blued centre chronograph seconds hand ...
... is just beautiful, and the egg-shell dial sets it off very nicely. I also like how you can see the blued underside reflected in the polished numerals and gold hands (this is apparent in some of the photos). Very pleased you like it. Andrew
Is there a photo of the chronograph module used...
Hello, Is there a photo of the chronograph module used in the movement of the ref. 4946? I would love to see what its design and finishing look like. Thank you, Mike
The Dubois-Depraz 2021 chronograph module
Hi Mike, It's a good question and I am interested to see it myself. GP don't have a press photo for the Cal. 3370 and looking back in our archives here there are no pictures that I can find. I will however keep an eye out and revisit this - but I am not v...
Thanks for the link Andrew...
This is a very good report on the big date moonphase movement. If you happen to find any information on the chronograph module please let me know. Thanks again, Mike
I'm not a Chrono Guy
but this is a very attractive watch and one of the nicest chronos I have seen ! great photos too !
I used to think I liked ...
Thanks Tobias, I used to think I liked black dialed chonographs - more sporty and just a liitle more cool, but I must say that this eggshell/cream dial is an absolute pleasure to look at. The combination of looks, legibility and functionality is a winning...
Argggh!
When I saw the post-- I was hoping this was a re-issue!!!! This is one of my favorite watches bar none.... and have never seen one in the flesh. Ah well, I can dream....
Keep dreaming ...
... because it took me a few years to find the right one, but in the meantime how about the Ref. 49585? Is there something in the design that particularly roots you to the 1999 Chronograph? It may be worth a try on the wrist? Regards Andrew
Nice review. Here's mine with black dial for comparison
I was hunting for a cream dial one in the begining but gave up after looking for 6 months. I found the cream dial is more classic and adds to that vintage feel. Black dial perhaps looks slightly more sporty. I found the bracelet transform the watch to a m...
Wonderful sibling
Thanks for posting in the black-dialled variant. I agree with you about the more sporty feel of the dial. Nice to share this superb watch with other PuristS. Warm regards, Andrew
What a gem Andrew, Congratulations.
This is a superbly executed watch. I love the heat blue hands and gold numerals, quite a fetching combination.
Thanks Michael ...
The polished gold hands and indices catch the light and really dress up the piece. And the cream dial is a perfect canvas for that, as well as the blued hands. It doesn't get much better for a vintage styled chronograph. And the modular movement keeps the...
Superb chronograph
One of my all time favorites. Very, very nice color combination. Look fantastic on the wrist. Just lovely. Thanks for sharing, Best, Mark
There are a lot of fans ...
... of this piece. And I have had more unsolicited comments, such as "nice watch", in the last few weeks than I normally get, so it must have that certain something. Pleased you like it too. Andrew
Paraphernalia
Just for completeness, here is the documentation that comes with the watch, stored in a compartment below the inner case. Warranty and very clear instructions. And after the last service at the GP service centre the replaced parts were returned with the w...
Great revie, Andrew...
...I am not awre of this watch before, initially felt that the dial with applied arabic numerals plus heated blue hands are superb, they all look very matched. The movement with quite good finishing looks good for me. It seems a very nice piece after all....
I will do a Chrono 'family' post on HoMe ...
... at some stage, Stefan. Although I try not to get too much of the same complication, I have ended up with black and light dials, moonphases, cams and column wheel versions. I will make some comments on each. Pleased you like the watch. Andrew
I should have included that in my review ...
... as i know it helps give some perspective on the wrist photos. My wrist circumference is 17.5cm. My sweet spot for watches is 38 - 40mm. I go up to 42mm for sports watches. The 1999 Chrono actually wears a little larger than its 38mm diameter suggests ...
