Girard Perregaux

Greetings, GP community. Fingers crossed for a little help please. One of my GP’s is a WW.TC ref; 49850-11-650-11A on a steel bracelet. I rarely try to wear it (and that bugs me as it’s one of my favorite pieces), because I can’t get it to fit quite right. It’s too loose. But If I remove one full size link, it becomes too tight. I figure if I can replace one of the full size links with one of the small size links, I’ve a shot at getting it right! Problem is, this bracelet being discontinued those links are very hard to find. GP say they don’t have any more so my only hope is that someone out there has one spare that they would sell me. I don’t know where else to turn so If anyone has a small link for this bracelet that they don’t need and would be willing to part with for a price, please PM me. Thanks in advance.


Photo Added This message has been edited by cazalea on 2024-06-01 16:13:59

Thanks for the tip, much appreciated.

i am in exactly the same place. In the UK I’ve got nowhere, but there are resellers on eBay and C24 that I’ve contacted, but so far I’ve had no luck with the exact half-link. I’m wearing mine (4940) larger in the Summer as it’s more comfortable than too tight! I’d even swap a full link for a half link!

Sorry to hear that. Misery loves company, huh? I’d swap a larger link for a small one too. I’ve two of the larger ones, useless to me unfortunately. I prefer to wear my watches a little on the looser side especially when wrist swells in heat and humidity here in the US, but this is too much. Watch head being relatively heavy v bracelet swivels around my wrist. I hate having such a nice piece mostly unworn. Nuisance for sure!

Is this what your bracelet looks like?

If so, then you maybe in luck as this bracelet type was used by several GP models during this period.

Your WWTC is 43 mm. So the half links should taper down to 18 mm at the clasp. They all pretty much tapered down to 18 mm regardless of the case size.

Measure your link joining to the clasp to confirm and we take it from there. You can either use a calliper or use a pencil to trace the sides on a piece of paper and then use a ruler to measure what you have outlined on the paper.

Include pics in your reply please.

🤝

Pic from Internet for illustration purposes 🤝

then gradually fell out of love and it went to a new home...

Hi SingaporeMarc, many thanks for your reply!
That is exactly the bracelet with my WW.TC and as you rightly say, the links (both large and small) taper to 18mm. My bracelet is also polished on the outer links like the one in your pic, but it doesn’t matter if I can find one that’s brushed so long as it fits. I can polish it myself!
Pic attached matches your pic. If you can help or know someone that can, I’ll be eternally grateful.

A= Big link

B= Small link

These links are from my ref 2598

As indicated, several of the references from this period will work with your WWTC bracelet.

At least now, you can search for links beyond your WWTC ref.

I suggest these next steps:

1) Ask GP for small links for ref:

2598
2498
2499
4940
4935

2) search chrono24

3) search eBay

4) post a WTB listing on watchprosite

5) contact Gisbert Joseph. He is on chrono24 and also has his own website. He carries a lot of original GP parts. He bought over a defunct GP service center and now sells what he has as parts.

I’ll let you know if I think of more references. For sure there are more.

You can reuse these pictures if it helps you confirm that the sellers have the correct small links.

Please update us on your progress.

Hope this helps a bit. 🤝

Marc

Would this also be the same for our 4940.?

I don’t know about that, SingaporeMarc may have the answer.
I think the reason why sizing the WW.TC bracelet (and possibly your 4940 if it’s the same), can be such a challenge is the link sizes and how deceptive the wearing difference can be changing either one. For example, the large link is within a whisker of 11mm long and the small link is 8mm long. That’s why I refer to them as small rather than a half link cuz they’re closer 3/4 than a half. My bracelet already has two small links fitted, so why not just remove one of them if it’s too loose? That takes out 8mm (too tight) but If I remove a large link at 11mm (way too tight) and replace with another small link, I reduce by 3mm. Those dimensions are significant and unfortunately, can make the difference between wearable or not.

The same for this style and period. The end connector to the case maybe different for different models.

But as you get to the clasp , all the removable links are the same. 18 mm width.

Let me measure the dimensions on my full and half links and get back to you.

In a nut shell, half-links for references such as the 2598,
2498, 2499, 4940, 2496,4935 will all fit your wwtc.

This opens up the likelihood of finding a half link for sale.

This is an example on eBay. Sold not or auction ended. You can contact the seller and ask them if it sold or not.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/364813198981?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=sEEeJzQqTGS&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

If the link is redacted, use the link in this image





Will get back to you later today 👍🏻

Great info, big thanks!

I just heard back from GP. They still have the small link available for the following references:

2498 / 2499 / 2598 /4935/4940 :

Part # CBM.494021.11.T2

CHF 60

I’ve placed an order for one.

Marc: thanks again for your help, very much appreciated!

imrootbeer: good news & good luck.

🤝

Did you contact GP through their website or through UK AD?

Contacted GP USA in Florida.

I’ve emailed them through their worldwide website. If I don’t hear back I’ll try here in the uk.

I suggest you contact the AD in the UK.

🤝

Finally received the small link from the ref # 2598. GP US had to order it from Switzerland. Removed one full link and replaced with this small link….perfect fit! Finally, my WW.TC is wearable on daily basis again.
Big thanks again to you Marc, really appreciate your assistance with this. Wouldn’t have happened without you. This is what makes forums so valuable IMO!
And good luck imrootbeer7. This is a good omen for you.
Peace!