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Girard Perregaux

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Comments:

Konwing you....

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : July 30th, 2014-12:22
I am not surprised!
smile

Maybe time to play some more in the GP field...?

Best, my friend
Blomman

The "Olympic" chronographs by GP started in 1936...

 
 By: Goldenlutin : July 30th, 2014-15:32
The Olympic "story" began for GP in 1936 with the "Mimolympic" watch which was sold both under the GP brand and Mimo (http://www.invenitetfecit.com/modeles/chronographes-sans-compteur3.html). This is the only (and last) time GP used something you could call an in-house movement in the Olympic chronographs. To be exact, the Mimolympic was not even a real chrono but rather a fly-back you could not stop ("montre stop" in French).

The later GP chronographs and especially the Olimpic models are just/only re-branded Excelsior Park watches. Apparently Excelsior Park did not only supplied the movements (not at all modified by or for GP) but the complete watch, including the design of the case, dial, hands, etc. That is the reason why you can find the exact same Olimpico models branded Excelsior Park also. Excelsior Park did further provide the same models to Gallet for the American market. Therefore you can find the same model / design under 3 different brands all produced by Excelsior Park. As a collector it is interesting to collect the same model under the different brand names.

By the way, the most common but nonetheless the most interesting Olimpico model is, IMHO, the later Olimpico version with the turning bezel.


As a final note:  Collecting old GP Olimpico chronographs is a bite like collecting (re-branded) Excelsior Park chronographs smile


Best regards,

Goldenlutin

Very interesting informations, Goldenlutin. I didn't know that about this chrono.

 
 By: amanico : July 30th, 2014-22:37

But is the last version with the turning bezel still housing the EP movement, or a Valjoux  ( 72? ) ??

Best,

Nicolas

EP (Excelsior Park) 40...

 
 By: Goldenlutin : July 30th, 2014-23:54
There is an EP 40 (with hour counter) movement in it. Definitively a watch to own. Sorry, I have no access to my pictures at the moment.

Regarding old/vintage GP chronographs, before GP released the Excelsior Park re-branded chronographs it was selling re-branded Universal chronographs, very nice watches by the way. Here again, the design is 100% Universal but with GP on the dial.


Best,

Goldenlutin

Thanks, GL, I am in the hunt for such Chronographs, from GP.

 
 By: amanico : July 31st, 2014-03:57

I now know where to better hunt!

Nicolas

This message has been edited by amanico on 2014-07-31 04:03:10

All iteresting point, but I do not fully agree...

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : July 31st, 2014-01:01

Goldenlutin,

 

The Olympico got the name due to the Mexican Olympic Games 1968. The name is specificly in Spanish hence the "o" in the end.

The Mexican Olympic Games was the first ever in a Spanish speaking country and also the first game ever in Latin-America, which was a big deal back then.

 

The MIMOlympic has a English name. Yes, both watches/models refers to the Olympic Games, but that do not make them the same.

Yes, you are correct that the Olympic "story" for GP begun in 1936, but not the OlympicO story.

 

As for the watch itself, yes, the movement is made by EP. I have not been able to get confirmation if the same goes for the dial and case.

But to say that they are "just" or "only" I think is a bit unfair...

In that case there are a lot of great watches arround that would be clasified as "only" a Lemania or "just" a Zenith or ....

 

Thank you for your input, G.

 

Best

Blomman

It was not meant negatively...

 
 By: Goldenlutin : July 31st, 2014-05:30
I do own these watches myself. It is just a fact that these chronographs were bought and not produced by GP. It is only in a modern view of things and due to the modern hype for manufactures that it might sound negative. I could make you a long list of other chronographs not actually produced by the brand written on the dial. This was totally normal at the time, for instance Breguet type XX. Just look also at how many brands shares the same "compressor" case from Piquerez, etc.

We do not have to look at these watches with our modern understanding of luxury brands, which GP actually was not  at the time. It was a "quality" brand, not a luxurious brand.

Best,

G.

You have the Olimpico chronos?!

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : July 31st, 2014-12:16
Please share them here with us!
smile

Well, if modern way of thinking, not many (if any?!) watches would be considered as true watches...!

Best
Blomman

I will...

 
 By: Goldenlutin : August 2nd, 2014-00:31
but I have no access to my pictures right know. As I said, my favorite on it the latter execution with turning bezel. I do own a NOS one.

Best,

Goldenlutin 

Looking forward to the pics, Goldenlutin! [nt]

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : August 2nd, 2014-03:05
No message body

Me too, to tell the truth... ;) [nt]

 
 By: amanico : August 2nd, 2014-03:12
No message body

Thank you dear Blomman for a most interesting and informative post about...

 
 By: Subexplorer : July 31st, 2014-18:04
... a watch I love so much.

Your timepice is in a superb condition which makes so enjoyable to wear on the wrist.

You throw a lot of light about a model I also own and knew so little about. Regrettably, the inner of the back case of mine doesn´t mention the reference number, but I suspect it might be the very same as yours.

I enjoyed so much reading and viewing this thread and I thank you so much!
Best cordial regards, Abel.

PS: I already have shown mine before, but anyway it wishes to say Hi! to yours!


















Abel, Blomman, Golden Lutin, you will kill me! ;) [nt]

 
 By: amanico : July 31st, 2014-22:09
No message body

Na, we only tease your teast buds....

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : August 1st, 2014-00:16

Come and take a bite, my friend!

wink

 

Best

Blomman

Bites are my speciality. ;) [nt]

 
 By: amanico : August 3rd, 2014-03:21
No message body

LOL! You are a true Vlad! ;) [nt]

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : August 3rd, 2014-03:29
No message body

Lol!! Nicolas, we all know Vlad can´t be killed!! HAGWE my dear friend!! [nt]

 
 By: Subexplorer : August 1st, 2014-12:12
No message body

Dear Abel, I am certain that your watch...

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : August 1st, 2014-00:35

Has the same reference as mine: 8846 N.

That you don't find any numbers in the inside of the case back is not strange.

GP used to put the reference in the inside of the case back up intil end 50' / beginning 60's (not sure about the exact date).

After that they switched and put it between the lugs at six o'clock.

At some point during the 70's GP started to put the reference on the outside of the case back.

All this are my onw conclusions from observing different watches - no hard rules but may be used as a guideline...

 

Your Olimpico has a wonderful pationa, my friend.

Please don't refrain from showing it here more often!

smile 

 

 

Best

Blomman

Thank you so much for your information dear Blomman!...

 
 By: Subexplorer : August 1st, 2014-12:11
... I will check tonight to see if I can find the reference number between the lugs.

Definitively it has no numbers on the case back, which is the same shape of yours.

But as you well say they seem to be the same reference.

I am more than happy to share it here!

Have a nice week end my friend!
Very cordially, Abel



My pleasure, my friend! :)

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : August 1st, 2014-12:42
Have a great weekend, dear Abel!
smile

Best
Blomman

Dear Blomman: I confirm that my watch also have the 8846N reference...

 
 By: Subexplorer : August 2nd, 2014-18:27
... Between lugs at 6. I didn' t notice that before!

Thank you for all this valuable info my friend!

Have a nice week end!
Very cordially, Abel

Yes, as I suspected...

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : August 3rd, 2014-03:01
Great to have the confirmation, dear Abel!
smile

BWT, check out this weeks Masthead....
wink

Best, my friend
Blomman

Edit per forum rules

 
 By: Daniel Olson : October 27th, 2017-10:51
Welcome here, Daniel!

Please use our collectors market for any listings of watches.


Best
Blomman
This message has been edited by blomman Mr Blue on 2017-10-27 12:36:55

Here is mine, second generation

 
 By: Goldenlutin : August 8th, 2014-04:55





What I thought.... A Beauty! What movement is inside? [nt]

 
 By: amanico : August 8th, 2014-05:09
No message body

EP40 :) [nt]

 
 By: Goldenlutin : August 8th, 2014-07:54
No message body

So, like the former one? Cool, I love this movement.

 
 By: amanico : August 8th, 2014-07:59

Now, I have to hunt the Watch....

Best,

Nicolas

Yes, the movement stayed the same [nt]

 
 By: Goldenlutin : August 8th, 2014-08:10
No message body

Thanks. I already noticed that one, but no successful hunt, for the moment. :( [nt]

 
 By: amanico : August 8th, 2014-08:11
No message body

Awesome! :)

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : August 9th, 2014-03:36
Yes, that one is really cool! On my hunt list for long time now....

Thank you for sharing, GL!
smile

Please feel free to post some more photos.


Best
Blomman
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