A debut of end-to-end titanium construction.
It’s been almost half a century since Girard-Perregaux debuted its signature sports watch, the Laureato. Released in 1975 – several years later than the Royal Oak but one year before the Nautilus – the Laureato was a typical sports watch of that era, and this genre has really proven to stand the test of time. Many of these intricately designed bracelet sport watches still retain their signature design, even as fashion tastes have evolved significantly in the past 50 years.
Just before marking the 50th anniversary of the Laureato, Girard-Perregaux can’t wait to show something new. It’s the very first Laureato with an all-titanium construction, including both the case and bracelet. Enter the Laureato Chronograph Ti49, which has a very straightforward name telling you it debuted on the 49th anniversary and is made of titanium (Ti is the chemical symbol for titanium).
Lightweight and greyscale
An attractive aspect of a modern integrated bracelet sports watch is its solidity of construction, both in terms of the case and bracelet. However, this solidity naturally translates into weight, which can diminish the comfort of wearing the watch. This is where titanium comes in. Being about half as dense as steel, titanium significantly reduces the weight of an integrated bracelet sports watch while maintaining a solid look and feel. This is perhaps the biggest strength of the Laureato Chronograph Ti49.
In addition to being the first Laureato made fully of titanium – including the bracelet – the Laureato Chronograph Ti49 is noteworthy for its dial. Due to the greyish tone of titanium, the Ti49’s dial is also painted in grey for a natural and continuous visual appearance. The overall look of the watch is chic, sporty, and understated, perfect for those who desire a watch with character yet prefer quiet luxury.
As an integrated sports watch, the dial texture is another highlight. On the Ti49, the dial is adorned with many pyramids, technically known as a clous de Paris pattern or hobnail pattern. Given the production scale of the Laureato, this pattern is achieved via stamping instead of guilloche, but it doesn’t detract significantly from its beauty for the average enthusiast. There is a mix of different textures and patterns to enhance visual depth, such as the concentric grooves on the chronograph counters.
Hidden beneath the solid case back lies the GP03300, an in-house movement crafted by GP that has been in service for decades. As a result, it has been thoroughly tried and tested. However, it comes with a shorter power reserve of 40+ hours, which was the norm during its inception. Originally developed as a time-only automatic movement, the GP03300 also serves as a crucial base for complications, such as a chronograph module, which is utilized in many of the brand’s chronograph Laureato models.
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph Ti49
Movement: GP03300; automatic; 46 hours power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, and chronograph
Case: 42 mm; titanium; water resistant to 100 m
Strap: Titanium bracelet
Limited edition: No
