Editor's Picks
Zooming in on the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph
With the recent Laureato collection, Girard-Perregaux has presented a strong proposition in this regard. With its linked, integrated bracelet and octagonal bezel, the watch has the typical underpinnings of a luxury sports watch. And why wouldn’t it? After all, much like the genre of luxury sports watches, the Laureato, too, is a child of the 70s.
In its 21st century reincarnation, the watch continues to hold strong to its design identity. Which in turn, has created the opportunity for Girard-Perregaux to, very quickly, build a robust collection around the Laureato. However, considering that this is a sports watch, the one Laureato that possibly was the most anticipated, has to be the Laureato Chronograph, introduced earlier this year, at SIHH 2018.
The next surface we see on the case, is straight grain satin-brushed, again with polished and rounded edges. The effect of the bracelet that seems to seamlessly continue from the case, is created by the same straight grain satin-brushed finish on the H-shaped links, complimented again by the polished surface on the domed interlinks.
Moving on into the face of the watch, Girard-Perregaux has given the Laureato Chronograph an all blue face for the steel and pink gold versions. Next there is the black dial with blue sub dials and, lastly, the silver dial with the black sub dials. All of these have the unmistakable Clou de Paris, hobnail pattern on the primary dial surface, with the sub dials featuring a snailed finish.
The Laureato’s chronograph mechanism is courtesy of Girard-Perregaux’s own GP03300 base caliber, upon which the manufacture has built a chronograph module. The GP03300 has served Girard-Perregaux as a reliable base movement on many grounds, including the 1966 Annual Calendar Equation of Time, where the caliber has been used to build an annual calendar module and an equation of time mechanism on to. Which, therefore, stands to show that Girard-Perregaux has loaded the Laureato Chronograph with a movement that will be prove robust, even against the perils of everyday life.
So, here’s how it all stacks up: You’ve got a versatile, sports watch archetype that’s able to go from occasion to occasion, with no trouble at all. Particularly for those looking for such qualities in a watch that’s not just a time only piece, the chronograph function is a great plus. Add to that the automatic GP03300 caliber that Girard-Perregaux has used to power the watch — suddenly the case for the Laureato Chronograph, as a daily wearer chronograph, becomes quite a strong one.
But hey, no reason to take our word for it. For those in, Singapore: You’re in luck. The Hour Glass will be hosting a 13-day exhibition focused on the Laureato Chronograph from August 1 -13, 2018 at the Ngee Ann City, Level 1 Atrium. Come experience for yourself, the versatility of the Laureato Chronograph in your favorite variation. For details, head on over to thehourglass.com
For more on the Laureato Chronograph: girard-perregaux.com