To celebrate the 225th anniversary of their manufacture, Girard-Perregaux is bringing back the iconic Girard-Perregaux Laureato. The GP Laureato was originally launched in 1975 as a competitor to the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak with a very similar type of case design with flat top around the bezel, and also sporting an octagonal-shaped bezel. The case was in between a Royal Oak and an IWC Ingenieur SL. Originally suggested by Girard-Perregaux’s Italian distributor, the name was inspired by the name in Italian of film The Graduate from 1967 —Il Laureato— starring Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft and Katharine Ross.
Using steel like the Royal Oak in a sporty and luxurious way, the Laureato was truly the result of the trend set only three years earlier by Genta's child —the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak in 1972. With the exception, that right from the beginning, the Girard-Perregaux Laureato was also available in a two-tone stainless steel/gold version and its look was as bold as the seventies commanded. Powering the original GP Laureato was a Quartz movement, obeying the transformation that the Swiss watch industry was going through with the appearance of quartz calibres, Girard-Perregaux decided to launch its own in-house quartz movement. The Laureato’s polished octagonal bezel embedded in a satin-brushed case makes it a pioneering model in the integrated bracelets category. The bracelet’s aesthetically pleasing design didn’t sacrifice comfort or flexibility and not long after, a polished strip was added across all of the polished- hinge satin-brushed links. The watch featured a beautiful interplay of shiny and matte and a combination of precious yellow gold and sporty gray from the stainless steel. As soon as the Laureato was introduced, it was a notable part of the emerging trend for two-toned watches.
Finally, 40 years later the Laureato makes a solid comeback with all the aesthetics and design that made it an icon, next to the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, the IWC Ingenieur SL, the Patek Philippe Nautilus, the Vacheron Constantin 222 and the Rolex Oysterquartz. Backed by the manufacturing arts and micromechanics expertise, the brand is honoring the timepiece with a limited edition of 225 pieces in stainless steel to honor the original Laureato.
Fitted this time with a 41 mm x 10.10 mm case in stainless steel and its iconic octagonal bezel, the new Laureato will be available with two different 'Clous de Paris' dials embellished by the baton-shaped hands from the original model —but with a slight touch of luminescent material. Among the inconspicuous signs that this is a modern edition, the crystal is anti-reflective treated and the watch features a display case back.
Perhaps the most significant change to this re-edition of the original Laureato, is that this time, the watch is powered by the Girard-Perregaux in-house automatic calibre GP03300-0030. This 27-jewel automatic movement with flawless finishing, is equipped with an oscillating weight that can be viewed through the case back. It beats at a frequency of 28,800 vph to provide a power reserve of 46 hours.
The watch is water resistant to 30 meters and the references that will become available are silvered dial ref. 81000-11-131-11A and a stunning blue dial ref. 81000-11-431-11A.
On the wrist, the watch wears true to its size and quite comfortably. Definitely a piece that resembles Genta's designs and the look of the seventies.
Sticker Price $14,300 USD. For more info on Girard-Perregaux click here.
