Girard-Perregaux was founded 230 years ago in 1791, the same year an English clergyman, William Gregor, discovered titanium in Cornwall. William Gregor, discovered a black sand called menachanite. He analyzed it and concluded that it contained oxides of iron and an unknown metal. This metal was subsequently identified as titanium, an element named after the Titans, the children of Uranus and Gaea in Greek mythology. Today, titanium is widely used, not only in watchmaking but also in the fields of aerospace, medicine and motorsport, selected for its array of benefits.

The Laureato Absolute Ti 230 unites the two stories of Girard-Perregaux and William Gregor, drawing on know- how amassed over 230 years. Titanium comes in many forms, sometimes alloyed with other elements. Girard- Perregaux prefers to use Grade 5 titanium as it is particularly strong, corrosion resistant, lightweight and hypoallergenic; attributes that enrich the wearer’s experience. Another reason for using Grade 5 titanium is that the metal can be polished.

Celebrating the 230th anniversary of the brand and the discovery of titanium, Girard-Perregaux presents the Laureato Absolute Ti 230 in a 44 mm lightly sandblasted case that encompasses polished facets, providing a beautiful gleam and subtle contrast. The new watch features a sandwich dial construction and Girard-Perregaux’s world-premiere of a rubber alloy strap incorporating titanium.

The combination of curves and lines are juxtaposed with the octagonal bezel and crown, beautifully playing with contrasts. The Laureato Absolute Ti 230 is available with a choice of a blue or grey dial, augmenting eye-appeal. For the first time, the Laureato Absolute features a crown encircled with a rubber ring, matching the hue of the rubber strap.

Beating at the heart of the Laureato Absolute Ti 230 is the automatic in-house movement calibre GP03300-1060. Composed of 218 parts, this movement provides a power reserve of 46 hours when fully wound.

The strap, made of rubber alloy perfectly matches the colour of the dial, and features a fabric effect texture, tastefully enlivened with grey stitching. Girard-Perregaux, consistent with its no-compromise attitude, has selected FKM rubber, a specification that provides greater suppleness and resistance than conventional rubber. The Manufacture has chosen to pair the strap with a titanium folding clasp with a micro-adjustment system, allowing the wearer to fine tune the size to deliver the optimal wrist fit.

The new Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Ti 230 is offered in two variants, blue and grey and each option is limited to 230 pieces. The blue dial version of the Laureato Absolute Ti 230 will be sold exclusively at Wempe for one month in its ten boutiques across Germany as well as its flagship stores in New York and London. Thereafter, the model will be available in all authorized Girard-Perregaux retailers and on the brand’s e-commerce site. Effective immediately, the grey dial version is available in all authorized Girard-Perregaux retailers as well as the brand’s e-commerce site. The watch is water resistant to 300 meters.

Sticker Price $9,300 USD. For more info on Girard-Perregaux click here.