BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
For almost more than a year now, China has been in the line of fire with regards to the global spread of the Covid-19 virus. However, today we have some exciting horological news for our friends from the Far East. Girard-Perregaux has just released a stunning new variation of the Laureato Absolute called the Infrared exclusively for the Chinese market. Fully dressed in black, this new watch features a forged carbon dial with bright red accents.
The star of the show here is the dial. Made using forged carbon fiber, the dial exhibits a unique pattern and texture that makes this watch stand out from the crowd. Furthermore, the abstract nature of the pattern also means that no two watches would ever look alike. Also, to give the dial a more coherent look, the hands have been blacked out and the markers outlined in black. And while the dial does exhibit several shades of grey and black, Girard-Perregaux has broken the monochrome look by coating the hands and the applied hour markers with red-colored luminous paint.
The case looks familiar and maintains the bold and sporty design DNA of previously released members of the Absolute family. It measures 44mm in diameter and has a thickness of around 14.65mm, making for a watch that offers a nice wrist presence. Having said that, the case has been crafted from lightweight grade 5 Titanium, which should improve wrist comfort. The case continues to showcase signature Laureato design flourishes, such as the octagonal bezel on top and the angular integrated lugs. The entire case has been b given a black PVD coating that matches well with the dial and gives the watch a stealthy vibe. At the 3 o’clock position is a screw-down crown to ensure that the watch remains water-resistant to a healthy 300 meters.
Ticking underneath the closed case back of this watch is the in-house caliber GP03300-1060. This is an automatic movement that comprises 27 jewels, operates at 4 Hz, and offers an autonomy of around 46 hours.
The new Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Infrared is completed by an integrated black rubber strap with red contrast stitching. The watch is limited to just 88 pieces and would be available to purchase only within Greater China from July 2021 onwards at a retail price of CHF 10,680.
Visit Girard-Perregaux here.
