By Jovan K
The new Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph Chocolate feels like one of those watches that instantly clicks the second you see it. Sporty without trying too hard, luxurious without becoming loud, and packed with enough detail to keep enthusiasts entertained for hours. It takes the familiar Laureato formula and injects it with warmer tones, softer contrasts, and a slightly more relaxed personality that honestly suits the collection really well.
What immediately stands out here is the two tone execution. Girard-Perregaux mixes steel with 18k rose gold in a way that feels refined instead of flashy. The 42mm case keeps the classic Laureato silhouette alive with its tonneau shaped middle case and signature octagonal bezel, but the warm rose gold bezel, crown, and chronograph pushers completely change the mood of the watch. Compared to the colder, sharper feeling of a full steel Laureato, this version feels richer and more elegant without losing the sporty edge that makes the collection so appealing in the first place.
The finishing is exactly where you would expect it to be from Girard-Perregaux. Satin brushed surfaces dominate most of the case while polished bevels and edges catch the light constantly as the watch moves around the wrist. The transitions between brushed and polished surfaces are crisp and clean, and the whole thing has that unmistakable high-end integrated sports watch feel that collectors obsess over. At 12.16mm thick, it also stays surprisingly wearable for a chronograph, and the 100 meter water resistance means you can actually use it daily instead of treating it like some fragile dress piece.
Then there’s the dial, which is easily the best part of the watch. Girard-Perregaux went with a rich brown hobnail pattern (Clou de Paris) stamped dial that shifts beautifully depending on the lighting. Sometimes it looks like dark chocolate, other times almost espresso toned, and the rose gold details layered on top give it a ton of warmth. The texture keeps the dial alive at all times without becoming overly busy, while the tri-compax chronograph layout is balanced and clean.
The brown concentric subdials blend into the rest of the dial instead of aggressively standing apart, which gives the entire watch a more cohesive appearance. Rose gold applied markers and hands filled with lume add just enough contrast for legibility while still keeping everything elegant. Even the date window at 4:30, something that can often ruin symmetry on chronographs, looks surprisingly discreet here.
Flip the watch over and you get a sapphire caseback revealing the in-house GP03300-2761 calibre, which is where Girard-Perregaux reminds everyone that it still knows exactly how to finish a movement properly. This self-winding chronograph calibre runs at 4Hz, uses 419 components and 63 jewels, and delivers a power reserve of around 46 hours. More importantly, it actually looks worthy of being displayed.
You get Geneva stripes, circular graining, beveling, mirror polished details, satin brushing, snailing, engraved text, and all the little finishing touches enthusiasts love staring at under a loupe. It’s not just mechanically solid, it has genuine visual depth as well. The movement feels very traditional in the best possible way, especially in a market where so many luxury sports chronographs focus more on hype than actual watchmaking.
Instead of pairing the watch with the usual integrated bracelet, Girard-Perregaux decided to go with a brown rubber strap featuring the same Clou de Paris texture as the dial. Honestly, it works better than expected. The rubber strap makes the watch feel more modern, more relaxed, and considerably easier to wear every day. It softens the overall personality of the piece and gives it a more contemporary sporty chic vibe without sacrificing any of the luxury feel.
Only 50 pieces will be produced, which instantly makes this one of the more exclusive Laureato releases we’ve seen in recent years. The price lands at CHF24,300/EUR26,800.
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