BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
Girard-Perregaux gave the classic Laureato a bold and modern refresh in the form of the Laureato Absolute collection that was released during SIHH 2019. Now for the upcoming Only Watch auction, the brand has presented a unique take on the Laureato Absolute Chronograph.
The most striking aspect of the Laureato Absolute chronograph was its sporty blue face which has been replaced with a more conventional sunburst black dial on this new watch. But what makes this one truly special are the Pantone blue highlights that can be seen on the hands, the hour markers, the bezel and even on the edges of the chronograph pushers. The light blue color does not look aggressive and provides a great contrast against the black background. As for the layout you still have the beautifully recessed registers at 3, 6 and 9 with sloped chapter rings, a neatly tucked date window between 4 and 5, and a sloped minute track on the outer periphery. Overall, it’s a very clean and legible dial, especially for a chronograph.
Since its inception in 1975, the Laureato has been well known for its distinctive case and nothing much has changed since then. The angular geometry, the integrated lugs and that octagonal bezel on top give this watch an unmistakable identity. This reference measures 44mm in diameter with a thickness of around 14.65, which makes it a relatively large watch, but the lightweight titanium construction should help with wrist comfort. The case has been PVD coated to match the color of the dial and water-resistant to a substantial 300 meters.
Powering this watch is Girard-Perragaux’s in-house caliber GP03300-1058. This is an automatic movement that operates at a frequency of 4Hz and offers a power reserve of 46 hours. The movement has been beautifully decorated using perlage, Geneva stripes, blued screws and more, but has been kept hidden behind the closed case back that features a deep azure-lacquered ONLY WATCH logo contributing to the uniqueness of this piece.
The Laureato Absolute Chronograph for Only Watch 2019 would come attached to a black rubber strap coated with blue calf leather. The watch would be auctioned at the Only Watch event that will be held on 9th November in Geneva and is estimated to fetch somewhere between CHF 13,000 and 16,000, all of which would go towards the noble cause of supporting research on Muscular Dystrophy.
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