By John Galt
Girard-Perregaux have unveiled their new reinterpretation of their iconic 1966 watch, this time with an 18K pink gold case featuring an exclusive guilloche dial and being offered in “His and Hers versions”. The 1966 Automatic Flinque and the 1966 Lady Flingue.
Both are in keeping with the famous 1966 line with its timeless discreet elegant looks, this is classic in every sense of the word. The warm glow of the 18k gold case and short lugs just show elegance. The case size is again along the classic lines with lady version 30mm and gents 38mm, meaning it will slide perfectly under a suit cuff.
The delicately rounded dial is what really sets this piece apart from the 1966 with its superb guilloche pattern, a true testament to traditional watch decoration. The intricate patterns painstakingly engraved by hand with help of an engine turning machine, on this piece Girard-Perregaux artisans chose a concentric pattern made up of twelve sections rotating outwards from the centre to create a silvered opaline reflection that catches the sunlight with every twist and turn of the wrist. Complementing the guilloche dial are baton shaped gold indices with Girard’s signature leaf-shaped hands. A date window on the gents version is the only thing breaking up the otherwise perfectly refined and minimalistic dials. For the ladies version Girard have removed the date window and seconds hand while adding an inclined bezel with 60 diamonds inserted giving a clean and very feminine feel.
The reverse of both pieces are treated to exhibition case-backs showing off the in-house movements, the ultra-thin calibre GP03300 self-winding movement powers the gent’s 38mm model. The calibre 03300 really shows off Girard-Perregaux’s long tradition of tradition watch making with the upmost reliability and accuracy, with the ladies 30mm model featuring the GP03200 movement which is also self-winding, With both movements the mainplate and bridges are drawn, bevelled with circular graining and decorated beautifully with Cote De Genève motifs and housing an 18k gold oscillating weight engraved with the Girard-Perregaux logo.
Both pieces are finished off with a black alligator strap secured by tradition pin buckles, the straps are slightly different matt version for the gents and shiny for the ladies.
Conclusion
Girard-Perreguax has once again released a stunning reinterpretation of their 1966 line with its classical, elegant feel. Would I like my wife to wear one coupled with a black cocktail dress. I would also most definitely wear one myself. I don’t think I have anything against the piece, I personally like it. It’s just with a case size of 38mm, which means that my large wrist would swamp it and I feel the timeless elegant looks would be lost. For more info, please visit girard-perregaux.com
John Galt – Contributing Editor
John Galt caught the horology bug back in 2010 on his first visit to a London watch show and has snowballed since; John has become an avid writer and blogger of timepieces of all kinds, from everyday timepieces to modern Luxury Haute Horology, his favorite brands being HYT and Greubel Forsey that push the bounders of modern watch-making. John keeps a keen interest in the UK watch scene with their many emerging brands and timepiece’s. John Galt currently contributes watch related articles for online publications in the UK and USA. You can follow John on Twitter @johng73 Read his articles here.
