SIHH is over for this time but will be back next year, and while we can’t possibly cover everything we are endeavouring to find you the best watches to show. Today, that watch happens to come as a three in the form of Girard-Perregaux’s new Laureato ‘Absolute’ edition. I’m not entirely sure what it’s supposed to mean from reading the blurb, but what I can say is that it’s absolute-ly bigger and more muscular than before at 44mm in diameter. Is this GP’s attempt to muscle in on AP’s market? It could be the perfect timing with AP looking the other way at their Code thingy.
Laureato Absolute
So what plays to their advantage? Well, in horology the ambiguity of the name plays to them well. Us watch heads love watches from brands that others have likely not heard of before. But, this category doesn’t usually play into the hands of the ‘watchies’, instead, athletes and people who consider themselves athletes in the mirror tend to favour these watches, and in that market, branding counts. AP and Hublot are of course the top names there, so if GP really wants to jump into the market, it needs to go in guns blazing and ignore the finicky details and delicacy that’s often associated with fine watches.
Laureato Absolute Chronograph
I have to say, they’ve done an excellent job so far. These watches shout luxury from the rooftops of La Chaux de Fonds. The rubber straps covered in the name Girard-Perregaux, the brushed black PVD titanium cases and the striking blue dials with red hands, a classic sporty combo, work wonders for the design. The watch is also coming in three different flavours for now: a three-hander, a world time and that all important sports complication, the chronograph. I expect that the majority of the market this is aimed at will want the lattermost of the three. But, the simplest of the three has the most charm. The date’s in the right place too, six O’clock.
Laureato Absolute WW.TC
Girard-Perregaux calls these three the “distillation of watchmaking expertise” while the blue colours represent the neverending sky that the brand aims for. Interesting. We can’t wait to take one of these for a two-week review to find out if they live up to expectations. Visit Girard-Perregaux here.
Until then, here are the specs:
Laureato Absolute
Reference : 81070-21-491-FH6A
Case Material: polished and satin-brushed black PVD-treated titanium
Diameter: 44 mm Glass: glareproofed sapphire crystal, with blue glass seal
Bezel: octagonal with circular satin-brushed black PVD-treated titanium
Dial: blue gradated into black, sunburst finish
Hour-markers: baton-type, with Super-LumiNovaTM
Hands: baton-type with Super-LumiNovaTM
Case-back: secured by six screws, engraved with the Laureato Absolute symbol Water resistance: 300 metres (30 ATM)
Movement Reference: GP03300-1060 Winding: automatic
Functions: hours, minutes, central seconds, date
Power reserve: 46 hours
Number of components: 218 including 27 jewels
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz) Diameter: 25.95 mm (11 ½ lignes)
Thickness: 3.36 mm
Strap Material: black rubber with injection-moulded Girard and Perregaux names, blue topstitching Buckle: black PVD-treated triple blade folding clasp with adjustment system
Laureato Absolute Chronograph
Reference 81060-21-491-FH6A
Case Material: polished and satin-brushed black PVD-treated titanium
Diameter: 44 mm
Glass: glareproofed sapphire crystal, with blue glass seal
Bezel: circular satin-brushed black PVD-treated
Dial: composed of two superimposed, hollowed plates: the one on top in gradated shades of blue, with a sunburst finish
Hour-markers: baton-type, with Super-LumiNovaTM
Hands: baton-type with Super-LumiNovaTM
Case-back: secured by six screws, engraved with the Laureato Absolute symbol Water resistance: 300 metres (30 ATM)
Movement Reference: GP03300-1058
Winding: automatic
Functions: hours, minutes, central seconds, date, chronograph
Power reserve: 46 hours
Number of components: 419 including 63 jewels
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Diameter: 25.95 mm (11 ½ lignes)
Thickness: 6.5 mm
Strap Material: black rubber with injection-moulded Girard and Perregaux names, blue topstitching Buckle: black PVD-treated triple blade folding clasp with adjustment system
Laureato Absolute WW.TC
Reference: 81065-21-491-FH6A
Case Material: polished and satin-brushed black PVD-treated titanium
Diameter: 44 mm
Glass: glareproofed sapphire crystal, with blue glass seal
Bezel: octagonal, in circular satin-brushed black PVD-treated titanium
Dial: gradated shade running form blue to black, sunburst finish
Hour-markers: baton-type, with Super-LumiNovaTM
Hands: baton-type with Super-LumiNovaTM
Case-back: secured by six screws, engraved with the Laureato Absolute symbol
Water resistance: 300 metres (30 ATM)
Movement Reference: GP03300-1056
Winding: automatic
Functions: hours, minutes, central seconds, world time with day/night indicator
Power reserve: 46 hours
Number of components: 248 including 32 jewels
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Diameter: 25.95 mm (11 ½ lignes)
Thickness: 5.73 mm
Strap Material: black rubber with injection-moulded Girard and Perregaux names, blue topstitching Buckle: black PVD-treated triple blade folding clasp with adjustment system
