2016 SIHH novelties: Girard Perregaux Laureato 2016, le futur des origines.
Over 40 years after the first steel Laureato was introduced and as a tribute to its success, Girard-Perregaux is honoring its
iconic Laureato timepiece with a limited edition of 225 dedicated to the 225th anniversary of the Swiss high-end watchmaking house situated in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland (part of the Sowind group, a subsidiary of Kering).
Lovers of fine watchmaking have always appreciated the properties of steel and it is making a strong comeback as it is invariably associated with the sporty watch design. Once again there are the well-known hexagonal bezel and the understated seamless integration of the flexible bracelet, but this time, it has a clasp and a subtle interplay between polished and satin- brushed finishing.
The 41 mm diameter returns to reasonable standards after allowing itself a momentary foray into the XXL era. The baton-shaped hands come from the original model and have been embellished with a hint of luminescent material while the dial (sometimes white gray sometimes navy blue) is stamped with a Clou de Paris small checkerboard pattern like the first 1975 models. The date appears at 3 o’clock. Among the inconspicuous signs that this is a modern edition are an anti-reflective treatment on the crystal and the addition of a sapphire crystal on the back.
As with any fine watchmaking brand, Girard-Perregaux Laureato features a Manufacture movement: the GP03300-0030. This 27-jewel self-winding mechanical movement is equipped with an oscillating weight that can be viewed through the case back. It has a frequency of 28”800 vibrations per hour and a 46-hour power reserve.
