I love the smooth case lines of the Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 collection, and this new model with the addition of a “big date” window and moon phase module makes the watch especially elegant.  GP really does a good job of staying true to its roots and never going too crazy with its core lineup.  I appreciate that in the brand.

GIRARD-PERREGAUX, VINTAGE 1945 LARGE DATE MOON-PHASE

36.1mm x 35.25mm pink gold or steel case, display back, automatic mechanical GP 03300-0062 movement, black alligator strap with matching folding clasp

References

Pink gold: 25882-52-121-BB6B

Steel: 25882-11-121-BB6B

The new  Girard-Perregaux Laureato Tourbillon with 3 Bridges is a limited edition of 10 pieces that pays homage to its predecessor, the GP tourbillon three gold Bridges which was first introduced in 1889.  The tourbillon and other components are visible on the dial-side behind three translucent blue parallel bridges.  The octagonal platinum bezel alternates satin-brushed and polished finishes for an interesting effect if you examine it for a bit.

  Girard-Perregaux Laureato Tourbillon with 3 Bridges

Numbered, limited edition of 10 pieces

42.6mm titanium case with platinum bezel, automatic mechanical Girard-Perregaux 9600-0004 movement with tourbillon, display back, titanium bracelet

Reference 99071-27-001-21A

Absolutely spenldid!  I am a big fan of Girard-Perregaux’s 1966 collection, but this Minute Repeater just takes the cake.  The simple elegance of this watch belies its inner sophistication.  I hope it sounds as good as it looks.

GIRARD-PERREGAUX 1966 MINUTE REPEATER

Reference 99650-52-711-BK6A

42mm pink gold case, white enamel dial with pink gold applied numerals, striking mechanism with two opposing hammers, hours, quarter hours, minutes

Girard-Perregaux E09-0001 movement
Mechanical manual winding
Power reserve: minimum100 hours
“Rounded” gold balance bridge, half-arrow type

This Ermenegildo Zenga watch is a 20-piece limited edition with rattrapante (split-seconds) + foudroyante (1/8 of second).  It is produced exclusively for the Chinese market.  Like all “Ermengildo Zegna” branded watches, this piece is produced by renowned Swiss-manufacture Girard-Perregaux.  This watch is the fourth model in the “Girard-Perregaux for Ermengildo Zenga” series, following the Zegna Centennial Watch and the Zegna Monterubello watches (chronograph and 3-hander) that I featured earlier this year.  Personally, I like this one the most.

This watch is part of a special series of “Ermengildo Zegna” branded/co-branded luxury items created to celebrate the 20th year of Ermengildo Zegna in China — there is also a Zegna/Vertu phone, Zegna/Tateoissian cufflinks, and specially created Zegna fabrics.  See them all here.

Ermengildo Zegna Watch (China Limited Edition)

40mm rose gold case (15.15mm thick), automatic mechanical Girard-Perregaux GP04C0 movement, rattrapante and foudroyante (1/8th of a second), Alligator strap with pin of buckle adorned with the Ermenegildo Zegna logo

VIDEO:

SIHH 2012 is just three months away, and the early previews (“pre-SIHH”) continue to roll-out.  Here’s one from Girard-Perregaux, the 1966 Small Second, a limited numbered edition of 100 pieces.  I really like the new models that Girard-Perregaux has released the past couple years (scope them all here), and this new LE piece that will be available in 2012 is no exception.  Remaining faithful to its philosophy of innovation yet conscious of its heritage, there are a couple elements that I really appreciate about this watch:  first, the very modest/traditional case size of 38mm, and second, I like how the small second subdial and the date aperture at 3 o’clock balance nicely on the dial despite their different dimensions.  More thoughts below, but all in all, another elegant piece from Girard-Perregaux.

More SIHH 2012 Previews:  Panerai PAM 422

SIHH 2012:  Girard-Perregaux 1966 Small Second

38mm pink gold case (8.69mm thick), automatic mechanical GP Caliber 3300, alligator strap with pink gold pin buckle

GP Calibre 3300

The “Maison fondée en 1791″ (Founded in 1791) signature is a nod the origins of Girard-Perregaux.  Note the “railyway” style track around both the small seconds subdial and the main dial — this design consistency works very well with the overall aesthetic:

The slightly curved case-back is adorned with delicate engraving commemorating two important dates: In 1889, Girard-Perregaux won the Gold Medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris for its pocket watch later known as “La Esmeralda”, the most famous example of Tourbillon with three gold Bridges.  In 1900, this technical masterpiece with its highly original architecture was judged to be without equal. Thus Girard-Perregaux did not participate in the contest and was nominated as member of the jury at the Universal Exhibition.

Ref 49526-52-111-BK6A

The slightly curved case-back is adorned with delicate engraving commemorating two important dates: In 1889, Girard-Perregaux won the Gold Medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris for its pocket watch later known as “La Esmeralda”, the most famous example of Tourbillon with three gold Bridges. In 1900, this technical masterpiece with its highly original architecture was judged to be without equal. Thus Girard-Perregaux did not participate in the contest and was nominated as member of the jury at the Universal Exhibition.

In 2010, in celebration of its 100th anniversary, Ermenegildo Zegna announced a very special collaboration with Girard-Perregaux whereby GP would produce Ermengildo Zegna branded watches offered for sale exclusively in  Zegna boutiques.   The combination of the renowned Italian fashion house and the prestigious Swiss watch manufacture delivered an impressive first watch — the limited edition Ermenegildo Zegna Centennial watch (only 100 pieces made).  Based on this success, Zegna and GP decided to extend their partnership.  At the time, I somewhat caustically opined that this was a mistake on the basis that the Girard-Perregaux brand would not benefit from this deal (much as the GP/Ferrari watches were a big flop; though, the Centennial watch was solely branded as “Ermenegildo Zegna” I was still skeptical).  However, I am now beginning to rethink my assessment, largely due to this week’s announcement of the new Ermenegildo Zegna Monterubello Watch Collection.  It’s hard not to say that these watches look great — because they really do look great!  But I still have mixed feelings on the long-term viability of this collaboration, mostly as it pertains to GP serving as a private-label manufacture for Zegna.  If you have any thoughts on this matter please feel free to share your thoughts (anonymous or otherwise) below.

Anyway — let’s look at the Zegna Monterubello watches — there are two models — the Monterubello Solo Tempo, a 3-handed watch with date function, and the Monterubello Chronograph.  The Solo Tempo is available in white or rose gold, whereas the Chronograph is available only in Rose Gold.  Available exclusively at Zegna boutiques. 

Ermenegildo Zegna Monterubello Solo Tempo (by Girard- Perregaux)

Price:  $14,800

38mm white or rose gold case, automatic mechanical Girard-Perregaux GP03300-0030 movement

Ermenegildo Zegna Monterubello Solo Tempo (by Girard- Perregaux)

Price:  $28,300

40 mm rose gold case, automatic mechanical Girard-Perregaux GP03300-0032 chronograph movement

Courtesy of Monochrome…

Recommended Reading: Monochrome Editor Frank Geelen recently reviewed the Girard-Perregaux Sea Hawk Pro 1000m dive watch.   This watch was first announced in April 2011 (I wrote about it here), and to my knowledge this is the first “hands on” experience with the watch.  “The new Sea Hawk 1000m wears excellent, looks great and runs and performs perfectly” according to Frank, but you’ll have click through to the Monochrome blog to check out the complete and excellent review, including some great pics!

Girard-Perregaux Sea Hawk Pro 1000m Review

click image to see full review

Nice looking world timer from Girard-Perregaux, the new ww.tc Worltimer honoring one of the greatest British watchmakers, John Harrison (inventor of the marine chronometer).  The dial of this exceptional timepiece depicts the journey undertaken by John Harrison’s son William from Portsmouth, England, to Port Royal, Jamaica, against a map of the Atlantic Ocean. The trip lasted from November 1761 to March 1762 and was intended to test the reliability of Harrison’s H-4 timepiece.  The H-4 was proven able to calculate a ship’s longitude to within half a degree, a breakthrough accomplishment for marine navigation.  A fitting tribute for one of history’s most important watchmakers!

Girard-Perregaux ww.tc Worldtimer “John Harrison”

limited edition 50 pieces (individually numbered)

41mm white gold case, GP caliber 033 (automatic mechanical), 24 timezone display, engraved rotor

above picture : patriceschreyer.com

Worldtimer Flashback: The very awesome Vacheron Constantin Patrimony WorldTimer that I previewed earlier this year.

“Only Watch” is a biennial charity auction of one-of-a-kind watches created by many of the most renowned watch brands in Switzerland.  This exceptional event is held every two years in Monaco during the Monaco Yacht Show and is under the patronage of HSH Prince Albert II.   All the proceeds from Only Watch go to support Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research which is why many of these watches go extraordinarily high prices.

Starting today Perpetuelle will begin its coverage of Only Watch 2011.  Stay tuned in because over the next few months, you will get to see awesome “piece unique” watches from each of the participating brands for the 2011 event:

Click through to see our in-depth preview of each watch:

• Harry Winston Midnight GMT Tourbillon
• Patek Philippe Ref 3939A Minute Repeater
• Urwerk UR-103 “Phoenix”
• Romain Jerome “Rock the Rock”
• Hublot Oceanographic 4000m dive watch
• MB&F HM-4 “Flying Panda”
• TAG Heuer “Monaco Mikrograph”
• Bell & Ross Pink Gold “Casino”
• Louis Vuitton Tambour Diver Chronograph
• Blancpain Villeret Grand Decoration
• Piaget Altiplano Skeleton
• Breguet Reveil Musical Watch
• Audemars Piguet Gstaad Classic
• Jaquet Droz Petit Heure Minute
• Van Cleef & Arpel “From the Earth to the Moon” Watch
• Girard-Perregaux ww.TC
• Corum Golden Bridge Automatic Titanium
  
• Vulcain Anniversary Heart Watch
• Chanel J12 Marine Watch
• Franck Muller “Totally Switzerland”
• Ulysse Nardin Freak Diavolo
• Vacheron Constantin “Dove” Watch (M.C. Escher-inspired)
  
• Zenith El Primero “Destro” watches
• Montblanc Villeret 1858 Pulsograph
• Ikepod Red Hourglass by Marc Newson
• Bovet Fleurier, Celsius, Chaumet, Chopard, De Bethune, Delacour, De Witt, Frédérique Constant, Hermès, Laurent Ferrier, Maurice Lacroix, Richard Mille
  

Only Watch 2011 will be held September 24, 2011 and managed by watch auction house Antiquorum.  But you don’t have to wait this long — because part of the excitement leading up to the September 24, 2011 event is the release of each participating brand’s special edition watch.

ONLY WATCH 2009

If you are interested in looking back, I covered the Only Watch 2009 auction extensively including blogging about several of my favorites inlcluding:  Piaget Emperador Coussin, MB&F Sage Vaughn HM-2, Bovet 3-in-1 Mona Lisa Watch, Tourneau Jump Hour, Louis Vuitton Tambour, Chanel J12 Joallerie with pink sapphire, and Blancpain 500 Fathoms.   You can see all 34 “Only Watch 2009″ watches here on the Perpeuelle World Watch Forum.  The Only Watch 2009 auction was hosted by Patrizzi & Co.