First look…

You are looking at the new Girard-Perregaux Chrono Hawk.  This is an entirely new range for the manufacture (“Hawk”); it accompanies the newly redesigned Sea Hawk which I shared a sneak preview of last week.  The Chrono Hawk is presented in a new and very angular, very masculine 44mm case (also used for the new Sea Hawk), in your choice of light (Ref. 49970-11-131-HDBA) or dark (Ref. 49970-11-231-HD6A) dial color.  The watch features a well balanced, highly legible dial with great color and texture — and a bi-compax chronograph layout.  The overall effect is one mean looking watch — and that’s a compliment of the highest order.  Perpetuelle couldn’t be more excited about this watch.  Closer look and more details, below.
Click here to see more of the new Chrono Hawk

Here is a first look at something new from the Manufacture at La Chaux-de-Fonds that is Girard-Perregaux:  the new GP Vintage 1945 XXL Chronograph, available in pink gold (Ref. 25883-52-121-BB6C) or steel (Ref. 25883-11-121-BB6C).  Girard-Perregaux’s Vintage 1945 collection is perhaps its most understated and elegant, its modern day versions inspired by the retro forms of one of its Art Deco style watches from 1945.   A variety of versions now represent the vintage 1945 collection and it can be said that this new bi-compax chronograph will represent the line well.   Although there is a 3-register chronograph+date model currently offered, the horizontally aligned, I find that the dual-register layout has a much greater sense of balance and proportion to it and is thus preferrable from a purely aesthetic point of view.  More looks and pricing, below.
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Girard-Perregaux will soon release a new version of the iconic Sea Hawk dive watch.  The famous GP Sea Hawk originated in the 1940′s; the current collection was designed in 2002.  And now we see that 2012/2013 will see a new evolution of the collection.  A photo of the watch is now making the rounds on the ‘Net, courtesy of what appears to be a special supplement to the LA Times; another site reports it as the “Sea Hawk III PRO”.  Note:  new case shape/lugs, the hour indices are thick and give the appearance of being “raised” off the dial, and honeycomb dial pattern.  1000 meter water resistance and crown at 4 o’clock are same as prior models.  Here’s a first look:

Girard-Perregaux Sea Hawk III Watch

Girard-Perregaux brings a new 20-piece limited edition version of its ww.TC world timer, this one with a white ceramic case set against the black rubber push buttons and crowns. While the light-colored dial with its dark counters is very similar to the ww.TC “Panda” that Perpetuelle showed you just a couple months ago, this particular piece has a smoked sapphire glass for a more distinct look.  And also the caliber in this watch (visible through the sapphire display back) is the manufacture GP3300-0028 — a flyback chronograph, the same as used in the ww.TC Shadow (the aforementioned Panda was a straight chronograph, GP033C0-FV1U).  Or perhaps it is the ww.TC Dark Knight (Ref 49820-32-612-FK6A) that makes for the best alter ego of this white ceramic piece.  Suggested Retail Price –  $25,900

GIRARD-PERREGAUX WW.TC WHITE CERAMIC

Limited edition of 20 pieces

Reference: 49820-32-712-FK6A

43mm white ceramic case (internal container in titanium), bezel in steel and white ceramic, push buttons and crowns covered with black rubber, black DLC coated titanium caseback with sapphire glass display, automatic mechanical Girard-Perregaux GP3300-0028 caliber (flyback chrono); on black rubber strap with titanium folding clasp

More Girard-Perregaux by Perpetuelle>>>

Here’s a first look at the new Girard-Perregaux 1966 (Ref. 29527-52-131-BK6A), one of the manufacture’s most elegant timepieces.  You’ve seen this 1966 before, right?  Nope.  There are some subtle changes to the new references (white and rose gold) — but you couldn’t guess it from photos alone.  What’s new here is that the new 1966 has been upsized by +3mm to a 41mm case size.  This is a trend we are now seeing across Girard-Perregaux’s lineup — recall the 1966 chronograph which was also upsized this year.

More than just a larger case size, the new GP 1966 41mm is powered by the GP4500 caliber rather than the GP3300 (which is in the 38mm cases) — a larger movement, in keeping with the larger case.  Makes perfect sense.  I’ll give you a closer look at the new models — it looks supreme in white gold — as well as some technical discussion of the caliber GP4500 vs. the GP3300, on the jump.
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Baselworld 2013 preview…

At week-before-last’s NYC Timecrafters show, the folks from Girard-Perregaux (based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland) lifted the lid on a spectacular piece of haute horlogerie — a black DLC-finished titanium bi-axial tourbillon, limited to just 8 pieces.  The original Girard-Perregaux Bi-Axial Tourbillon (I believe) debuted in 2008 in rose gold case with rose gold bridges; it was subsequently released in a white gold case with rose gold bridges — both pictured below.   Both are elegant pieces, but nothing quite like this, for sure.  An “all black” watch with such class! A great balance of tradition (respecting the traditional and iconic “tourbillon with three gold bridges”) and a bit of the avant-garde (black titanium DLC case).  More looks, and video, below…
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First look…the new Zegna dive watch, as manufactured by Girard-Perregaux:

A fine departure from the dressy and refined Zegna Monterubello and Centennial watches, for sure.  The partnership between Italian fashion house Ermenegildo Zegna and Swiss watch manufacture Girard-Perregaux is starting to get very interesting!  I’ve got all the details, and plenty of looks –
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The ww.tc collection (world-wide time control), created by Girard-Perregaux in 2000, is now a recognizable icon of the brand.  The “world time” function provides a simultaneous display of all time zones on its dial, based on a coupling mechanism featuring a ring that indicates 24 time zones for 24 named cities. To this, a number of complications have been added over the years, including : a power reserve indicator, a perpetual calendar, and the “Financial”, a world first enabling to keep track of the opening and closing of the world’s main stock markets.   The ww.tc chronograph is thus nothing new; but as seen here the available color options continues to grow.    This particular ww.tc Chronograph (Ref 49805-11-153-BA6A) will retail for $16,800.  More GP ww.tc >>>

Girard-Perregaux ww.tc Chronograph

43mm steel case, automatic mechanical manufacture GP033C0 movement (chronograph + world time indicator).

The manufacture caliber GP033Co is visible through the sapphire crystal case back and features a circular grained mainplate, bridges and oscillating weight with Côtes de Genève embellishment, and blued screws. Unfortunately I do not have an image of the movement which illustrates these features.

Since its creation in 2000 Girard-Perregaux’s ww.tc (World Wide Time Control) has been reinterpreted many times and in various limited edition versions, several of which have been featured here at Perpetuelle ( ww.tc Dark Night, ww.tc for ONLY WATCH 2011, ww.tc John Harrison).   Likewise, I spoke last week about special one-off limited edition pieces for the most successful and influential retailers in the world (see: MARCUS London Limited Edition Project).  Here is a combination of both the ww.tc and a boutique exclusive — a special edition ww.tc for Zegg & Cerlati, famous watch and jewelry store in Monaco (actually 3 stores).  If you happen to be on Place du Casino in Monaco, drop in and check it out.

Girard-Perregaux ww.tc Zegg & Cerlati Edition

Limited edition 15 pieces

43mm bead blasted steel case, automatic mechanical GP 033C0 caliber, rubber strap

MARCUS London Limited Edition Project

This is a 24 piece limited edition variation on Girard-Perregaux’s popular world timer “ww.tc” watch.  The black ceramic case with black rubber strap and pushers looks super-stealth — I like it.  Good discussion on this watch via The Watch Press, a watch blog I like to read from time to time.

Girard-Perregaux ww.tc Dark Night

limited edition 24 pieces for US market

43mm black ceramic case with tactile rubber pushers and crown, automatic mechanical GP03387 calibre, visible through tinted sapphire on the caseback, rubber strap