Zooming in on the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph

The fundamental appeal of a luxury sports timepiece, particularly for the young (and young at heart), is the versatility it holds. These watches are as appropriate for the formal occasions as they are for the poolside, at your favorite getaway destination.

With the recent Laureato collection, Girard-Perregaux has presented a strong proposition in this regard. With its linked, integrated bracelet and octagonal bezel, the watch has the typical underpinnings of a luxury sports watch. And why wouldn’t it? After all, much like the genre of luxury sports watches, the Laureato, too, is a child of the 70s.

In its 21st century reincarnation, the watch continues to hold strong to its design identity. Which in turn, has created the opportunity for Girard-Perregaux to, very quickly, build a robust collection around the Laureato. However, considering that this is a sports watch, the one Laureato that possibly was the most anticipated, has to be the Laureato Chronograph, introduced earlier this year, at SIHH 2018.

The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph in 42mm, the steel on steel with silver dial variation (© Revolution)
The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph in 42mm, the steel on steel with silver dial variation (© Revolution)

Created in steel and pink gold, the Laureato Chronograph will be availed in a 42mm and 38mm size. In each instance, the watch cases are complex, with a mix of satin-brushed and polished surfaces. Take for instance that its bezel has a circular grain satin-brushed look on its top surface. Its edges are rounded and polished such that it melds into the circle of the case on which the bezel sits.

The next surface we see on the case, is straight grain satin-brushed, again with polished and rounded edges. The effect of the bracelet that seems to seamlessly continue from the case, is created by the same straight grain satin-brushed finish on the H-shaped links, complimented again by the polished surface on the domed interlinks.

The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph in 42mm, the steel on steel with silver dial variation
The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph in 42mm, the steel on steel with silver dial variation
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph 42mm steel on steel with dark blue dial variation
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph 42mm steel on leather with dark blue dial variation
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph 42mm steel on steel with black dial variation
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph 42mm steel on steel with black dial variation
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph 42mm pink Gold on leather strap with dark blue dial variation
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph 42mm pink gold on leather strap with dark blue dial variation

Beyond the watch’s outer aesthetics, it’s perhaps the engineering of the bracelet that is worth talking about most. Because, Girard-Perregaux have manage to construct the bracelet of the Laureato in way that it is able to hold its form, while being supple at the same time. If, however, the metal bracelet is not your thing, then there’s a leather strap version for you, in every variation of the Laureato Chronograph. In fact, Girard-Perregaux has gone the extra mile to, also, include a rubber strap with the leather strap.

Moving on into the face of the watch, Girard-Perregaux has given the Laureato Chronograph an all blue face for the steel and pink gold versions. Next there is the black dial with blue sub dials and, lastly, the silver dial with the black sub dials. All of these have the unmistakable Clou de Paris, hobnail pattern on the primary dial surface, with the sub dials featuring a snailed finish.

The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph in 42mm, the steel on leather with silver dial variation (© Revolution)
The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph in 42mm, the steel on leather with silver dial variation (© Revolution)

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, on to the fun bit: The chronograph. The Laureato Chronograph, is what you would consider to be a classically configured chronograph: Central chrono seconds hand, minute-totalizer at 9 o’clock and hour-totalizer at 6. To activate, begin by unscrewing the chrono-pushers — yup, screw-down pushers. Start and stop the chronograph using the pusher at 2 o’clock and use the pusher at 4, to reset the mechanism.

The Laureato’s chronograph mechanism is courtesy of Girard-Perregaux’s own GP03300 base caliber, upon which the manufacture has built a chronograph module. The GP03300 has served Girard-Perregaux as a reliable base movement on many grounds, including the 1966 Annual Calendar Equation of Time, where the caliber has been used to build an annual calendar module and an equation of time mechanism on to. Which, therefore, stands to show that Girard-Perregaux has loaded the Laureato Chronograph with a movement that will be prove robust, even against the perils of everyday life.

The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph in 42mm, the steel on leather with silver dial variation (© Revolution)The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph in 42mm, the steel on leather with silver dial variation (© Revolution)
The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph in 42mm, the steel on leather with silver dial variation (© Revolution)

46-hour power reserve means that if you were to take the Laureato chronograph off for the weekend, it’d still be running by the time you pick it back up. But with automatic winding, perhaps power reserve isn’t all that much of a concern.

So, here’s how it all stacks up: You’ve got a versatile, sports watch archetype that’s able to go from occasion to occasion, with no trouble at all. Particularly for those looking for such qualities in a watch that’s not just a time only piece, the chronograph function is a great plus. Add to that the automatic GP03300 caliber that Girard-Perregaux has used to power the watch — suddenly the case for the Laureato Chronograph, as a daily wearer chronograph, becomes quite a strong one.

But hey, no reason to take our word for it. For those in, Singapore: You’re in luck. The Hour Glass will be hosting a 13-day exhibition focused on the Laureato Chronograph from August 1 -13, 2018 at the Ngee Ann City, Level 1 Atrium. Come experience for yourself, the versatility of the Laureato Chronograph in your favorite variation. For details, head on over to thehourglass.com

For more on the Laureato Chronograph: girard-perregaux.com

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