If you’re on the lookout for a limited edition timepiece steeped in the history of a brand, anniversary editions are a great place to look and 2021 has seen plenty of them. For example, Seiko and Grand Seiko are celebrating 140 years in the watch game with watches like the Sky Full of Stars. 140 years is a long time, but it’s a rookie number compared to Girard-Perregaux’s 230 years of operation, which they are celebrating with a new version of their 1975 classic, the Laureato.
230 years ago, the year was 1791 and two very important things were happening. Jean-François Bautte created his first pocket watch at age 19, eventually going on to create the brand that would become Girard-Perregaux, and William Gregor (an English clergyman) discovered the presence of titanium in Cornwall. Meaning that in a strange twist of fate, Girard-Perregaux’s history has always been entwined with that of one of watchmaking’s premier materials.
Which is why the new, limited edition Laureato Absolute Ti 230’s 44mm case is made from grade 5 titanium, as you may have guessed from the inclusion of Ti (the chemical symbol for the metal) in the watch’s name. It pays homage to their shared history while also providing a lightweight, durable and corrosion resistant construction. The octagonal construction has been given a light sandblasting finish prior to having its facets polished, both of which are technically challenging feats when working with titanium.
In classic Laureato fashion, the case design itself is very sporty, with a muscular layered effect created by the strong integrated bracelet base and circular dial ring which is topped off with that octagonal bezel. The crown is also thicker than previous Laureatos because of the introduction of a rubber ring that increases the amount of grip, reinforcing the watch’s sporty aesthetic.
As for the dial, there are two colours to choose from: blue or grey. The blue one is the more visually striking of the two, although the grey creates a more cohesive appearance in tandem with the titanium. Both dials use a classic sandwich construction, which means there is a base layer coated in lume with a top layer that has hour marker cut-outs that reveal the layer below. They also have a date window at 6 o’clock.
Housed inside is the GP03300-1060, an in-house automatic calibre that has a power reserve of 46-hours. There’s nothing too crazy about the movement but it fits the attitude of the watch very well, classy and simple performance.
Both limited editions will be capped at 230 pieces each, for obvious reasons. However, there is an important distinction between the two: the blue version will be exclusive to Wempe stores in Germany, London and New York for the first month after release, prior to joining the grey version in all Girard-Perregaux stores and the online store. The price tag for both is £7,200, making them genuinely worth a consideration if an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is beyond your budget, which is not an unreasonable situation to be in.
Price & Specs:
Model: Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Ti 230
Reference: 81070-21-001-FB6A (grey dial)
81070-21-002-FB6A (blue dial)
Case/Dial: 44mm diameter x 14.65mm height, grade 5 titanium case, grey or blue dial
Water resistance: 300m (30 bar)
Movement: Calibre GP03300-1060, automatic, 27 jewels, 218 parts
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 46h
Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds, date
Strap: Grey or blue rubber injected with titanium, fabric effect strap with grey stitching
Price/availability: £7,200, limited to 230 pieces each
More details at Girard-Perregaux.
