Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm with a Hypnotic Grey Grand Feu Enamel Dial
A mesmerising radial pattern and grey enamel elevate the cachet of the brand’s luxury sports watch.
The Laureato, released in 1975 by Girard-Perregaux, was one of the precursors of the luxury sports watch. Redesigned for the fifth time in 2016 and 2017, the Laureato is now the brand’s best-selling collection. The classic 42mm steel time-and-date model returns this summer with a mesmerising grey Grand Feu enamel dial for a classy monochromatic look.
Produced three years after the Royal Oak but well before the Nautilus, the 1975 Laureato featured a fully integrated bracelet, a round dial, an octagonal bezel, a tonneau-shaped case, and a slim quartz movement. In addition to the unwritten mandates regarding the case architecture of a luxury sports watch, dials of early luxury sports watches, including the Laureato, often displayed textures. Since its comeback in 2017, the Laureato collection is (predominantly) characterised by its stamped Clous de Paris/hobnail dials in a wide range of colours.
Elevating the cachet, the grey dial of the new reference is decorated with Grand Feu enamel, a prestigious métiers d’art performed by Donzé Cadrans, a master enameller of the Sowind Group to which GP belongs. The first step is to create the sunray motif emanating from the centre of the dial. Almost like an intricate spider’s web, the rays increase in size as they reach the perimeter. The next step involves applying successive layers of enamel, typically between five and ten, which are fired in a kiln reaching temperatures of 800°C. As any master enameller knows, a lot of things can go wrong during the firing process, including blistering and cracking. The beauty of Grand Feu enamel lies in its lustrous finish and incredible resilience to fading.
The hypnotic grey Grand Feu enamel dial plays with the light, producing subtle colour variations. For a more elegant, upscale presence, the minutes track has been removed, the applied rhodium-plated indices and baton hands are not treated with luminescent material, and the date window at 3 o’clock has a colour-matched disc in harmony with the dial.
Like other stainless steel Laureatos, the architecture of the 100m water-resistant case is highlighted with a mix of satin-brushed and polished finishes. The 42mm tonneau-shaped case measures 10.68mm in height and is decorated with a horizontal brushed surface with bevelled edges. The hallmark octagonal bezel, which sits atop a polished plinth, features a circular brushed finish. The sleek integrated bracelet echoes the finishes with brushed external links and brightly polished central links.
The sapphire caseback reveals GP’s in-house calibre GP01800, a slim automatic movement with a thickness of just 3.97mm, a 4Hz frequency and a robust power reserve of 54 hours. Attractive decorative finishes include the circular Côtes de Genève on the pink gold rotor the straight Côtes de Genève on the bridges, along with mirror-polished screws, bevelled edges and perlage on the mainplate.
The Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm with grey enamel dial retails for CHF 17,100 (incl. tax) or EUR 18,800 (incl. tax). It will be available worldwide at all Girard-Perregaux retailers starting June 23, 025. More information at girard-perregaux.com.
2 responses
That’s a very raw edged finished date window if I’d ever seen one.
The 5 minute marker looks to be off centre on the radial line? I thought it was just perspective from the photo angle, but seems to be the case in shots from different angles?