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SIHH 2010: Girard-Perregaux

Girard-Perregaux offered a compact and straightforward collection this year; all new models were derivatives in one way or another of existing products.

GP has made so many variations of the Three Gold Bridges tourbillon I’ve lost count. Yet it remains iconic because it is visually stunning and representative of the brand. And so predictably the flagship new product for 2010 is another variation of the celebrated Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges.

This version is similar to the square cased Vintage 1945 tourbillon offered last year with its straight bridges inspired by a vintage pocket watch. Unusually though this is housed in a rose gold case that is 41 mm wide, making it the largest round, tourbillon-only Three Gold Bridges.

Several new models were added to the Vintage 1966 range of round, formal watches. The first is a chronograph, 40 mm in diameter in rose or white gold. Despite its vintage aspirations this watch has the proportions of a contemporary timepiece with a wide tachymetric scale on the dial due to the small (10.5 ’” or about 24 mm) movement. But it remains a fine-looking watch that sits in the segment of a high quality and mid-priced retro-look chronograph.

Rose gold followed by white gold  

Last year GP unveiled the Vintage 1966 Annual Calendar with Equation of Time in rose gold, this year it is presented in white gold.

One of the most interesting watches GP unveiled is the Laureato Quartz. Mechanically it is a run of the mill quartz watch, albeit handsomely finished, but it is notable because it is a high-end quartz watch for men, which is rare.

This is a 40 piece limited edition to make the 40^th anniversary of the first GP quartz calibre. And it is either a stroke of genius or evidence of a glaring lack of ideas. This is likely a one-off, I doubt this marks the start of the return of luxury, Swiss quartz watches in a big way but I could be wrong.

The other new model for the Laureato range is the Big Date that is now available on a strap.

The well known ww.tc range also got two additions. The first is the ww.tc Small Second in rose gold. At 41 mm it is a men’s watch but this version would look right on a lady’s wrist too.

The other is the ww.tc chronograph in steel. Previously the ww.tc chronograph in steel was only made as a limited edition, this is regular production.

Finally the Vintage 1945 is available in a larger, curved case. Last year saw the introduction of the Vintage 1945 automatic in a case that is curved on two axes, horizontally and vertically, this year’s addition is in a bigger case.

In rose then white gold