Vintage
Blomman Mr Blue presents the Girard-Perregaux Ref. 9444 HA, a significant piece in horological history as the first series-produced Swiss quartz watch. His post offers a detailed look at this vintage timepiece, highlighting its historical context, technical specifications, and unique design elements.
I promised you a summer menu filled with some vintage posts.
So let’s bring out the tray again…
What do you think is inside this time? Well, as the title state: It is the GP 9444 HA
The GP 9444 was the first quartz watch ever produced by Girard-Perregaux and the first Swiss quartz watch produced in a series.
Inside the first batch was the GP caliber 350, the first quartz movement ever to use the frequency 32.768 Hertz. My GP 9444 HA was produced in 1972, inside is caliber GP 352.
Launched in 1971 the retail price was CHF 500, this was considered too cheap by many in the industry, which thought GP was making the quartz technology too available for everybody…
The GP 9444 was produced between 1971 and 1974. Here seen in the 1972 catalog.
So, how does this quartz movement work…?
Well, here you have it! In Italian that is….
One detail that makes me smile when I see it … NO (0) JEWELS – that is not what you expect to see on a Swiss movement.
The dial is
a drawing of the “Circuito Integrato”, the chip inside the movement. I know
Damjan already stated that the Casquette is the
coolest Quartz watch ever made. And I agree, but I can’t help thinking that
this dial is the coolest Quartz dial ever made! 
Here is a close up where you can really see the “wirings”!
Big, bulky case, typical 70’s shape.
Screw down case back.
Mine has a stamp on the case, looks like a bear(?) – my guess is an import stamp, Portugal or South America. Anybody recognize this stamp?
You know my love for blue dials… Here together with her blue mechanical sister.
The case is 42.5 x 38.5 mm, but since the lack of lugs, the watch doesn’t wear that big.
I hope you
have enjoyed this first part of the summer menu!
More to come…
Best
Blomman
This message has been edited by blomman on 2014-06-18 12:54:26
Very cool 70's design and a piece of history. Instead of being part of the Swiss programs in the field of electronics, GP went ahead on its own in the development of its quartz movement (electric motor for watchmaking piece patent filed in 1969). Worked with Thomsom CSF and then Motorola. The Elcron was presented at Basel 1970, with a 8192 Hz Quartz Oscillator . Your watch in 1971 and it was the first ever to beat at 32'768 Hz now a universal standard. The GP-350 movement was now equipped with a
Yes, this was a great and unexpected catch! :) Best Blomman
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