Vintage
blomman Mr Blue shares a fascinating deep dive into the Girard-Perregaux Gyromatic Ref. 9380 GA, a vintage piece from the 1970s. This article, born from a community request, highlights the author's dedication to uncovering detailed information about lesser-known references directly from the Manufacture. It offers valuable insights into the design and context of this distinctive timepiece.
Friends,
You all know that I love vintage watches and I always try to find out as much information about our watches as possible.
A couple of months back one of our members posted a new catch, the Girard-Perregaux Gyromatic reference 9380 GA and asked for some help.
Unfortunately I didn’t know much about the watch in question...
So I reached out to my contact at the Manufacture for help and now when the Basel frenzy has passed I got a reply!
As already mentioned in the original post – this is a funky 70s design.
Cushion shaped, short almost integrated lugs, crown resting deep into the 38 mm wide case.
Lovely blue brush structured dial, applied indexes broad baton hands.
Same configuration we saw on several watches from GP in the 1970s, like my Gyromatic Chronometer HF.
The date window position at six is a bit uncommon, but there were several...
Here is an example from 1972 a watch with both the day and date window at six: Gyromatic HF, ref 9315
[Pic credit: Giuseppe (robert11a2001)]
Here is another example of a similar case, this time a quartz ref 9494 from 1974.
Which leads up to the 9380 GA: The 9380 GA was made in 1000 pieces between 1976 and 1978.
500 watches in steel and 500 yellow gold plated.
Back then the steel version on leather strap were priced at CHF 290 and on bracelet CHF 315.
The gold plated version were a bit more expensive, CHF 295 on leather and CHF 360 on bracelet.
This funky watch has a screw in case back.
Watertight, but not a super compressor case.
Inside, according to manufacture sheet is the GP caliber 460, 11 ½, which is based on the FHF caliber 905.
But when looking at photos posted I noticed that in fact it is the GP caliber 461 in this watch.
This I think is noting to worry about!
First off, both the GP 460 and the GP 461 are based on the same FHF caliber 905.
Secondly, I have noticed some deviations from the manufacture sheets in the past.
In fact my two Deep Diver 9108, one have the GP 460 and the other have the GP 461!
Same reference with different calibers inside.
I suspect that the two calibers were used in parallel...
Here is my Deep Diver with the same GP 461 inside.
Notice that my movement is copper plated while on the 9380, the movement is gold plated.
Both with quite nice finish.
Come to think of it, the 9108 and the 9380 is a bit similar in shape as well.
The 9108 is 2 mm larger than the 9380 and the case is rounder on the edges...
So, there you have it: the Girard-Perregaux Gyromatic, ref 9380!
I like to send a BIG thank you to the team in La Chaux-de-Fond!
Without a good communication with the manufacture, our forum would be less interesting.
Best
Blomman
The Girard Perregaux Deep Divers reference 9108 is a notable example from the brand's mid-century sports watch offerings. This particular reference is recognized for its robust construction and functional design, characteristic of watches intended for active use during its era. It represents a specific period in the brand's development of water-resistant timepieces, distinct from later iterations.
The watch typically features a stainless steel case, housing an automatic movement. The case diameter is generally in the range of 40mm, providing a substantial presence on the wrist. The crystal protecting the dial is commonly acrylic, consistent with watches of this period, chosen for its durability and resistance to shattering under impact. The movement provides a reliable power reserve suitable for daily wear.
This reference appeals to collectors interested in vintage sports watches and the historical development of water-resistant designs. It offers a glimpse into Girard Perregaux's approach to tool watches before the widespread adoption of modern diving watch standards. The 9108 is appreciated for its authentic vintage aesthetic and its place within the brand's heritage of functional timekeeping instruments.
Very helpful for those who are hunting these watches. Best, Nicolas
Yes, hope this will encurage more members to come forward with any questions! Best Blomman
But bit by bit we will uncover the mystery! Best Blomman
I suspected, having never seen anything like this one in the past, that the quantities must be fairly low. That is to be expected that late into the Quartz Crisis, when mechanical watches were struggling for survival. As it happens, I have seen an Ebel from the middle 70's with a very similar dial arrangement and case shape. In those days, there was a club atmosphere among the watch company owners, and Ebel and GP were close more than just geographically (the two companies were four blocks apart
Oh, that Ebel looks just awesome! Big, chunky and funky - the way we like it! Best Blomman
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