Review
Blomman Mr Blue offers a personal review of the Girard-Perregaux Sea Hawk 7100, a vintage diver from 1989. This article provides a detailed look at the watch's design, its versatility with different straps, and its place within the broader Sea Hawk lineage, making a case for its importance in a comprehensive GP collection.
Friends,
The week a new member here asked about the Sea Hawk 7100 he got as a birthday present. A very nice present I must say!
That reminded me that I promised you a review on this watch! So, long time overdue – here is my personal view on this watch.
To start with, I have seen several different dial colors on the Sea Hawk 7100. White, black, but I caught on to the blue version. You know - the color of love…!
Found mine with box and papers from 1989.
On the original bracelet this watch looks very shiny and in pictures would be a no go for me…
The link is nice looking and very comfortable, but the shininess doesn’t really work for me and basically I am not a bracelet person…
Luckily I have a lot of 20 mm straps that would do the trick!
Another detail that (often) is a no go for me is the mix of steel and gold… But here I don’t mind. The Yellow gold hands and applied indexes plus the golden scale on the bezel make the watch more blue and yellow, which is OK for as a Swede!
Actually find that the gold details here gives the watch a much warmer tone that if without.
I now got confirmation from GP that the Sea Hawk 7100 was indeed released in the end of 1988 and produced up until 1990 when it got replaced by the Sea Hawk 7300. The difference between the 7100 and the 7300 – on the 7100 it is a sapphire bezel while on the 7300 it is an aluminum one.
On mine the extra mark between 12 and 3 has gone…
The dial; the blue dial is very dark blue, but depending on angle and light it shifts from a very dark tone to clear blue.
The date window at three has a white date disk. Something we have been discussing a lot on the Blue Hour GP 1966. Here I don’t mind the white background, possible because it is balanced out by the larger luminous indexes…
It wears bigger that 38 mm. Bigger in a good sense, the comfort of 38 but the visual effect is more like 40!
The robust lugs and the crown guard help of course the visual.
Inside the Sea Hawk 7100 at first was the GP caliber 215 based on the Lemania 8810/Longines 990. Later on was the GP caliber 2200 based on ETA 2892, hand polished and assembled by GP. Both automatic movements.
The quite angular lugs make this watch sit perfect on the wrist. Notice the old style GP logo on the crown.
Some may think this one look too much 80’s or 90’s in its design… It lacks the charm of the vintage… It hasn’t got the edge of the current…
But that is exactly what it is! A watch designed and created in the end of the 1980’s and when you look at it for what it is, then the beauty comes forward!
I must confess that I like this watch much more that I thought I would when I first got it!
To me, this is a great everyday watch with a clear link to the past…
And also passage to the future that I hope one day will be mine!
For a guy that one (distant) day hopes to be able to tie the connection between the original Sea Hawk-Deep Diver-Current Sea Hawk…
The Sea Hawk 7100 is a natural choice to include in the collection!
Best
Blomman
This message has been edited by blomman on 2015-03-05 23:53:09The Girard-Perregaux Sea Hawk reference 7100 represents a distinct period for the brand's sport watch offerings in the 1990s. While not as widely recognized as some contemporaries, this reference showcases Girard-Perregaux's commitment to robust construction and functional design within its collection. It stands as an example of the brand's approach to a durable, everyday timepiece during that era, appealing to collectors interested in the evolution of GP's sport watch lineage. It is part of a series that explored various interpretations of the Sea Hawk nameplate.
This reference typically features a stainless steel case, designed for resilience. It houses an automatic movement, reflecting the standard for quality mechanical timekeeping. The watch is fitted with a sapphire crystal, providing scratch resistance and clear legibility. Its construction emphasizes durability, making it suitable for active wear while maintaining a refined aesthetic. The case dimensions are characteristic of sport watches from the period, offering a substantial presence on the wrist without being overly large.
For collectors, the Sea Hawk 7100 offers an opportunity to acquire a well-engineered timepiece from a respected manufacturer, often at a value that belies its quality. It appeals to those who appreciate the less-hyped models from established brands, particularly from the 1990s, a decade that saw significant innovation in watchmaking. This reference contributes to a broader understanding of Girard-Perregaux's output beyond its more celebrated complications and historical pieces, highlighting its consistent production of reliable and well-finished watches.
But I am not a big fan of the watches from the 80ies design. Now, when you are building a collection of GP diving watches, no question, you have to get it. Bravo, Blomman. Best, Nicolas
what we can now call Sweish Sea Hawk ;) but I like your sweater as well :) Great review Yours D
Yes, the current Sea Hawk would win each time... But to build a collection, in the long run, the 7100 is an importent part! :) Best, my friend Blomman
Yes, the Swedish Sea Hawk goes well together with colorful sweaters! :) Thank you, my friend! Best Blomman
to connect the past and the present. The more I see your photos, the more I like it. Not a watch I'm prepared yet to invest in, as I have too many gaps of other watches on my list, but I agree it is an important piece in the chain of history. CC
That bridge over from vintage to modern Sea Hawk! :) You will be seduced once you try it on your wrist... Best Blomman
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