Girard-Perregaux Traveller ww.tc Ref. 49700 Review

Crown comfort shares a compelling review of the Girard-Perregaux Traveller ww.tc Ref. 49700, offering a fresh perspective after a manufacture visit. Initially skeptical of the new design, the author details how hands-on experience changed their perception, highlighting the watch's improved wearability and refined dial details. This article provides valuable insights for collectors considering the evolution of GP's iconic world-timer.

During my recent visit to the manufacture, I had the chance to see almost the entire current collection.

One model that has become an icon of GP over the recent years is the Word-Wide Time-Control (ww.tc), a world-timer with chronograph function (or also available without chronograph in previous versions).

I own a ww.tc of the previous generation, a Financial Time Control, Ref 49805 with Panda dial, which I adore.

This one I actually left with the manufacturer for a much needed service.

The current Traveller line, which combines other travel functions like large date/moonphase with or without GMT in the same model series, continues to offer a World-Timer with Chronograph.

Frankly, I never really got warm with the new case. The wider bezel, the different lugs, crown guards and the absence of the second crown (I still like that feature even most say the watch looks better without) together with an even larger diameter of 44mm, did not really convince me.

However, when I was able to play with them this time, I changed my mind.

First of all, the design overall is a clear change from the previous models, the case appears to be less thick and despite the grown size, feels not larger on the wrist. The bezel nicely catches the light and the satin-finished lugs add to the sophisticated look. I must admit that the new Traveller ww.tc wears more comfortably than its predecessor. The new buckle design likely plays a part in this too.

What I also really liked are the dial details with the longitude and latitude lines on the inner dial.

The version that I thought was best, is the white dial. We had the pink gold, white dial to play with, but there is also a Steel version with the same dial (except no gold accents). 

I would choose a different strap, the white stitching is not the best fit here in my opinion.

Next version was the black dial, pink gold. Quite liked that too, but here the dial depth and details are a bit lost due to the dark dial, hence I prefer the white dial.

Next, we also had the Titanium version with a two-tone dial, white and beige subdials. Superlight to wear, but I’m not a fan of Titanium cases for watches. In addition, I find the subdial design less convincing with the beige colour. For one, only 2 of 3 subdials are coloured and then they seem to be cut off by the 24 hour ring. 

Finally, there was a Steel version with Black and White Dial. A bit more colourful, really liked the Steel case, but the dial suffers from the same issues as the Titanium model.

In summary, the new Traveller case is a lot better and more comfortable than I thought. If you had the same hesitations, I really recommend to try these on in real, they will surprise you in a positive way. The Steel with white dial would be my absolute favourite, but would put this on the wish list as I still would like to enjoy my ww.tc FTC Panda dial for a while.

Other points of critique, some minor complaints:

I would have wished for a different font used for the Cities Ring, the new font is not very pleasing to the eye.

The strap attachment and the new buckle will limit you to only GP straps, which was not necessarily the case on the predecessor.

However, very, very positively surprised by this one, it will haunt me, I know…might probably go with the GMT Traveller first, but this case is quite to my liking and the depth and details on the dial…hmmm.

CC