PeterCDE
10167
Additional thoughts (and pictures)
G'day friends,
as GP?s statement does not specifically mention the Laureato to be a Genta design, it seems to be their own creation.
German watch magazine "Chronos" featured the 3-hands-Laureato in issue 3/1997, stating the Laureato model to be introduced in 1983. As the GP calibre 3100 hit the market in 1994, older watches seem to have quartz movements. In 1995 the "new" in-house calibre Laureato was introduced. Gerald Genta is NOT mentioned in the article, although the outer appearance of the Laureato is compared to AP?s RO and IWC?s "fat" Ingenieur.
Maybe like IWC (the 70?s "original" Da Vinci SL is quite an ugly piece, non-chronograph) the name did not change, but the watch.
Here?s a mid-80's watch of GP?s "Equation" line:
Vs. a contemporary Laureato:
(both pictures taken off the web)
GP?s catalogues of 1993 and 1994 do not show a Laureato model; but a similar watch as the "equation" model above is included. Given the date of Genta?s IWC (introduced in 1976), early 80?s would be quite late to design a similar looking watch. Especially because IWC?s Ingenieur didn?t sell that well and the model was dropped in about 1985.
Anyway, the Laureato is a very fine watch. Not too big, very flat, nicely finished in-house movement. It?s been pretty expensive and retailed for about 80% of a AP RO. If designed by Genta or not, it?s a great watch.
Greetings from germany,
Peter
Laureato not a Gerald Genta design.
Interesting... (more)
Additional thoughts (and pictures)
Thank you! (and a picture, just for fun)
