Girard-Perregaux: long tradition of Large Date watches

Aug 28, 2017,14:03 PM
 

Friends,

 

We all know that Girard-Perregaux have some very nice watches with the Large Date complication in their current collection.

For example, the 1966 Large Date Moon Phases:


Or the Vintage 1945 XXL:


GP has a very nice Large Date mechanism.

Seamless, no bar or edge separating the two numbers.

Lightning fast, date change is completed in under 5 milliseconds when triggered! 

(Me and CC once tried to capture the date change on video, but even on slow-motion it was too fast for the naked eye)

 

But the Large Date complication is not something new to GP.

Already back in the 1930s and 1940s, Large Date watches was in the catalogue!

Here is an example from the 1940 US catalogue:

Cover – On time … All the time… All over the world, I would have loved to be slogan writer back then!

smile

BTW, notice the “since 1791” – the magic number was already established 1940!


Inside – look at number 27. “Luck the man to whom you give Girard-Perregaux’s Calendar Watch! Every day, automatically, new date appears in red. 17 jewels. 14 K gold $80. Stainless steel $37.50.”

For that price, I would happily buy it myself!

wink


So already in 1940, GP made Large Date watches.

I earlier showed you my MIMO Large Date in Gold. Not exactly the same case as shown in the catalogue, but close.


Now let’s have a closer look at the one in the catalogue.


Same rectangular case but with an extra level on the sides.

Big crown with a pusher in the centre.

Stick hands and according to description, Large Date in red!

smile


The pusher in the centre of the crown sets the date one day forward used for setting the date.

Look at the slightly curved case back. Girard-Perregaux made comfortable watches already back then.

At midnight the date changes like modern Large Date watches, the right 0-9 shifts one up and when you hit zero, the left number blank-3 shifts one up as well.

From date 1 to 31 all is good, what’s not solved here is after 31…

32-40 you need to manually push past to get to 1 again.

A bit awkward but you get to see some fun dates…!

wink


The version in the catalogue with the extra level on the side give the watch a very interesting look, polished with brushed sides.

The bezel is angled so the light plays very nicely over the case.


Inside is the GP calibre 94 which in MIMO terms is 9.97 which took me awhile to figure out…


The calibre is based on the FHF 29 (8 ¾  - 12’’’) and was in use by GP between 1931 to 1946.

So most likely the first GP Large Date wristwatches are as early as beginning of 1930s.

 

Personally, I love to explore the history of a brand, go back to the roots and by that understand the modern watches of today!

And when the history comes in a NOS package with a stunning salmon dial…

smile

 

Hope you enjoyed another journey into the past!

 

Best

Blomman

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Comments: view entire thread

 

Damn... just damn!! ;-):-)

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : August 28th, 2017-14:36
Another marvel! Thanks for sharing And yes that commercial on catalog is superb. Cheers D

Thank you, my friend! [nt]

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : August 29th, 2017-03:30

This Mimo large Date with its salmon dial and the possibility to set the date thanks to a button in the crown... I say WOW. I really love it. A true jewel you own there my friend

 
 By: Alkiro1 : August 28th, 2017-15:36
Many many thanks for these shots and story. I just played a little bit with a US inflation calculator. If in 1940 the 14K gold was $80, it corresponds to almost $1,400 today. Regarding the stainless steel one at $37,50 its cost today would be $655. Still ... 

655 USD?!

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : August 29th, 2017-03:31
Well, I still would happily pay myself! Best Blomman

Same for me 😉

 
 By: Alkiro1 : August 29th, 2017-03:36
Best wishes Alkiro

I'm working on the time machine 😉

 
 By: Alkiro1 : August 29th, 2017-03:55
Best wishes Alkiro

;) [nt]

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : August 30th, 2017-11:45

Hehe 😁

 
 By: Alkiro1 : August 30th, 2017-14:30
Best wishes Alkiro

+1000

 
 By: Alkiro1 : August 28th, 2017-15:43
Best wishes Alkiro

+1

 
 By: Gelato Monster : August 28th, 2017-18:02
Amazing depth of GP knowledge. Thank you Blomman

My pleasure, GM! :) [nt]

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : August 29th, 2017-03:35

:) [nt]

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : August 29th, 2017-03:34

You know, my friend...

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : August 29th, 2017-03:34
Since the GP gang members here are so well equipped with great watches and very knowledgeable... I need to up my game! Only way to stay one step ahead of you guys! Thank you! Best Blomman

Super Post!

 
 By: Tim_M : August 28th, 2017-19:29
I'm a nerd, but I have to know, what is THAT SHOCK PROTECTION on the cal 9.97? That's awesome stuff and looks like a completely different school of thought compared to the later Incabloc and Kif systems. Does this arrangement have a proper commercial name... 

Thank you, Tim!

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : August 29th, 2017-03:41
I don't know the name of this shock protection device. Will try to find out! Best Blomman

Shock Protection

 
 By: Carlos Fandango : April 3rd, 2019-04:41
Hi, the shock protection is by Helvetia. The movement is Helvetia 75. The click and shock protection are very distinctive. ...  

Helvetia Big Date

 
 By: Carlos Fandango : April 8th, 2019-02:54
Just for interest, here is an advert for Helvetia's big date watch with the same Helvetia in-house movement. I think this dates from 1932 going by the patents. Also a picture of an example I found on the web: ...  

??

 
 By: Gelato Monster : August 28th, 2017-20:37
You meant we have to manually go up see funny date from 32-Blank0 before going back to Blank1?

Yes, or just let nature have its way...

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : August 29th, 2017-03:42
But it would take quite a long time before the date would be correct for the day again... Best Blomman

These very old NOS finds are the best of the best!

 
 By: crown comfort : August 29th, 2017-00:21
awesome catch, a great case, a wonderful movement and of course the history and connection to today. Now I have second Mimo that creeps to me during sleep.... CC

Indeed, when found...

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : August 29th, 2017-03:43
Its the best of the best! Problem is to find them.... Best Blomman

These all are real marvels !.. And the last with Salmon dial with a superb appeal !.. Sincere Congrats !..

 
 By: hs111 : August 29th, 2017-04:08
.. Great examples + pleasures to look at !.... .. + Cheers & Best, hs

Thank you, HS!

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : August 30th, 2017-11:46
Yes, the Salmon dial is to die for! Best Blomman

My pleasure, Nicolas! [nt]

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : August 30th, 2017-11:46

Altre versioni

 
 By: robert11a2001 : August 30th, 2017-01:26
Un modello molto ricercato , non solo dai collezionisti Girard Perregaux. Il Gp CALENDAR in acciaio esiste anche in versione quadranti salmone e tabacco Ciao Giueppe ...  

Fantastic pair, Giuseppe!

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : August 30th, 2017-11:49
Tabacco dail? Sounds fantastic. Any photos to share? Best Blomman

Thank you. You and me both! :) [nt]

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : August 30th, 2017-11:47

My pleasure, CJ!

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : September 1st, 2017-02:07
Yes, a lot to learn... But that is a big part of the fun ! Best Blomman