Girard Perregaux

crown comfort
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The GP Laureato from 1975

1975: the Vietnam war ends, Volkswagen introduces the Golf, some geek called Bill Gates founds Microsoft, Sony introduces Betamax.

8 years earlier, Dustin Hoffman plays in the movie “The Graduate”, known in Italy as “Il Laureato”.

Even further back in 1931 in Geneva, Gerald Genta was born, who became one of the most influential watch designers of all times. Especially, in the 70ties, he designed the modern steel bracelet sports wristwatch and his lines made history with AP, PP, IWC, Omega, VC and GP!

In 1972 with a strike of genius, Gerald Genta drew a sketch of a steel bracelet sports watch for AP. The rest is history and the Royal Oak was born becoming one of the most successful luxury sports watch designs in history. A Genta design is always clean understatement with a lot of finesse.

Girard-Perregaux also turned to Genta to design its steel sport watch. It was named Laureato after the Italian name of the movie. The Laureato design has a lot of similar features with the Royal Oak, the octagonal bezel (thinner, no screws), the grey-blue waffle/pyramid dial, the thin case with the integrated bracelet.

Unlike AP, GP chose to release the watch with its inhouse Quartz movement, labeling it a “Quartz Chronometer”. From today’s view that may disappoint but back then, it needs to be understood that GP pioneered the modern Quartz design with its caliber 350 and in 1975 they were able to release a very thin watch with quartz caliber while the inhouse Gyromatics would likely had required a much thicker case design. From today’s view, there is another benefit of that decision: while original Royal Oaks or Nautiluses gone crazy on the prices, with the GP Laureato one can enjoy a timeless Genta design at a very reasonable price.

In 1995, GP completely revamped the Laureato but staying close to the original design, but this time adding a thin inhouse automatic movement. Ref 8010 is a real beauty and high on my wish list. In 2005, the 30^th anniversary of the first Laureato, GP released a limited edition of a Laureato Quartz in the modern case with a superbly decorated Quartz movement.

So, I’m very happy to report that I have been able to find an original Quartz Laureato, Ref 4266 TA in all steel and with grey-blue waffle dial. The all steel and waffle dial versions are not that often available but much more desirable in my opinion than the gold bezel, white dial variants.

CC

My 4266 TA on the wrist (will need some cleaning and scratch doctoring):