Girard Perregaux

 

We have had the Ref. 49526 38mm Small Seconds in the 1966 collection in rose gold (LE 100 pieces) and palladium (LE 199 pieces) and GP have now released an updated 41mm version (the Ref. 49543) in a RG case with a delicious cognac coloured dial with a brushed sunburst finish or a silvered opaline dial.

When I visited the Manufacture last year and all the models were laid out in front of me the new chocolaty dial immediately caught my eye and I loved it even more when I strapped it on. I think you will agree that the rich dial looks wonderful against the rose gold case.

And the new chiselled and faceted indices and the gold hands are set off beautifully against the tobacco dial too.

The silvered dial version is more subtle and elegant and perhaps more versatile.

The seconds subdial at 9 o’clock balances the date at the traditional 3 o’clock position.

Inside is the robust GP01890-0003 4Hz automatic in-house movement with a power reserve of 54 hours. The watch has a sapphire rear and a RG automatic winding rotor.

These are now my favourite ‘simple’ watches in the 1966 range.

Andrew 

I much prefer this one, much more balanced:



Thanks Andrew!

Fx

That one is hard to beat!


Best
Blomman

There are much more appealing Vintage 66 than this one...

Best,

Nicolas.

No doubt the 40mm Ref. 49534 you show is beautiful, symmetrical and classical with the enamel dial and blued hands.

But sometimes you need asymmetry and tension. The new Small Seconds with date is a wholly modern take on the 1966 idea. The chocolate cognac dial is just perfect against the RG case. The brushed sunburst dial catches the light and along with the new chiselled indices and the curved dial there is much more life and interest.

The morning I saw this watch the sun was streaming through a window behind me. The table was laid out with a range of GP watches, including several haute horlogerie tourbillons, but it was this watch that caught my eye.

So while I appreciate the attraction of the classical subseconds watch, don’t discount this new, more modern 1966 Small Seconds with date. I know I won’t convince the ‘symmetrical crowd’ but I will be interested to see people’s response to this watch when it reaches the showrooms.

Andrew

I love assimetry (Lange 1, Millenary and so on...).

The trouble is that the movement is too small for the case and with the second hand subdial, too close to the center,  you see it.

Sorry but I stay with my initial choice!

Thanks Andrew!


Fx

This message has been edited by foversta on 2013-02-15 15:58:01

Gotta to see this in the flesh. Thanks for the pictures.

I photographed the prototype watch and don’t have any images of the movement, Flamenco. But GP are telling us that the Calibre GP01890-0003 is an automatic with 54h PR, 28 jewels, 28800 vph and a rose gold rotor on display through a sapphire case back.

Andrew

I like these new 1966 variants. I cannot say for sure if I would prefer the cognac dial without seeing it in flesh, but the layout and subtle changes are a nice modern rework of the classic 1966.

More shots of the versatile RG with silvered dial version (Ref. 49543-52-131-BKBA)

Awful, sorry but this is my opinion. Don't think necessarily that the case is too large but the layout with the date at one end and the small second so close to the centre is absolutely not appealing to me. The 1966 small second with enamel dial which Flamenco reviewed on 27th January is a real beauty but this one...for me it is thumb down.

... You're not the only person to react this way to the watch in photos. I would be very interested in your opinion of the watch when you handle one in a Boitique. As a departure from the usual 1966 aesthetic I really did like this watch. Remember to revisit this thread with your thoughts. Generally GP doesn't take too long to get the new watches out into the marketplace.

Regards,

Andrew

This one is not my "cup of tea", based on this weird dial layout.

Cheers,

Nilo

No message body

Movement too small for the case...again.  GP is stricken with this disease lately.  

The information from GP on this new Cal. GP01890-0003 is that the movement is a large 13.25 ligne (30.6mm), the same size as the GP4500 family.

While we might have qualms about the 10.5 ligne (23.9mm) GP030C0 in the 40mm 1966 Chronograph, I don't think that is the issue with this movement.

Andrew

Agree with Nicolas and Marcelo. The subdial is too  close to the center, plus the date spoils the dial, especially the white against the warm champagne. Maybe if the background of the date disc was similar to the dial, it might look slightly better.

No message body

From the comments in this thread the position of the seconds subdial is clearly going to take some getting used to but, just to be clear, it is unrelated to the size of the movement which, as I mentioned above, is 13.25 Ligne and perfectly fitted to the 41mm diameter case.

GP have designed a unique double third wheel in the gear train that can be seen in the picture below. This provides three positions where the second hand can be directly driven: from the center, at 10.30 and at 9 o'clock as you see in this watch.

Andrew

 

GP tell me that the new 1966 Small Seconds with Date should start to arrive in the dealer network in April. Again I think it is impressive how quickly GP get these new models out to customers after the launch.

Girard-Perregaux 1966 Small Seconds and Date

Technical Description

 

Case in pink gold

Diameter: 41.00 mm

Glass: anti-reflective sapphire

Case back: sapphire crystal

Water resistance: 30 meters

 

Girard-Perregaux Movement GP01890-0003

Automatic mechanical movement

Caliber: 13 ¼ ’’’

Frequency: 28.800 Vib/h (4 Hz)

Power reserve: min. 54 hours

Jewels: 28 

Functions: hour, minute, date, small second

 

Alligator strap available in brown or black

Folding buckle in pink gold

 

References: 49543-52-131-BKBA (silvered opaline dial)

 49543-52-B31-BK6A (cognac-colored dial)

but this is a stunning addition to the line.  Love the chocolate dial!