Girard Perregaux

Friends,

 

This Thursday will be “Throwback Thursday” and I like to share a photo I came into my possession of…

 

The year is 1961; an American tourist is on a South Pacific trip. Hawaii, Japan, Hong Kong and Thailand.

In one of the places he takes out his camera and snaps a shot…

The young boy is smiling. The small row boats, motor boats and ships…

The memories are forever saved in his camera.

In the middle of the photo is a tall building and on top of that building is a sign…

 

50+ years later the photo finds its way to a crazy GP collector in Sweden…

And ends up here in our forum!

Does anyone of you recognize the harbor? Is it Hong Kong? Or…

Why did he take this photo? Was it to capture the harbor… Or was it because he was wearing his Gyromatic on his wrist…?!

 

This we probably never will know, but I find this a nice memory I like to share here in the forum, even if it is not mine…

 

Any memories to share?

Please don’t forget to join our WristScan later today – this week’s theme is Watches & Food!

 

Best

Blomman

  This message has been edited by blomman on 2015-01-29 00:07:10

Great idea to gather the picture and the Watch. Sure, both of them have a lot of stories to tell!

Best,

Nicolas

That would be an conversation I would not like to miss...!

 

Best

Blomman

perhaps this can convince GP to put up a similar sign on the today's highest building in HK

I'm not sure this is HK, looks further South-East Asia to me.

Thanks for digging these things out!

CC

Here and there...

 

And as a crazy GP collector I love to put them together in a context...

 

Best

Blomman

I like your spirit and passion. Bravo!

Oliver

That means a lot comming from you!

Your posts are always full of both!

 

Best

Blomman

like a fishing village in one of the outlying islands in HK. The young boy is actually a girl by the way she is dressed.

GP was a household name in those days as they advertised heavily on TV and the like. One of my first if not the first watch was a GP but I can't remember the model.

Thanks for sharing Bman!

fernando

Thank you for the insight, Fernando!

So, GP was big in your area already in the 60's?

Do you still have your first watch?

My first watch was a "Svalan" got it at the age of 6. Lost it many years ago...

 

Best

Blomman

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I guess Hong Kong because of the two chinese characters underneath the 7 up sign, and the right character is the number 7.... so I am guessing that is the chinese characters for the 7up drink, and google seems to agree.

I guess it was the very first taste of exotic travel, and the lengths an American or European would have to go to plan the trip, itinerary etc.... if we look back now...

go all the way up to the neck line...it's a typical Asian kind of "Cheong Sam" (Cantonese)...long shirt or blouse as you call it...but its for female.

Nevertheless, it's awesome to go back in time.

Rgds
Raymond

Yes, it is nice to look back and imagine how and why...!

 

Best

Blomman

An alternative maybe Macau? That GP has quite a similar feel to the British 6B design. Except for the dauphine hands?

The British 6B design (and other British MIL) uses straight numerals, while this GP has more of Italic font.

I definitely need to find a good Mimo to match with some of my military watches, too...

Surprisingly we seem to have almost the same watches! 

Best,

Nicolas

Thank you, my friend!

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But the question is - did you ever found my track...?!

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My money's on Aberdeen Harbour Hong Kong.  I've only been in Hong Kong for 25 years, but I'm attaching a picture from 1974, which I think shows the same backdrop (much more built up by then, of course).  As you can see, Girard Perregaux has been replaced by Citizen (a sign of the times?), and the 7up sign has moved to the right.  Can't say for sure it's Aberdeen, but I think it's likely - Aberdeen was certainly on the tourist trail in the early 60s.

Hi All

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I tried to find confirmation before posting, but I didn't see this shot you used.

Here's a photo of the location now - thanks to Google Earth.  We still live in Hong Kong but these days armchair travelling is more convenient than getting in the car!  As you can see, the backdrop is very different now.  Although the Jumbo floating restaurant is still there (on the left), the buildings behind have all changed - including, alas, the one with the signage atop.