Laureato Perpetual Calendar

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Laureato Perpetual Calendar - Girard-Perregaux
SIHH preview: Girard-Perregaux unveils a new Laureato Perpetual Calendar.

To tackle the masterful complication represented by the perpetual calendar, Girard-Perregaux has designed a Laureato that is all about subtle positional shifts arranged in a dynamic equilibrium. Simple to read and easy to adjust, it is the result of an ergonomic approach to operation and wearability pushed to its uttermost limits.

The watch is carved from a 42 mm diameter steel block, alternately polished and satin-finished and its bracelet is of the same nature, finish and quality. Its blue dial adorned with a Clous de Paris hobnail pattern, against which the white indications stand out in striking contrast, sets the final touch to this resolutely modern timepiece.

Laureato Perpetual Calendar

The Laureato Perpetual Calendar is powered by a new Fine Watchmaking movement, specifically created to equip this watch. Calibre GP01800-0033, an automatic movement, is entirely developed, produced, finished and assembled within the walls of the Manufacture Girard-Perregaux. In addition to the hours and minutes, it indicates the day, date, month and nature of the current year, whether leap or not, and offers a 54-hour power reserve. 

One of the technical challenges of this complication lies in its display mode. In view of the profoundly architectural inspiration of the Laureato collection, Girard-Perregaux has equipped the Laureato Perpetual Calendar with subdials arranged in an unusual order. The days are thus shown at 9 o'clock and the pointer-type date display between 2 and 3 o'clock, while the month appears through a large window at 6 o'clock, marked by an off-centred pointer at 5 o'clock. Just above it, a smooth textured area divided into four sections reveals the nature of the current year. The balance prevailing on this dial is not determined by symmetry, but instead by a layout based on harmoniously offset indications. 

Calibre GP01800-0033 is an exception to generally accepted watch industry rules. With its four indications, a perpetual calendar naturally takes a while to set when the watch has stopped and must be reset to the current date. Instead of the usual configuration, which provides each calendar indication with a separate corrector, the Laureato Perpetual Calendar uses a single pushbutton, located at 8 o'clock, which controls the day cycle. The setting of the date, month and type of year (leap or non-leap year) is directly accessible by the crown and operates in both directions.

Laureato Perpetual Calendar

The movement's baseplate is entirely circular-grained and decorated with Côtes de Genève executed in the Manufacture. The bridges and the oscillating weight also feature a Côtes de Genève motif, as well as entirely hand-crafted bevelling. At only 6 mm high, this calibre helps confine the case to an overall thickness of 11.84 mm.

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Girard-Perregaux