Girard-Perregaux Laureato 38mm White Ceramic – The Iconic Design, Dressed Up in Full White

Girard-Perregaux deftly blends past and future in the all-new Laureato 38mm White Ceramic watch that was just unveiled at SIHH 2018. Guys, you are going to want to invest in this white wonder for the woman in your life. Trust me, after seeing it, I can also add this: the pictures do not do this watch justice.

If for no other reason, one of the key things to love about this watch is its provenance. With roots dating back to 1791, Girard-Perregaux has a long and respected watchmaking past. The brand is renowned for its legendary Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridge watch that was first invented in 1889 by Constant Girard-Perregaux, and which the brand continues to build today. It also has a long history with the Laureato watch.

It was more than four decades ago, in 1975, that the brand first launched the Laureato collection as a luxury sports watch. It was the era of bold yet chic sporty looks, of octagonal bezels and quartz movements. The Laureato was a hit and gained a strong international following. Girard-Perregaux continually evolved the line, eventually adding a mechanical movement almost a decade later, and thereafter adding new renditions and complications.

In 2016, in honor of Girard-Perregaux’s 225-year history, the brand revitalized the Laureato line, breathing new life into it, with the introduction of an inaugural limited-edition watch. At the SIHH 2017, the brand properly relaunched the model, by unveiling an entire collection of watches. Then, just a few months ago, it released the all-black Laureato 42mm Ceramic watch – another big hit.

So, the extension – the Laureato 38mm White Ceramic – may not be a big surprise from an “announcement” standpoint, but it is definitely a pleasant surprise from a “looks” perspective. While the black beauty was a stealth watch for men, this lustrous white wonder is geared for women. The chic, sporty, iconic look of the Laureato takes on an all-new, distinctive appeal when clad totally in white. (It almost makes me recall the line in the famous Billy Idol song: “It’s a nice day for a white wedding.”)

So, to the white wonders… Let’s start with the most identifiable part: the bezel. In the Laureato 38mm White Ceramic watch, the octagonal stainless-steel bezel, set on a white ceramic integrated case, stands out beautifully thanks to the addition of 56 brilliant-cut diamonds. Interestingly enough, the diamond setting is unusual in that Girard-Perregaux sets a larger diamond at each of the eight points of the octagon, with smaller diamonds graduated in size from large to small between each larger point. I really like this setting, as it accentuates the octagon shape.

The white dial offers depth and dimension thanks to the “Clous de Paris” hobnail motif, and outer minute track. Even the baton-type hands and markers are created with white luminescent material to blend in with the white look, but to stand out enough to read the time. The watch also features a central seconds hand and has a date aperture at 3:00.

If you can steal your glance away from the entrancing dial and bezel, the entire case and bracelet of the Laureato 38mm White Ceramic watch is – you guessed it – white ceramic. This high-tech material, though, is finished in a superb satin-brushed surface that commands a double take. One almost has to look twice to see that the material is indeed scratchproof ceramic and not something else. Kudos to Girard-Perregaux for this achievement. The satin finish of the case and bracelet make for a nice contrast against the polished interlinks.

Architecturally, the watch offers the same style codes as all Laureato watches, with an ergonomic fit and an integrated bracelet. It helps, too, that ceramic is pretty much a hypoallergenic material and that it feels great on the wrist. Of course, for those who like a choice (and what woman doesn’t like options?), Girard-Perregaux also offers the Laureato 38mm White Ceramic watch with a white rubber strap instead of the ceramic bracelet. I personally prefer the bracelet… after all, the watch is called the Laureato 38mm White Ceramic.

Finally, we know savvy women care about what’s under the hood, too, and this watch packs a powerful mechanical self-winding calibre, GP03300-013. Beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour, the 218-part movement offers 46 hours of power reserve.

So, men, if the provenance of the brand, and of this collection, doesn’t grab you, the look and the top-notch Manufacture-made movement should. Even if it’s not a nice day for a white wedding – it’s a watch you should introduce to your loved one.

This article has been written by Roberta Naas, founder of watch-magazine A Timely Perspective. Roberta is also the author of six books on watches.

Credits for Live Images: CH24.pl