The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Turns Green

The Laureato, Girard-Perregaux’s take on the luxury sports watch, has a surprising history and was launched in 1975, just three years after Audemars Piguet unleashed Gerald Genta’s game-changing Royal Oak. Following a period of hibernation, the Laureato made a tentative return in 2016 to celebrate the brand’s grand 225^th anniversary, followed by a fully-fledged collection in 2017. Having been treated to the ultra-luxurious solid pink gold model with a sleek onyx dial just two months ago, GP returns to sportier stainless steel and decks its time-only 42mm Laureato model with a fresh green dial.

The first Laureato (Italian for graduate) of 1975 played the nascent luxury sports watch game to a tee. With its raised octagonal bezel, sleek lines, hobnail engraved dial and integrated steel bracelet, the comparisons to the Royal Oak were inevitable and no doubt welcome. However, unlike the Royal Oak, the Laureato was fitted with a slim, ultra-precise quartz movement. After all, GP had pioneered the serial production of quartz movements in the 1970s. Upgraded with mechanical complications in the 1980s and increased in size to 44mm in 2003, the Laureato slumbered for over a decade until 2016, when a limited edition (ref. 81000) was sent out to test the waters.

Following the launch of the standard collection in 2017, the Laureato line-up has expanded to incorporate everything from skeletonised models to chronographs and from perpetual calendars to classic time & date models.

Steel case, Green Dial

The signature geometry of the Laureato is constructed on a tonneau-shaped case surmounted by a circular ring and an octagonal bezel on top. Designed to highlight the juxtaposing geometry, the finishings of the stainless steel case and integrated bracelet alternate between brightly polished and satin-brushed areas. Measuring 42mm in diameter and a restrained 10.68mm in height, the only novelty here is the new green dial.

The hallmark Clous de Paris or hobnail decoration on the dial now dons a fresh green colour paired with a black flange – a first for the three-hand Laureato. To match the black flange, the applied baton-style hour markers and the hour and minute hands are treated with black PVD and a thick strip of white lume. The date window at 3 o’clock follows suit and has a black background with white numerals.

In-house automatic

Inside the case of the Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm is the in-house, self-winding GP01800 movement (30mm x 3.97mm) with its rhodium-plated oscillating weight decorated with circular Côtes de Genève. Other refined finishings, which can be appreciated through the sapphire crystal caseback, include the perlage on the mainplate and the straight Côtes de Genève on the bridges. Beating at 4Hz, the movement delivers a maximum power reserve of 54 hours. Functionality is limited to time and date only.

Availability & Price

The Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm Green will be available in November 2022 and sold exclusively by Wempe for one month. After this period, the watch will be available in authorised GP retailers. The price is CHF 13,700 or EUR 14,400.

For more information, please visit girard-perregaux.com.