While often seen as a brand of classic watches, Girard-Perregaux has recently decided to add some modernity and boldness to its collections by entering the ultra-competitive luxury sports watch market. Using its historic Laureato watch and integrated design as a base for this recently launched range of models, it has been enlarged with the Absolute sub-collection, a sportier and more masculine take on the octagonal case. Today, Girard-Perregaux is launching a model dedicated to one of the most active markets in the globe, with the new Laureato Absolute Infrared, a watch available exclusively in Greater China.
Girard-Perregaux is no stranger to the Asian market. About 160 years ago, François Perregaux, the brother-in-law of Constant Girard, one of the brand’s founders, lived and worked within the region. China has long been a dynamic and important market for GP and even more so these days, as China is the number one destination for luxury watches. Following the Quasar Infrared model exclusively for Mainland China a few months ago, the brand now comes with another model dedicated to the region. Later this year, GP will open its own boutique in China too.
This new Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Infrared is true to the design of the collection, and specifically to previous Absolute models, a bolder and sportier take on the sports watch with an integrated case. Made of grade 5 titanium with brushed and polished surfaces, a PVD coating gives it its full-black look. The octagonal bezel and tonneau-shaped case are still used in this sporty context and are reminiscent of the 1975 Laureato watch. The Laureato Absolute Infrared is a fairly large watch, measuring 44mm in diameter and 14.65mm in height, but also a robust watch that comes with 300m water-resistance. The use of lightweight titanium and the well-designed case will help to make it comfortable.
The main specificity of this Laureato Absolute Infrared for Greater China is its dial. Indeed, while retaining the original design of the collection, it is now made in forged carbon, a material known for its random pattern making each dial unique. Surrounded by an angled, brushed grey flange, it also comes with applied markers and hands coated in black PVD with red-coloured Super-LumiNova – a very apropos choice considering the market. The watch displays HMS and a date at 6 o’clock.
Under the solid titanium caseback is a well-known engine, the in-house calibre GP03300. This automatic movement beats at 4Hz and offers 46 hours of power reserve. Even though hidden, it will be nicely decorated, as always with GP.
The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Infrared is worn on an integrated black rubber strap with a fabric effect, red stitchings and a folding clasp with a micro-adjustment in blackened titanium. The watch is limited to 88 pieces and will be available from June 2021 in GP’s official retailers across Greater China (Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan). It will be priced at RMB 79,330 or CHF 10,680.
For more details, please visit www.girard-perregaux.com.