Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph Ti49

Quick specs Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph Ti49
Price: € 20.500 | CHF 18’600 | $ 19,400 | £ 16,500
Size: 42 mm
Reference: 81020-21-3263-1CM

The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph Ti49 celebrates the 49^th anniversary of the Laureato series. And Ti stands for Titanium, so now you’ll get the name. This new model is a lightweight, however not in terms of capabilities or quality, for sure. But first let’s look at its history.

In 1975 the Laureato series is launched, as a competitor of the first Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks, launched in 1972. As all main brands observe that AP’s sportive but distinctive new model conquers a new watch territory. So, Patek Philippe creates their Nautilus and Vacheron Constantin the 222 for instance. GP answers with the Laureato. A quartz at the time, as the world of watches endures a so called quartz crisis during the 1970s and early 1980s.

Laureato: from quartz to mechanical

It took until 1984 before the Laureato welcomes mechanical movements and complications. Its design evolutes, and from then more or less every ten years the model gets a mostly subtle make-over. The last new models date from 2016 and 2017, and we expect a full new collection next year when the Laureato turns 50. For now, the new part of this model is the use of titanium, the first time for the Laureato.

The 42-millimeter case is made from grade 5 titanium and is 12 millimeters thick. It is still intricately shaped, a signature of the series. The dial is executed in slate grey, a good match with the titanium, and has a Clous de Paris motive. Embossed small square knobs also called Paris hobnail that can be found on the… Royal Oak as well. To give the Ti49 a monochromatic look, the logo, hands and markers are grey PVD coated. And to keep the grey, the date also has a tone-on-tone color.

The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph Ti49 has a power reserve of 46 hours

The heart of the time piece is the Girard-Perregaux caliber GP03300-0141, an automatic with a power reserve of 46 hours. It has a “heavy metal” oscilating weight but what it is exactly is unknown as the case back is closed. Well, it keeps the watch more robust but we like to see the tech bits once in a while.

The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph Ti49 comes on a satin-finished and polished integrated titanium bracelet. Secured by a titanium triple-folding buckle. Love black over grey? Last year GP also launched a monochromatic model in carbon fiber, the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph 8Tech. You might like it as well.