New: Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm Infinite Gray

April 06, 2015

Fifty years after the Girard-Perragaux Laureato s inception, the 42mm Infinite Gray version debuts, flaunting a glorious Grand Feu enamel dial. GP doesnt say anything about this new reference being a special anniversary watch, but the artisanal dial does make it special.Not too long ago, I wrote an article offering Girard-Perregaux unsolicited advice. The article proposed cutting back on the number of references in the Laureato collection. Well, heres the new reference 81010-11-3475-1CM, a watch that GP should never axe from the collection. The steel Laureato 42mm Infinite Gray combines contemporary and classic beauty, meaning it will always look good, regardless of the era and trends.The Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm Infinite Gray: Dialed in to celebrate 50 years of the LaureatoThe Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm Infinite Gray ($18,800 / US$17,900) flaunts a glorious Grand Feu enamel dial. Although GP doesnt present it as a special celebratory edition, the combination of a superbly finished steel luxury sports watch with an integrated bracelet and a soft-spoken gray Grand Feu enamel dial, a fine example of ancestral craftsmanship, results in a special timepiece nonetheless.In the case of this newest Laureato, it s all about the radiant dial with its subtle depth. Its made in a traditional, artisanal way by the Sowind Group, to which Girard-Perregaux belongs. The enamel used for the dial is a precise blend of silica, minium, potash, and soda, all ground into a fine powder and tinted with metal oxides to achieve its tone. This mixture is applied in multiple layers to the dial, fired at approximately 800C, and repeated 5C10 times, creating a lustrous finish. Due to the delicate nature of the process, many dials don t make the cut because only perfect ones make it to the watch. Beneath the translucent enamel lies a sunray flinque pattern, adding dimensionality and brilliance to the dial. This combination of texture and hue enhances the visual richness of the surface, offering an ever-changing play of light.Underneath the Infinite Gray dialThe movement powering the Laureato 42mm Infinite Gray is the automatic caliber GP01800. This 3.97mm-thick movement is fully developed, manufactured, and assembled at Girard-Perregauxs watchmaking atelier in La Chaux-de-Fonds. It delivers a healthy 54 hours of power reserve. Through the display case back, you can its the pink gold rotor swing. It shows circular C?tes de Geneve, while the bridges of the movement display straight Geneva stripes. A closer look reveals additional finishing of the movement. You might want to use a loupe to appreciate details like mirror-polished screws, beveled edges, perlage on the mainplate, and gilded engravings, all proof of GPs long-running Haute Horlogerie tradition. What do you think? Is this the perfect Laureato in GPs collection? Before you answer that, please imagine this watch in a 38mm size. Now you can share your thoughts in the comment section.Watch specifications Brand Girard-Perregaux Model Laureato 42mm Infinite GrayReference 81010-11-3475-1CM Dial Gray Grand Feu enamel with a flinque sunray motif, rhodium-plated GP logo and indexesCase Material Stainless steel with polished and brushed finishesCase Dimensions 42mm (diameter) 49.1mm (lug-to-lug) 10.68mm (thickness)Crystal SapphireCase Back Stainless steel and sapphire crystal, screw-in Movement Girard-Perregaux GP01800: automatic with manual winding, 28,800vph frequency, 54-hour (min.) power reserve, 28 jewels, pink gold rotorWater Resistance 100 meters (10 ATM )Strap Stainless steel integrated H-link bracelet with butterfly claspFunctions Time (hours, minutes, seconds) and datePrice $18,800 / US$17,900