Girard Perregaux

Baron - Mr Red
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Girard Perregaux Reference 8795

Girard Perregaux has a rich and fascinating horological history. The GP Moderator, Blomman, has done a tremendous job at showing the diversity and depth of some of that history. In fact, such a good job that I found myself wanting to hunt down a vintage GP in order to participate and enjoy the participation on this forum. But, much as I like Blomman, I needed to find a watch that I could really enjoy wearing in order to play. My simple guidelines were;

1. White metal
2. Vintage: 1950s or 1960s
3. Chronometer

I was reasonably flexible regarding complications (but as few as possible) and size of case (34mm or bigger). Finding a manual wind was not going to be possible, but finding an automatic movement chronometer was possible. In fact, GP has some very rich history in this arena. I had been warned by Blomman that finding a nice GOP vintage was, in itself, tricky. But finding a nice model in good condition….well, that could take some time. The good thing is that I like hunting and can be persistent. With luck, I found the watch for me…my first GP……

The watch is an automatic movement chronometer, Reference 8795 in steel. There is some very interesting history with this watch. Produced between 1966-68, the Girard-Perregaux Chronometer HF was made in response to the desire for a more accurate automatic movement. Indeed, its history was originally chronicled on this forum courtesy of Jerome Berder in 2010, who wrote:

“In 1966 Girard-Perregaux presented the first high frequency calibre beating at 36000 vph, fitted in the Gyromatic HF. This calibre created in-house by the Girard-Perregaux research and development team brought exceptional timing results and as a matter of consequence lead the State Council of the Canton to attribute to Girard-Perregaux the Centenery Prize of the Neuchatel Observatory.”

TS1987 has also conducted detailed research on this watch. cording to his research:

“In 1966, the in house research and development team (a rarity among watch manufacturers then) was ready. The Gyromatic Chronometer HF with its fantastic quality high beat movement, featuring hack seconds, micro metric fine regulator screw, ISOVAL self-compensating hairspring and monometallic balance was made in a serial production run of 662. The chronometer test for each of the 662 cased movements was conducted by the B.O. for 15 consecutive days in six positions and three temperatures. Every Chronometer HF proved precise enough to have received the additional distinction of “especially good results” printed on the issued certificate called a “bulletin de marche”.”

What is noteworthy is that these 662 chronometer awards in 1967 represented some 73% of the total chronometer certifications across all manufactures for the classical wristwatch category. That is a stunning achievement for GP. I wonder whether such domination has been seen since?

What are some of the quirks of his watch? Well, identifying the first generation HF movement can be achieved by examination of the movement number found on the plate beneath the rotor. This  has a 32A engraved along with the specific batch number. In the case of my watch……

Its not a quirk, but that brushed steel dial hold a lot of appeal for me. Likewise the simplicity of the dial. OK, I might have preferred no-date function. Likewise, a 37-38mm may have also been more to my liking. But, having said that, a watch of a smaller case diameter also has its time and place within a collection, bringing with it a very different feel to wearing it. 

As my first post on GP suggested, I feel very very much a beginner in vintage GP territory, but having now identified and tracked down a vintage GP that I will enjoy wearing, I very much look forward to participating more on this forum. My plan was to have just one vintage GP…….but i suspect that such a plan is not one of my best….

I very much like the brushed steel nature of the dial....

The 32A movement....one of the 662

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