Girard Perregaux

Girard-Perregaux has unveiled a Perpetual Calendar as part of its Girard-Perregaux 1966 collection, the clean, understated style of this watchmaking classic paying fitting tribute to the Brand's long-standing tradition.

Girard-Perregaux 1966 PERPETUAL CALENDAR

Named in honour of the Neuchâtel Observatory's Centenary Prize, awarded to the Manufacture in 1966 for its achievements in the field of chronometry, the Girard-Perregaux 1966 collection embodies the Brand's expertise both in terms of technical performance and style.

A highly complex mechanism, the Perpetual Calendar indicates the date, day and month, taking into account the different lengths of the months in the Gregorian calendar, including leap years. Its "mechanical memory" therefore counts 1461 days, or four years. A superb example of technical watchmaking, the self-winding calibre GP033Q0 comprises 288 separate components. In a further touch of sophistication, the calibre features the Manufacture's exclusive Microvar variable inertia balance, which can be seen through the watch's transparent case-back.

This exceptional calibre is housed in an elegant 40-millimetre case. With its beautiful symmetry and perfect attention to detail, the Girard-Perregaux 1966 Perpetual Calendar exceeds the most demanding expectations in terms of watch design. On its gently domed dial, baton indexes and fine hands mark the hours, minutes and the different calendar indications.

To emphasise the model's personality and improve its readability, the date, day and month are indicated by small blued steel hands, with the moon phases displayed in a window at 6 o'clock.

Technical specifications

Pink gold or white gold case

Diameter: 40.00 mm

Height: 10.74 mm

Antireflective sapphire crystal

Sapphire case-back

Water resistance: 30 metres

Girard-Perregaux GP033Q0 movement

Mechanical self-winding

Calibre: 26.20 mm

Frequency: 28,800 vibrations/hour (4 Hz)

Power reserve: minimum 46 hours

Jewels: 26

Functions: hours, minutes, perpetual calendar and moon phases indicator

Balance: Microvar, variable inertia

Alligator strap, ardillon buckle in 18 karat gold

Limited and numbered edition of 99 pieces in pink gold and 99 pieces in white gold.

Girard-Perregaux Microvar variable inertia balance

The result of Girard-Perregaux's chronometric research, the Microvar balance features six adjustable screws and two balance weights on its rim, used respectively to set the balance's equilibrium and enable fine adjustment of the movement. This exclusive development ensures increased precision and more stable adjustment.

Microvar balance

Glucydur balance wheel

6 external gold screws for setting the balance's equilibrium and general setting of the rate

2 Glucydur balance weights for fine rate adjustments (+/- 40 seconds per day)

1 eccentric for fine adjustment of the guide mark

Girard-Perregaux 1966; a collection in tribute

The Girard-Perregaux 1966 collection pays tribute to a period rich in innovations and technical advances for the Brand.

In the 1960s, Girard-Perregaux was one of the very few watchmaking Manufactures to have its own Research and Development team. This enabled the Brand to present, in 1965, the first High Frequency movement, operating at 36,000 vibrations an hour: the Gyromatic HF. Its performance in terms of accuracy was exceptional. The first models were immediately submitted to the scrutiny of the Neuchâtel Observatory, founded in 1856 to judge the chronometric performance of watch manufacturers. The result was remarkable. Girard-Perregaux was awarded certificates from the Observatory for its standard watches in competitions where previously only watches which had been specially prepared had passed the test.

The Neuchâtel State Council decided to recognise the work and developments of Girard-Perregaux in the field of chronometry by awarding the Brand the Observatory Centenary Prize in 1966. In 1967, the Brand obtained 662 certificates, a full 73% of all those issued by the Neuchâtel Observatory in the classic wristwatch category.

Press Release