SIHH 2010: Girard-Perregaux 1966 Chronograph

The new Girard-Perregaux 1966 Collection chronograph watch will see the light at the upcoming 2010 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie event set to open in Geneva, Switzerland on 18 January 2010.

The latest member of GP’s popular 1966 collection will feature plain and simple dial layout with two subdials (one for a second hand and –at 3 o’clock– for a 30-minute chronograph counter) and a heat-blued central chronograph second hand.

Its 40 mm case is made of 18-carat polished rose or white gold, just as the humble winding crown featuring GP’s logo and a pair of push-pieces. As usual, the pusher at 2 o’clock is used to start and stop the chronograph, and, pressing the piece at 4 hours, you will reset the chrono to zero.

The three control elements are not only finely executed, but also seem to be quite ergonomic allowing for an easy operating of the watch.

The watch will be powered by a 23.68 mm GP030C0 automatic column-wheel chronograph movement, which –what an irony– is currently GP’s movement of choice when it comes to ladies watches.

The movement seems to be finely fitting the timekeeper’s dial layout with its wide and long tachymeter scale that lets you measure speeds of up to 1000 kilometers per hour.

To my taste, however, the scale is a little out of proportion to the rest of the dial taking just too much real estate compared to the rest of the face. It would be better if the chronograph totalizers were set a trifle wider.

For the display to look well-proportioned, the distance between the counters should be equal to their own diameters.

Well, I guess it is just another sign telling us that, diameter wise, the industry went too far. I hope, we will see more sub-40mm men’s watches in the nearest future.

Photos: Girard-Perregaux

Girard-Perregaux 1966 Chronograph watch specification

Price range: N/A
Movement: GP030C0, automatic, 28,800 vph, 38 jewels, column-wheel chronograph, 304 parts
Complications: Chronograph
Power reserve: 36 hours
Case material: Polished rose or white gold, 18-carat
Case shape: round
Case size: 40 mm
Case height: N/A
Dial: White with two sub-dials and a tachymeter scale
Hands: White or rose gold
Water resistance: 30 m
Strap: Leather strap
Crystal: Sapphire