Girard-Perregaux ww.tc World Wide Time Control Chronograph (ref. 49805-11-650-BA6A)

First unveiled about ten years ago, the Girard-Perregaux ww.tc World Wide Time Control Chronograph (ref. 49805-11-650-BA6A) watch finally comes sporting a sturdy stainless steel case.

While the iconic Jaeger-LeCoultre AMVOX5 World Chronograph features very similar dial layout, it also uses a more traditional approach to the second time zone indication employing a second hour hand to display time in a chosen city.

The Girard-Perregaux ww.tc World Wide Time Control Chronograph uses completely different approach to the problem.

Its in-house GP033C0 self-winding movement sports a unique coupling mechanism that drives the rotating ring with a military-style 24-hour scale on it, so you can always know what time is now in any of the 24 cities represented on the stationary outer ring.

To make representation of the time zones easier on the eyes, GP’s designers divided the rotating scale in two: the white-colored part represents day-time, and the dark one is for the night-time hours. Very handy.

The watch’s legibility is further enhanced with its monochromatic color scheme.

As you can see on the pictures, the WW.TC features its bold baton-style hour and minute hands (as well as hour indexes and the huge 12 numeral) painted in bright white and additionally covered with a thick layer of white SuperLuminova. The rest of the information, including names of the cities and markings on the chronograph totalizers, are also printed in that high-contrast white color.

Frankly speaking, I am not very pleased with the watch’s 43 mm case, which is, while very comfortable on the wrist, is not polished, but satin-finished instead. While this kind of finish surface makes the stainless steel case look lighter, more titanium-like, the problem is that it will also be very good in revealing inevitable scratches on the watch’s body. Also, it will be more expensive to repair the scratches.

Well, I truly hope that soon they will re-issue the watch in a DLC coating. That one is going to be a real hit!

Photos: Girard-Perregaux

Girard-Perregaux ww.tc World Wide Time Control Chronograph watch (ref. 49805-11-650-BA6A) specification:

Price range: €11,000
Movement: GP033C0, automatic, 29.32 mm in diameter, 63 jewels, 28,800 vph, in-house
Complications: World time with day/night indicator, chronograph, date
Power reserve: 46 hours
Case material: Stainless steel
Bezel material: Stainless steel
Bezel shape: Round
Case size: 43 mm
Case height: 13.4 mm
Dial: Black and white
Numerals: Arabic
Hands: Steel
Water resistance: 50 m
Strap: Matt black alligator strap with a deployant buckle
Crystal: Sapphire
Case back: Sapphire