Girard-Perregaux expands its Laureato Absolute collection with a new version of the automatic hour, minute and central seconds with date watch in Titanium – the Ti 230.
Press Release information
This year marks the 230th anniversary of Girard-Perregaux. As part of its celebrations, the Manufacture is revisiting its iconic models and releasing a number of new creations. The story of the Maison began in 1791 when Jean-François Bautte, aged just 19, produced his first pocket watch. However, the most romantic chapter in the brand’s history is when Constant Girard married Marie Perregaux in 1854, culminating in the birth of one of the greatest names in watchmaking.
In 1791, clearly a remarkable year, an English clergyman, William Gregor, discovered a black sand called menachanite in Cornwall. He analysed it and concluded that it contained oxides of iron and an unknown metal. This metal was subsequently identified as titanium, an element named after the Titans, the children of Uranus and Gaea in Greek mythology. Today, titanium is widely used, not only in watchmaking but also in the fields of aerospace, medicine and motorsport, selected for its array of benefits.
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Ti 230
Retail price is CHF 8,260 (before taxes) / EUR 9,400 (inclusive of 20% VAT).
The Laureato Absolute Ti 230 in a 44mm lightly sandblasted case that encompasses polished facets, providing a beautiful gleam and subtle contrast. The Laureato Absolute Ti 230 is available with a choice of a blue or grey dial. The Ti 230 blue dial reference will be distributed exclusively through Wempe for the first month following its launch. Beating at the heart of the Laureato Absolute Ti 230 is a self-winding Manu facture movement, the Calibre GP03300-1060. It contains 218 components.
The Laureato Absolute Ti 230 unites the two stories of Girard-Perregaux and William Gregor, drawing on know-how amassed over 230 years. Titanium comes in many forms, sometimes alloyed with other elements. Girard-Perregaux prefers to use Grade 5 titanium as it is particularly strong, corrosion resistant, lightweight and hypoallergenic; attributes that enrich the wearer’s experience.
Another reason for using Grade 5 titanium is that the metal can be polished. Girard-Perregaux presents the Laureato Absolute Ti 230 in a 44mm lightly sandblasted case that encompasses polished facets, providing a beautiful gleam and subtle contrast. Successfully combining both types of finish proves more demanding, however, as Girard-Perregaux has repeatedly shown, it never shies from a challenge.
“With the release of the Laureato Absolute Ti 230 we wanted to create a new version of our iconic watch from 1975. This model is modern but encompasses traditional craftsmanship. The sandwich dial construction and GP’s world-premiere Rubber Alloy strap, this time incorporating titanium, are further sumptuous details that also feature on this watch. Finally, while the price may be more inclusive, the quality remains typically Girard-Perregaux and the watch feels just as exclusive as our other models.”
Patrick Pruniaux, CEO of Girard-Perregaux
“Once again, Girard-Perregaux kindly approached us and offered exclusivity for this new model prior to its worldwide launch. We are delighted to have this opportunity and we appreciate the close working relationship we enjoy with Girard-Perregaux, forged over several years but solidified last year when we were fortunate to become their exclusive retailer across Germany.”
Kim-Eva Wempe, managing owner of Gerhard D. Wempe KG of Wempe
The combination of curves and lines are juxtaposed with the octagonal bezel and crown, beautifully playing with contrasts. The Laureato Absolute Ti 230 is available with a choice of a blue or grey dial, augmenting eye-appeal. For the first time, the Maison offers a Laureato Absolute where the crown is encircled with a rubber ring, matching the hue of the rubber strap. This detail may not be obvious at first glance, but it will be familiar to those in the know.
The dial is of a sandwich-type construction, comprised of an upper layer, perforated with numerous openings, sat upon a lower layer. The apertures in the upper layer afford partial sight of the lower layer, presented in grey. By adopting this design approach, the apertures form recessed luminescent baton-type indexes, wonderfully playing with depths, thereby heightening the overall appearance of the dial.
Beating at the heart of the Laureato Absolute Ti 230 is a self-winding Manufacture movement, the Calibre GP03300-1060. It contains 218 components, all produced to Girard-Perregaux’s exacting standards.
Upholding Laureato tradition, the strap is integrated, a characteristic found on the original model released in The strap, made of GP Rubber Alloy, this time containing titanium, perfectly matches the colour of the dial, and features a fabric effect texture, tastefully enlivened with grey stitching.
Girard-Perregaux, consistent with its no-compromise attitude, has selected FKM rubber, a specification that provides greater suppleness and resistance than conventional rubber. The Manufacture has chosen to pair the strap with a titanium folding clasp with a micro-adjustment system, allowing the wearer to fine tune the size to deliver the optimal wrist fit.
The Laureato Absolute Ti 230, as previously stated, is offered in two variants, blue and grey. Each option is limited to 230 pieces. The blue dial version of the Laureato Absolute Ti 230 will be sold exclusively by Wempe for one month in its ten boutiques across Germany as well as its flagship stores in New York and London. Thereafter, the model will be available in all authorised Girard-Perregaux retailers and on the brand’s e-commerce site.
With immediate effect, the grey dial version is available in all authorised Girard-Perregaux retailers as well as the brand’s e-commerce site.
GP Laureato Absolute Ti230 Technical Specifications
Reference: 81070-21-001-FB6A (grey dial)
Reference: 81070-21-002-FB6A (blue dial)
Case
Material: Grade 5 titanium
Diameter: 44.00 mm
Height: 14.65 mm
Glass: sapphire anti-reflective
Case-back: secured by 6 screws, engraved Laureato Absolute logo
Dial 1: blue, cut out ‘baton’ type indexes with luminescent material
Dial 2: grey, cut out ‘baton’ type indexes with luminescent material
Hands: ‘baton’ type with luminescent material
Water resistance: 300 metres (30 ATM)
Movement
Reference: GP03300-1060
Self-winding mechanical movement
Diameter: 25.95 mm (111/2’’’)
Height: 3.36 mm
Frequency: 28,800 Vib/h – (4 Hz)
Number of components: 218
Number of jewels: 27
Power reserve: min. 46 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds, date
Bracelet
Material: blue rubber injected with titanium, fabric effect and grey stitching
Material: grey rubber injected with titanium, fabric effect and grey stitching
Buckle: titanium, folding clasp with micro adjustment system
