Pre-Baselworld 2015: Girard-Perregaux 1966 Guilloche dial

Guillochage – or engine-tuning in English – is an ancient technique of decorative engraving. It consists in a very precise intricate repetitive pattern or design that is mechanically engraved into an underlying material. Such a pattern is made on a rotative tool that can be only be controlled by the hand of trained craftsmen. For Baselworld 2015, Girard-Perregaux chose to use this manual work to ornament the dial of its best-seller, the Girard-Perregaux 1966.

The Girard-Perregaux 1966 is no stranger to us, at Monochrome-Watches – and it shouldn’t be for you too. Recently, we introduced you the 41mm edition with a blue dial and we fully reviewed the 38mm edition in pink gold with a blue dial. This watch exists in several editions, with simple movements or extremely complicated ones, such as a tourbillon or a minute repeater. For Baselworld 2015, GP is not touching to the technical part of this watch but instead comes with a new visual appearance, a finely guilloche dial, both available on the 38mm mens edition and on the 30mm ladies edition.

The new Girard-Perregaux 1966 Guilloche dial uses the same technical base as the 1966 blue dial we fully reviewed recently. This watch is the pure definition of a dress watch: slim, simple, discreet, manufactured in precious metal and with a case relatively small. It perfectly matches a tuxedo or a suit. The new guilloche – engine-turned – dial has a opaline silver colour and has 12 sectors with concentric lines engraved that radiate from the center of the watch. Combined with fine gold applied markers at 12, 3, 6 and 9, it brings a more refined and elegant look to this dicreet timepiece.

The case, the buckle and the hands are crafted in 18k pink gold. GP chose to use the 38mm edition of the 1966 for this variation instead of the bigger 41mm case. The movement is well known, as the Girard-Perregaux 1966 Guilloche dial comes with the calibre GP03300, which is used as a base movement in multiple watches from the brand. This self-winding engine contains 205 parts and it has a 46-hour power reserve with a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. The mainplate and bridges are drawn, beveled, circular-grained and decorated with Côtes de Genève motifs. It features the hours, the minutes and a central second, together with a date complication at 3.

This guilloche dial is also available on the 30mm ladies edition, always with a mechanical movement, the GP03200 (with 42 hours of power reserve and self-winding mechanism). It features a diamond set bezel and it gets rid of the central second and of the date window but for the rest, it is the exact same watch – same shape, same hands, same pattern on the dial – than the mens edition.

Both watches are coming on a black alligator strap with gold pin buckle.

More details on Girard-Perregaux.com