For the watch industry, the 1970s were a time characterized by unusual case shapes and the rise of the integrated bracelet sports watch. It was during this decade that a number of designs first emerged within this space, including the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, the Patek Philippe Nautilus, and the Laureato from Girard-Perregaux. While the hype surrounding the former two has reached critical mass within recent years, the Laureato is still able to fly slightly under the radar, despite being even older than the Nautilus and offering a level of execution and finishing that belongs right in the same conversations with its more mainstream-famous counterparts. With that in mind, the Girard-Perregaux Laureato has its own passionate fanbase of enthusiasts within the community, and the latest addition to the collection, the Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm Pink Gold and Onyx, offers an elevated and unapologetically luxurious take on the brand’s classic integrated bracelet sports watch.

Crafted entirely from solid 18k pink gold, the case of the new Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm Pink Gold and Onyx consists of a number of different stacked and interrelated shapes that collectively create a composed and harmonious overall appearance. An octagonal bezel sits on top of a thin circular ring, which is then positioned above an angular tonneau-shaped case. With a signed winding crown located on the side of the case at 3 o’clock, the geometric lines of the case are highlighted by contrasting high-polished and satin-finished surfaces, and this unique multi-dimensional case design dates back to the original Girard-Perregaux Laureato from 1975. A scratch-resistant sapphire crystal protects the dial, while a screw-on display caseback fitted with another clear sapphire crystal helps provide the new model with 50 meters of water resistance. Fitted to the semi-integrated lugs is a tapered H-link bracelet made from matching 18k pink gold that features brushed surfaces with high-polished center links.

As its name suggests, the new Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm Pink Gold and Onyx features a dial that is made from the jet black semi-precious stone. Handcrafted in an extensive process that requires 15 different operations, thin pieces of the stone are shaped and polished to provide them with a glossy mirror-like finish. Featuring a date window at 3 o’clock with the date appearing in white, the surface of the dial is fitted with hand-applied polished pink-gold hour markers, along with the Girard-Perregaux logo in matching pink gold at the 12 o’clock location. Continuing with the pink-gold theme is a slender set of pointed baton-style hands that complement the rest of the pink-gold dial furniture and the case itself.

The original Girard-Perregaux Laureato arrived during the height of quartz timekeeping enthusiasm during the 1970s, and it was therefore powered by a COSC chronometer-certified quartz movement. However, the new Laureato 42mm Pink Gold and Onyx features the beautifully finished mechanical Caliber GP01800. Operating at a standard frequency of 28,800vph, the in-house automatic movement offers users a 54-hour power reserve and includes a number of different traditional finishing techniques such as a circular graining on the mainplate, mirror-polished bevels, a solid pink-gold oscillating weight, and a healthy application of Geneva stripes across both the bridges and rotor.

There is a reason why integrated bracelet sports watches are so incredibly popular among today’s buyers. Not only do they offer a more cohesive appearance than a traditional watch with straight lugs and a standard strap, but they are also highly versatile because their bracelets are made out of the same material as their cases. With that in mind, the hype surrounding certain integrated bracelet luxury sports watches can be a bit of a double-edged sword, and in addition to being flat-out unavailable at a retail level, some models can also be accompanied by a degree of baggage or implied connotations simply due to their high monetary value and mainstream notoriety. With an official retail price of $54,300 USD, the new Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm Pink Gold and Onyx watch will be available this September through all authorized retailers, and while the model itself is not explicitly a limited edition with production capped at a specific number, output for the new model will be limited due to the nature of its time-consuming production process. For more information, please visit the manufacturer’s website.