Home » Baselworld - World Watch and Jewellery Show » Baselworld 2016 Preview – Girard-Perregaux 1966 Skeleton Watch
In 2016, Girard-Perregaux celebrates its 225th anniversary. As it is expected, one of the oldest manufactures in the world will create its anniversary collections. One of these anniversary models is the Girard-Perregaux 1966 Skeleton which will be officially unveiled at the upcoming Baselword 2016 watch fair (from March 17 until March 24).
The Girard-Perregaux 1966 Skeleton is based on the smaller version from 1966, which means that the case is 38mm wide and only 9.27mm thick. The classical round case is crafted from 18-karat rose gold and it has been entirely polished with a smooth and beveled bezel, short lugs and a small crown.
The beating heart of the new Skeleton watch is magnificent automatic caliber GP01800-0006 based on the famous GP1800 caliber. The impeccable movement has been treated by using a galvanic process (anthracite gray ruthenium) and then hand chamfered, polished, and satin-brushed. The mechanical movement features a self-winding capacity (via a skeletonized central rotor in gold) and comes with a decent 54-hour power reserve. It consists of 173 individual components, has the frequency of 28,800 alternations per hour (4 Hz) and it is compiled on 25 jewels.
The movement offers functions of hours, minutes and a small seconds and it is directly attached to the second wheel, right after the escape wheel at the 10 o’clock position. The new movement has also evolved, as it now boasts a “Microvar” variable inertia balance which is exclusive to Girard-Perregaux.
The skeletonized movement is finished with a great attention to details as we can see on these images. Instead of the old-school which includes engravings, arabesques and complicated shapes, this newcomer displays a lot of internal angles, which has been done by hand, as well as polished bevel angles on all the bridges and a concentric brushed finish on the top. The impressive movement measures 30mm in diameter which is quite proportioned with the size of the case.
The leaf-shaped hour and minute hands correspond with the chapter ring which consists of applied hour indexes and minute transfers set on the outer ring. From the rear, the skeletonized oscillating weight is visible through the sapphire crystal case back which has been crafted in gold.
Girard-Perregaux 1966 Skeleton comes with a black alligator strap, fitted with a rose gold pin buckle. The price is yet to be confirmed and more details about this exceptional newcomer will be available when Baselworld 2016 opens its gates, so stay tuned.
