Home » Baselworld - World Watch and Jewellery Show » Baselworld 2016 Review – Girard-Perregaux Stradale Chronograph Watch
To celebrate its 225th anniversary, a high-end Swiss manufacturer launched several interesting timepieces. Among them there are two chronographs with automatic winding which are first of that kind for Girard-Perregaux.
Girard-Perregaux started chronograph production during the 19th century. Evolution of this production continues during 1920s and 1930s when they moved chronograph on the wrist; then during the 1950s, the brand manufactured these instruments to meet the needs of engineers; in the 1960s, the famous Swiss watchmaker presented chronographs for measuring short time intervals which were intended for the younger generations looking for watches appropriate for calculating individual performances.
In order to maintain its 225-year-long history and tradition, as well as to highlight its enthusiasm for automobile racing, the Swiss watchmaking house launched its first two chronographs with automatic winding: Stradale and Circuito. They are both part of the brand’s new “Sport Competizione” collection.
Today I am focusing on the Stradale model which represents an elegant blend of luxury and sport. The sporty timepiece is inspired by Girard-Perregaux’s classic Club Italia watch.
Girard-Perregaux Stradale Chronograph Watch is housed in a perfectly sized case measuring 42mm in diameter. The case is crafted from stainless steel and constructed to resist water pressure up to 30 meters (approximately 100 feet).
Its case is determined to preserve the time-defying legend of the brand’s specialized chronographs from the 1960s and the 1990s, and some of details include elongated lugs, a mix of polish and satin finishing, mushroom-style push-pieces, as well as an open case back which unveils the inner beauty of the watch.
The beating heart of the Stradale Chronograph is the in-house manufactured GP03300-00122 automatic movement which is capable to provide no less than 46 hours of power reserve. The self-winding mechanism is perfectly finished and features the main-plate and bridges which are drawn, beveled, circular-grained and encrusted with Côtes de Genève; the screws are blued steel and the steel oscillating weight also boasts a Côtes de Genève decoration. The mechanism has the frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz).
Girard-Perregaux Stradale Chronograph is available in two versions. The first model with a silvered dial (ref. 49590-11-111-BBBA) and the variant with a black dial surface (ref. 49590-11-611-11A). They both display the times measured at the tip of the long central sweep seconds, as well as the elapsed minutes and hours in the additional sub-dials, which are delicately snailed.
Depending on the model, the new Stradale Chrono comes with a brown alligator leather strap fastened by an initialed folding clasp or with a three-row steel bracelet.
