Girard-Perregaux celebrates a special relationship with Japan

“In recognition of its special relationship, the Swiss Manufacture has chosen to craft two limited edition models, exclusively for Nippon. Both models, a Laureato 42 mm with a blue Grand Feu enamel dial and a Laureato Chronograph 42 mm Titanium featuring a Clous de Paris pattern, are dressed in a distinctive shade of indigo blue and limited to 100 pieces each.”

Girard-Perregaux has recently unveiled two Laureato models in celebration of the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Japan, and the brand’s own relationship with Japan. François Perregaux, brother-in-law of Constant Girard, established an office in Yokohama in 1860, 164 years ago. Girard-Perregaux, founded in 1791, is based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.

“Among the many traditional colours, the Maison chose indigo blue, termed ‘Aiiro’, for its historical significance in Japan. Production of Aiiro dye, extracted from the Japanese indigo plant (Periscaria tinctoria), is believed to have been prevalent during the 16th century and is often associated with samurai warriors who considered the hue as a ‘winning colour’. When English chemist, Robert Atkinson (1850-1929) arrived in Japan in 1874, he was amazed to see the widespread use of the bewitching hue and described the colour as ‘Japan blue’, a shade that is celebrated with these latest GP models.”

The two Laureato Japan ‘Aiiro’ editions:

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Laureato Aiiro JAPAN Limited Edition, a 42 mm hours-minutes-seconds-date watch in stainless steel featuring a Grand Feu blue enamel dial. (Same as Header image.)

Key Features

Functions

– Its functions are central hours, minutes, and seconds.

– Date at 3 o’clock.

Dial

– It features a Grand Feu blue enamel dial with a guilloché sunray pattern.

– The hour and minute hands are baton shaped and rhodium plated.

– Its 10 baton shaped hour-markers are applied on the dial. 12 o’clock is displayed by the “GP” logo.

– The date wheel is blue, a thoughtful and elegant touch, and matches the dial.

Case and Bracelet

– Its case is made from stainless steel, polished and satin finished.

– Its case diameter is 42 mm and thickness 10.68 mm.

– The dial side has an anti-reflective sapphire crystal.

– Its caseback is screwed to the case and features a sapphire crystal.

– “Special Edition of 100 pieces” is engraved on the caseback, along with other typical timepiece text.

– The crown at 3 o’clock features the “GP” logo embossed on it.

– It is water resistant up to 100 metres.

– Its bracelet is made from stainless steel, polished and satin finished. It features a stainless steel triple-folding buckle.

Movement

– It is powered by in-house self-winding calibre GP01800-1730, that drives the hours, minutes, seconds, and date.

– It has a diameter of 30.00 mm and thickness of 3.97 mm.

– It comprises of 191 components.

– It has 28 jewels.

– It beats at a frequency of 28,800 vph or 4 Hz.

– It has a power reserve of 54 hours. 

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Laureato Chronograph Aiiro JAPAN Limited Edition, a 42 mm chronograph in Grade-5 titanium featuring a blue dial with a Clous de Paris pattern and black subdials.

Key features

Functions

– Its functions are central hours, minutes, and chronograph seconds.

– Small seconds on subdial at 3 o’clock.

– 12-hour counter on subdial at 6 o’clock.

– 30-minute counter on subdial at 9 o’clock.

– Date between 4 and 5 o’clock.

Dial

– Its blue dial features a Clous de Paris pattern.

– The three subdials are black and feature a snalied pattern.

– The date wheel is black, a thoughtful and elegant touch, and matches the subdials.

– The hour and minute hands are baton shaped, black PVD-treated, and coated with luminescent material (green emission).

– Its 12 baton shaped hour-markers, applied on the dial, are black PVD-treated, and coated with luminescent material (green emission).

– A minute scale, graduated in increments of 5 minutes, encircles the outer dial.

Case and Bracelet

– Its case is made from Grade-5 titanium, polished and satin finished.

– Its case diameter is 42 mm and thickness 12.01 mm.

– The dial side has an anti-reflective sapphire crystal.

– Its solid caseback is attached to the case by 6 screws.

– “LAUREATO CHRONOGRAPH” and “Special Edition of 100 pieces” is engraved on the caseback, along with other typical timepiece text.

– The crown at 3 o’clock features the “GP” logo embossed on it. The 2 chronograph pushers are at 2 and 4 o’clock.

– It is water resistant up to 100 metres.

– Its bracelet is made from Grade-5 titanium, polished and satin finished, and features a titanium triple folding buckle with a micro-adjustment system.

Movement

– It is powered by in-house self-winding calibre GPO3300-0141. Its drives the hours, minutes, small seconds (at 3 o’clock), chronograph functions (central chronograph seconds, 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock, and 30-minute counter at 9 o’clock) and date.

– It has a diameter of 25.95 mm and thickness of 6.50 mm.

– It comprises of 419 components.

– It has 63 jewels.

– It beats at a frequency of 28,800 vph or 4 Hz.

– It has a power reserve of 46 hours. 

Our Thoughts

It is common for watch brands to celebrate relationships with countries and specific retailers. Girard-Perregaux, among the oldest of Swiss watch brands, has an established presence in key markets worldwide. Japan is among the most important and sophisticated watch markets in the world. With the two Laureato Japan ‘Aiiro’ editions, Girard-Perregaux has created two great-looking models to celebrate the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Japan, as well as their own relationship with Japan, predating the diplomatic one by 4 years.

Based on images, both the Laureato Japan ‘Aiiro’ editions feature plenty of details, and each unique in personality. The Laureato 42 mm three-hander with date featuring a Grand Feu blue enamel dial is more traditional, whereas the Laureato Chronograph 42 mm with blue and black dial is more modern. Both are well priced.

Although they are limited editions exclusively for the Japanese market, their appeal and demand will go beyond Japan’s borders. Horology, just like cuisine and music, is a universal language, and I will not be surprised if collectors worldwide seek both the Laureato Japan ‘Aiiro’ editions.

Additional Details

Name: Laureato Aiiro JAPAN Limited Edition

Reference: 81010-11-3310-1GM

Price: Japanese Yen (JPY): 2’585’000 / United States Dollar (USD): 18,400. (The USD price is a recommended retail price, VAT included.)

Limited edition of 100 pieces.

Name: Laureato Chronograph Aiiro Japan Limited Edition

Reference: 81020-21-3311-1GM

Price: Japanese Yen (JPY): 2’805’000 / United States Dollar (USD): 20,000. (The USD price is a recommended retail price, VAT included.)

Limited edition of 100 pieces.

The Laureato Japan ‘Aiiro’ editions will be available from October 2024 at selected authorized dealers in Japan. Please visit the Girard-Perregaux website for more information.

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