Hot Take: The New Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph 8Tech
Amidst the flurry of new Geneva Watch Days releases, Girard-Perrergaux has just announced the new Laureato Absolute Chronograph 8Tech. This latest release from the brand takes the DNA of the original 1975 Laureato and combines it with the newest materials and contemporary design innovations. Since its introduction in 2019, the Laureato Absolute line has hosted only the most avant-garde versions of the watch. Each combines aesthetic and material interest to culminate in some of the brand’s most exciting timepieces. We enter a world where stainless steel is passé, and titanium, sapphire, and carbon reign supreme.
Back in January of this year, we saw Girard-Perregaux introduce the new Laureato Absolute Light & Fire and Light & Shade. These set the year off to an excellent start for the brand with their impressive blend of skeletonization and colored sapphire. Today’s release is equally impressive due to the innovative technique used to create its case. Suitably named 8Tech, the brand describes it as a process by which the case, “comprised of thin layers of unidirectional carbon fibers and lightweight titanium powder, is meticulously formed into octagons, a pioneering feat. Heat and pressure fuse the shapes, later refined by hand to achieve a shimmering finish reminiscent of Damascus steel.” The result is five times lighter than steel yet no less resistant. Let’s take a closer look at this latest chronograph from the La Chaux-de-Fonds brand.
The New Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph 8Tech
The look of the uniquely crafted carbon/titanium composite material echoes throughout this latest timepiece’s design. Its 44mm case stands 15.15mm tall and has a water resistance rating of 100m. Its menacing, smoky swirls pair beautifully with a distinctly monochromatic dial. Titanium indexes and a sandblasted gradient sandwich dial are some of the standout features you’ll find below the AR-coated sapphire crystal. Interestingly, the lume is applied to the painted square blocks on the dial’s surface. The “sandwich” cutouts on the dial reveal a non-luminescent Grade 5 titanium layer below. Three sandblasted chronograph registers descend into the dial, down to the same titanium layer revealed by the indexes, blending nicely with their matching hues of black and gray. Finally, a set of gray PVD-coated hands complete this colorless ensemble.
Up next, let’s talk about the movement. The GP03300-1058 self-winding chronograph caliber is visible through a tinted sapphire case back. This nicely finished movement comprises 419 components, has 63 jewels, and delivers a 46-hour power reserve. It displays the time centrally with running seconds at 3 o’clock and 30-minute and 12-hour chronograph registers at 6 and 9 o’clock. Its date display is subtly tucked away at the four-thirty position. The watch is equipped with a stitched rubber strap with a textile effect. Matching other bits of hardware, the strap features a black PVD-coated titanium buckle. It’s a chunky, lightweight chronograph with a unique, sporty look. To me, this is the most appealing offering yet from the Laureato Absolute line. Starkly modern yet not overly shouty, it strikes a perfect balance between wearability and material innovation.
Final thoughts
What do you get when you mix classic ’70s design with avant-garde materials and craftsmanship? The Giard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph 8Tech would undoubtedly serve as an answer to that question. It shows that GP still takes pleasure in pushing the boundaries without losing the characteristic charm of the Laureato’s DNA. And this is no easy feat. Lastly, the watch is not limited in production and will be available from October in boutiques and retailers worldwide at a price of €29,300. For more information, check out the Girard-Perregaux website.
But what do you think of the Laureato Absolute Chrono 8Tech? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
