Many prestigious watch brands are engaged in the quest to introduce their products to a wider audience, principally by widening the price fork downwards. One of the ways this can be done is to use quartz movements, and examples include Longines, Corum and Glashütte Original; another way is to use steel instead of gold or platinum, and this is the case of Girard-Perregaux who have presented the 40 mm version of the 1966 watch in steel for the first time (click here to read about the 1966 in white and pink gold with blue dial). The material gives this classic dress watch an even more contemporary look, with taut, controlled, minimalist design, and absolutely no colour. It functions to perfection as a dress watch, with a case just 8.9 mm thick, but also as an everyday watch. Inside, the self-winding GP03300-0030 movement was designed and is made and assembled in-house, with a 46-hour power reserve. It runs at 28,800 vph (4 Hertz). It can be viewed through the display caseback, revealing the Côtes de Genève decoration on the oscillating weight. The watch is mounted on a black alligator leather strap, or on a steel bracelet, which is particularly attractive, with fairly small links approaching the Milanaise look.
References and prices
The Girard-Perregaux 1966 in steel is available in two versions, with leather strap, reference 49555-11-131-BB60, price €7,850, and with steel bracelet, reference 49555-11-131-11A, price €8,550.
