Girard-Perregaux 1966 Column-wheel chronograph
Angus Davies reviews the Girard-Perregaux 1966 Column-wheel chronograph, a watch with an integrated chronograph movement and purity of line.
This detailed review of the Girard-Perregaux 1966 Column-wheel chronograph includes live images and specification details.
In the modern-era, more time is spent working than ever before. A greater number of social activities vie to consume the remaining leisure time we have available. Needless to say, less time is spent in the kitchen, preparing food with fresh ingredients. Indeed, hectic lives often dictate that an increasing quantity of food isn’t made from scratch, but prepared on an industrial estate in vast quantities and sold at the local supermarket.
The fact is, we live in a world where ready meals and “take-aways” have become very popular. However, there is a price for convenience and it is not merely fiscal. Lengthy shelf-lives required by supermarkets necessitate the use of preservatives. Marketing-led focus groups provide feedback on the visual appearance of food, resulting in food dyes and other enhancements being used to improve the look of our food.
The above comments are nothing new to the majority of readers, the media has repeatedly exposed the downsides to modern food manufacturing. Some households have reacted, seeking “organic food” and valuing “home cooking”.
Purity is always preferable to modified foods, albeit it often comes at a cost. The same could be said for haute horlogerie.
Pure or modified
The chronograph, a complication that the majority of watch lovers adore, can be created employing two strategies.
The cheaper, and more expedient, approach, is to select a base movement and modify it by adding a module on top. These movements are not bad per se and help place chronographs within the financial grasp of a broad audience. Many modular chronographs have been reviewed on ESCAPEMENT and they are invariably reliable and deliver much merit for the price.
The purist approach is the integrated chronograph movement. It is designed from the mainplate upwards to always be a chronograph. The additional benefit this delivers is the silky smooth operation of push-pieces, with no obvious jarring, together with a glorious physical appearance to the movement, often lacking with modular chronographs.
A column-wheel has a series of pillars, intricately formed, which are expensive to produce but deliver the tactile excellence the wearer can discern with one press of the push-piece. Moreover, they mitigate the risk of damage that could afflict cheaper movements by pressing the reset button whilst the chronograph is in use.
A further benefit of an integrated movement is that, whilst the chronograph is in operation, it is less likely to influence the general timekeeping of the watch. Some modular chronographs consume much energy and, as a result, can be less accurate than integrated movements.
A new calibre from a historical maison
At Baselworld 2013, Girard-Perregaux, an exemplar of haute horlogerie, released a new timepiece, containing an integrated chronograph. The Girard-Perregaux 1966 Column-wheel chronograph contains a new movement, the Caliber GP 03800, featuring a highly impressive specification.
The Caliber GP 03800 took five years of research to bring to market. As the name suggests, it features a column-wheel and, I can report from personal experience, the push pieces operate with a velvety smoothness.
The movement features a lateral, or horizontal, coupling. Whilst this arguably lacks some of the precision of a vertical-clutch, it does provide a wonderful view of the wheels meshing when the chronograph is activated. I personally favour this traditional approach adopted by Girard-Perregaux as it delivers a greater spectacle to the observer when contrasted with a vertical-clutch. However, I have to say both systems are wonderful and if you own a chronograph with either system, you should feel very fortunate.
A further enhancement, is the microvar variable inertia balance. It features two balance weights on its rim and six adjustable screws allowing precise poising of the balance.
Finishing
Looking through the flat sapphire crystal adorning the caseback, eyes are rewarded with a beautiful horological vista.
The Caliber GP03800 has a very traditional appearance, with the gear train readily visible. I like how Girard-Perregaux has not hidden many of the micro components beneath large bridges, but shown the wearer much of the mechanical spectacle at work. There is something appealing at seeing levers and wheels move and various components perfectly collaborate to impart time.
The finishing is excellent, with Côtes de Genève, circular grained wheels, blued screws and beveled edges in evidence. This movement is delivered in the most exquisite form, with much beauty in evidence.
A pure aesthetic to complement the virtuous soul within
The dial of the Girard-Perregaux 1966 Column-wheel chronograph, is presented with a choice of anthracite or opaline silvered finish. I have not seen the anthracite option, but the watch with an opaline silvered dial that recently I placed upon my arm, was the epitome of elegance.
Some chronographs can employ excessive detail on dials. Returning to my earlier food analogy, I would liken this to introducing too many flavours to one dish with the result that the senses feel over-burdened. In the case of this watch, GP has judged the styling of this model to perfection.
The hours are marked with applied pink gold indexes. Hands are diamond-polished, and those for hours and minutes, also feature luminescent material to their centres.
A tachymeter scale is presented on a contrasting grey scale, while a minute rail encircles the perimeter of the dial.
An aspect, I particularly like is the symmetry conferred by the two subdials. A small seconds display is located adjacent 9 o’clock, whilst a 30-minute chronograph register resides opposite at 3 o’clock. The bi-compax layout perfectly suits the restrained elegance of this watch.
A further subtle, but delightful detail, is the jumping minutes hand on the 30-minute chronograph register, which moves in discrete steps, aiding ease of read-off.
The date aperture, located above 6 o’clock, completes the inventory of functions presented.
Closing remarks
The highly polished pink gold case measures 40 mm in diameter and its beauty is obvious as you look at images of the watch, but it looks even better when viewed on the wrist.
As I examined the case of this watch I discovered additional small details that impart pleasure. Take the push-pieces for example, they have a rectangular form, with delightfully rounded edges. Moreover, they are perfectly in line with the crown, another indication, not that it is needed, that this is an integrated movement.
With a myriad of watches entering the market place each week, I choose to restrict my editorial focus to those timepieces which are interesting and display some virtue. The opportunity cost of writing about products which are bland or, in my opinion, lacking any merit, is the chance to examine those watches which proffer benefit.
It is seldom that a watch, despite being interesting, virtuous or both, is free of fault. There will often be a small detail which might “muddy the waters” or slightly detract from my perceived notion of perfection.
However, the Girard-Perregaux 1966 Column-wheel chronograph is, to my eyes, perfect. The watch is free of impurities and delivers virtue with each element of its composition. This is a watch I have noted on my wish-list of desirable timepieces and I would readily purchase if I had the necessary funds to secure acquisition. In this regard my affirmation of excellence, couldn’t be more pure.
Technical Specification
- Model: Girard-Perregaux 1966 Column-wheel chronograph
- Reference: 49529-52-131-BABA
- Case: 18-carat pink gold; diameter 40.00 mm; height 11.25 mm; water resistant to 3 bar (30 metres); sapphire crystal to front and caseback.
- Functions: Hours; minutes; small seconds; date; chronograph.
- Movement: Caliber GP03800, hand-wound movement; frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz); 31 jewels; power reserve 56 hours.
- Strap: Hand-sewn brown alligator strap presented on a pink gold pin buckle.
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