Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Light & Fire
The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Light & Fire has just been released to mark the Chinese New Year and is limited to 18 pieces. US-based Meehna Goldsmith looks closely at the Laureato Absolute Light & Fire and shares her thoughts on this product from the revered Swiss Manufacture.
Intriguing and different
A lot of commotion and hullabaloo can attract a lot of eyeballs and interest. Think about the Doodle and Frenchie dog craze in the United States. However, if you get caught up in the brouhaha, you might miss out on some other interesting options sitting in the background. Tibetan Terrier, anyone? They were originally raised to be companions to the monks in Tibet, known as the “little people” and for their mischievous sense of humour. Intriguing and different, just like the new Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Light & Fire.
Laureato depuis 1975
Horological history took a turn when Audemars Piguet introduced the Royal Oak in 1972, creating a completely new category: the luxury sports watch. Following the resounding success of that model, other manufacturers designed their own renditions for the market. Just three years after the Royal Oak, Girard-Perregaux debuted the Laureato in 1975. It even hit the scene before Patek Phillipe came out with the Nautilus in 1976. In the interim years, the Laureato has been redesigned several times and new complications have been released.
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute (2019)
GP revisited the Laureato concept in 2019 with the introduction of the Absolute Line. This range offers a more daring execution of the Laureato while keeping the design codes of the original, including the legendary octagonal bezel riding on top of the circular ring.
Polycrystalline Yttrium Aluminium Garnet (YAG)
For the Chinese New Year, GP presents a special edition of the Laureato Absolute line with the Absolute Light & Fire. The translucent case is ablaze in ruby red, a colour that the Chinese associate with success and vibrancy. To get this colour, the Manufacture used Polycrystalline Yttrium Aluminium Garnet known as YAG. Due to its optical clarity and mechanical properties, it has military applications for IR transparent missile domes and reconnaissance windows. YAG also has the beneficial properties of a uniform index of refraction with minimal variation.
The Calibre GP01800-1143
The fiery case of the Light & Fire frames the in-house GP01800-1143, a skeletonised calibre in an octagonal shape echoing the bezel. By open-working the movement, Girard-Perregaux reveals the intricacies of the mechanics often hidden from view, including the swing of the balance wheel and sight of the mainspring courtesy of the open-worked barrel cover.
In addition, the gold oscillating weight is also skeletonised, opening up the scene underneath. The bridges and mainplate are treated with NAC and show the Manufacture’s finishing techniques, such as sandblasting, traits-tirés, circular satin finishing and bevelling. Further refinements include hand-polished inner angles. While many movements are adjusted with an index regulator, which changes the length of the hairspring to adjust the rate, the Calibre GP01800-1143 employs a variable-inertia balance. With this form of regulation, the length of the hairpring stays fixed and the rate is adjusted using weights positioned on the rim of the balance wheel. This approach confers superior rate stability and the balance is less prone to positional influence.
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Light & Fire
Completing the transparent theme, the Absolute Light & Fire has skeletonised hour and minute hands, while a three-dimensional ring sits between the bezel and the movement which marks out the hours with 11 indexes capped off by the GP logo representing the 12th hour. Because the case and movement are assembled on a single axis, the construction doesn’t require a casing ring. Instead, GP developed a screw system that brings everything together from bezel to caseback. For this construction, the screws have to change diameter to hold the components in place, requiring micron-level precision.
FKM rubber strap
The Absolute Light & Fire straps to the wrist with a supple FKM black rubber strap designed to look like fabric, providing a seamless transition from the two black PVD-treated titanium lugs integrated into the case. Notice that the lugs contain satin finishes along with polished angles. The crown matches the appearance of the lugs with its polished and sandblasted PVD-treated titanium surfaces. To ensure a comfortable fit, the buckle has a micro-adjustment system.
Wrist art
Limited to 18 pieces, the Girard-Perregaux Absolute Light & Fire does a slow burn in the background, a sophisticated yet modern interpretation of the original Laureato. It’s a compelling piece of wrist art waiting to be discovered. All you have to do is turn around and look.
Further reading
Technical specification
- Model: Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Light & Fire
- Reference: 81071-44-3115-1CX
- Case: red YAG and black PVD-treated titanium, diameter 44mm, height 11.56mm, water resistance 3ATM (30 metres), sapphire crystal to front, exhibition case back.
- Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds
- Movement: GP01800-1143, self-winding movement, frequency 28,800 vph (4Hz), 25 jewels, power reserve (minimum) 54 hours, 172 components.
- Bracelet: black rubber with a fabric effect, red stitching. Buckle: black PVD-treated titanium, folding with micro-adjustment system
- Price: £77.000 (RRP as of 17.1.2023)
- Limited Edition: 18 pieces