Girard-Perregaux Sea Hawk Ceramic
Girard-Perregaux, the Swiss horology brand, has created a diver’s watch, the Girard-Perregaux Sea Hawk Ceramic with a supremely hard case formed of zirconium oxide. The high-tech material is nearly eight times harder than stainless steel and measures 1400 HV on the Vickers scale compared with 180 HV for stainless steel.
This review of the Girard-Perregaux Sea Hawk Ceramic, ref 49960-32-632-FK6A, includes detailed specification information.
The Atlantic Ocean, adjacent Guincho Beach, on Portugal’s Estoril coast is beautiful, but beneath the frothing surface of the sea dangers patiently wait for the unsuspecting.
I still recall the sense of fear as the strong currents clawed at my legs at the Portuguese beauty spot. Whilst I consider myself a strong swimmer, nothing quite prepared me for the ocean’s voracious appetite as it seemed determined to consume my flailing torso.
A lifeguard stood at the water’s edge, with my concerned wife in attendance. It would seem, I had drifted into perilous waters and failed to notice the warning flags. I managed to swim to safety and nonchalantly ambled out of the water, pretending I was fully capable of dealing with the treacherous waters and bluffing that all was well.
In reality, I had been taught a valuable lesson and subsequent ventures into the sea would command more respect from me thereafter.
The sea can appear mirror-like when in relaxed mood, enticing bathers to enjoy its calming embrace. The scarcely perceptible ripples appear to beckon. However, like a soul cursed with a split personality, it can rear its head and display unbridled aggression. Beneath the ocean surface, great forces can come into being, masticating all its in path.
It would seem Girard-Perregaux share my awareness of the forces at play underwater. The Swiss manufacture has created a diver’s watch with a supremely hard case formed of zirconium oxide. The high-tech material is nearly eight times harder than stainless steel and measures 1400 HV on the Vickers scale compared with 180 HV for stainless steel.
Sea Hawk Ceramic
Chrono Hawk Ceramic
The model was revealed at Baselworld 2013 along with a sibling fitted with a chronograph. However, it is the diver’s model, the Girard-Perregaux Sea Hawk Ceramic, with robust appearance, which particularly appeals to me, hence this review.
The dial
The black dial has a three-dimensional motif reminiscent of the Girard-Perregaux bridges, which adorn some of their highly complicated models.
Black outlined hour and minute hands, lined with white luminous material, proffer excellent legibility.
The hours are denoted with white luminous circles, except at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock where elongated batons, with truncated tips, feature. At noon, a triangular index, more often seen on pilot’s watches is presented.
A date aperture is unusually located between 1 o’clock and 2 o’clock. It is square in form, albeit with rounded corners and outlined in white.
Towards the southerly aspect of the dial is a large power-reserve indicator. It is reminiscent of a fuel guage, showing an area highlighted in red and labelled “Wind”, demanding the wearer energise the mainspring. The upper value of the crescent shaped scale is marked, “Up”, a label which denotes that the watch is fully wound. The indicator is simple to interpret and the red hand, again inlaid with white luminous material, succinctly communicates with the wearer.
A subsidiary seconds display resides adjacent 10 o’clock. A red open-worked hand provides a pleasing contrast with the black snailed finish and adjacent white markings.
Girard-Perregaux have not followed convention in terms of dial layout. This is not a criticism, the resultant display is clear and attractive. However, it does attest to a strength of the brand. Whereas, most companies locate functions as a result of the architecture of the movement within, the benefit of being a manufacture is that the movement can be designed to suit the design of the dial.
This watch contains a manufacture movement and the resultant dial design is handsome.
The case
The case diameter of 44.00 mm is ideally suited to deep-sea use. It is adequately large to be read underwater and can be worn over a wetsuit.
Girard-Perregaux have revisited the design language of their 1970s model, the Laureato, employing an interplay with octagonal forms. The angles have been distilled for a new audience and the watch has a modern character to its design. This design aspect is accentuated still further on the ceramic model, which appears more contemporary than the steel variants, within the Sea Hawk range.
The asymmetric profile to the case, with the crown at 4 o’clock, provides further differentiation from other diver’s watches on the market.
A unidirectional bezel is de rigueur for any diver’s watch worthy of the appellation and the Girard-Perregaux Sea Hawk Ceramic fulfills the remit. This particular bezel is presented in a matching black hue and shares the same stealth-like appearance as the case. Moreover, it will not sparkle and shine beneath the waves, mitigating the risk of attracting unwanted attention.
The caseback is solid, typical of many diver’s watches, and features a silver coloured nautical themed medallion at its centre. Six screws retain the caseback into position and help it to achieve its outstanding water resistance of 300 metres.
The movement
Convenience is conferred with a self-winding movement. The GP03300-0074 is made in-house and plays to a strength of the historical brand. Girard-Perregaux have been proudly producing high quality movements for many years, supplying several prestigious brands within the Swiss watch industry. The brand’s prowess at making movements is a given.
The movement has a power reserve of 46 hours and contains 27 jewels.
Conclusion
The Girard-Perregaux Sea Hawk Ceramic can trace its lineage back to the 1940s. However, whilst Girard-Perregaux has drawn on its vast expertise, acquired over successive generations, this is a modern watch, presented in a contemporary style. It does not eschew craftsmanship but does embrace the high-technology benefits of ceramic.
Whilst I suspect many would-be purchasers will be destined to wear the watch solely for life on dry land, the credentials of the watch as a suitable diver’s tool are without question. The robust construction would appear capable of withstanding many of the perils which lurk beneath the waves.
Technical Specification
- Model: Girard-Perregaux Sea Hawk Ceramic
- Reference: 49960-32-632-FK6A
- Case: Ceramic; diameter 44.00 mm; water resistant to 30 bar (300 metres); sapphire crystal to front; solid caseback.
- Functions: Hours; minutes; subsidiary seconds; date; power-reserve indicator.
- Movement: GP03300-0074, self-winding movement; frequency 28,800 vph (4Hz); 27 jewels; power reserve 46 hours
- Strap: Black rubber strap presented on a folding buckle in PVD titanium with ceramic cover.
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