Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 & 1966 Infinity Editions
The Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 & 1966 Infinity Editions are new additions to the brand’s portfolio for 2020. They masterfully blend silver and golden hues, but most of all, they employ onyx dials, imbuing each watch with a prepossessing beauty and a notable sense of elegance.
In 1926, a picture of a simple black dress in crêpe de Chine came to prominence. The dress was designed by Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel. It was dubbed ‘Chanel’s Ford’ as it was simple and relatively affordable. The little black dress has since become a staple for legions of women. Indeed, it’s the go to dress for a myriad of occasions.
Such is the legend of the little black dress, or the LBD as fashionistas like to say, that it is often used in the day-to-day vernacular as a benchmark. For example, ‘brown is the new black’. In the world of watches black and white have always been popular choices. Now, Girard-Perregaux has unveiled a new collection of watches, the Vintage 1945 & 1966 Infinity Editions with the accompanying strapline, ‘Onyx is the new black’.
The original Vintage 1945 was inspired by the Art Deco movement. Its rectangular case, elongated horns and unobtrusive crown have always been core elements of the model’s design. It has been an important member of the Swiss marque’s portfolio for many years, albeit it has received the odd update.
The Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 Infinity Edition features an onyx dial. Its appearance exhibits a profound depth surpassing the charm of mere black. The dial incorporates a large date display, moonphase indication and small seconds. Furthermore, the composition juxtaposes the silver hues of the stainless steel case and dauphine-style hour and minute hands with the golden tones of the indexes, GP logo and small seconds display. The two hues coalesce harmoniously. Interestingly, while the dial and case reference the Art Deco period, the overall composition is resolutely modern and applicable for today.
Girard-Perregaux has extended the onyx theme to its tried and trusted model, the 1966, a watch which has, once again, been in the brand’s collection for quite some time. However, the 1966 Infinity Editions, offered in a choice of 30mm and 40mm, again look fresh. The dials are dressed in onyx, a material that necessitates numerous operations in order to create the desired rectangular, or in this instance, round form.
On the 30mm version of the 1966 Infinity Edition, a circlet of 60 diamonds frames the dial, heightening the sense of glamour. However, with all three watches, there is a pervading sense of decorum. Coco Chanel may have championed the merits of the LBD, but in the world of horology, GP has made a very good case for onyx.
The brand’s press release
According to Girard-Perregaux’s CEO, Patrick Pruniaux, “The Vintage 1945 Infinity Edition and both the 1966 Infinity Editions in 40mm and 30mm capture the beauty of the past but are refined for today and beyond, courtesy of timeless aesthetics and mechanical virtue.” He explains, “Unlike many of our Haute Horlogerie models, these watches shun complexity, instead they encompass pure lines and graceful proportions. All three models impart time lucidly and exhibit a becoming simplicity. Dressed in black onyx, they are paragons of sophistication.”
These timepieces reinterpret the design codes of their respective eras but employ onyx as a new form of expression. The Vintage 1945 Infinity is housed in a steel case measuring 36.10 x 35.25 mm, while the 1966 Infinity is available in a 30 mm case for ladies, with a 40 mm version for men. Each of them draws upon Girard- Perregaux’s vast expertise, amassed since the company’s foundation in 1791.
Clémence Dubois, Girard-Perregaux’s Chief Product Marketing Officer states “Delicately shaping the black onyx dials into their respective rectangular and round shapes requires an inordinate amount of skill. It involves no less than 15 meticulous operations spread over a number of months within our Manufacture, endowing each piece with exceptional value.”
The original Girard-Perregaux 1945 beautifully captured the charm of the Art Deco movement. This styling is now carried over to the Vintage 1945 Infinity Edition. Its stylish rectangular case follows the curving profile of the wrist, delivering a superb ergonomic fit. Dauphine-type hour and minute hands soar over pink gold indexes to succinctly impart meaning. The crown and bracelet are perfectly integrated into the case with elegant gadroons positioned above and below the dial. The in-house Manufacture movement features a patented ‘grande date’ display. This function employs two separate discs, spaced just 0.1mm apart. It is comprised of 282 components and proclaims the date in a highly legible form.
The 1966 Infinity Edition’s pure appearance is manifest, courtesy of its slender case, round dial, leaf-shaped hands and pink gold indexes – classic features in every sense. It is supplied with a matching leather strap perfectly integrated with the case. Furthermore, a see-through case-back affords views of the self-winding movement and accompanying pink gold oscillating weight. The company’s monogram is presented at 12 o’clock in pink gold, completing this artistic ensemble.
“The new iterations of the 1945 and 1966 deliver beauty and functionality, two attributes which have formed the bedrock of our company since its foundation in 1791”, says Patrick Pruniaux. “With the black onyx dials recalling the depth of the universe and its infinite mystery, they are worthy additions to the Infinity series. Watch this ‘space’ as onyx becomes the new black.”
The Vintage 1945 Infinity model is limited to just 88 pieces, while both the 30mm and 40mm versions of the 1966 Infinity are limited to 188 examples each.
Further reading