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Girard-Perregaux Replica

Introducing the Replica Girard-Perregaux 1966 Large Date and Moon Phases

We can hear the critics shouting alrealdy… Yet another Girard-Perregaux 1966! Indeed, for 2015, GP has introduced a new edition of their bestseller, the 1966, now with a large date and moon phase indicator. Well, in truth, this replica watch doesn’t exactly feel terribly new when described in this way. In fact, beside its very classical look, this edition might just be one the best of the collection, if not the most balanced. GP have corrected a few of the faults we’ve noticed previously, now presenting a rather strong package. Here is the Swiss Cheap Replica Girard-Perregaux 1966 Large Date and Moon Phases.

The 1966 from Girard-Perregaux is a replica watch that we’ve appreciated for several years now. We loved it for many reasons: its elegance, its plain but lively domed dial, the quality of its case and its nicely finished movement. However (and with all the sympathy we have for the brand), we also noticed several faults. The first one is the size of the movement (clearly too small for the case) that leads to a date that is too close from the center of the dial, whether it is the 38mm version or the 41mm edition. Then comes the issue of the design. Some might find this replica watch a bit shy, especially in the white / silver dial editions – an issue that is solved with the rose gold / blue dial combination. These messages might have been heard by GP and the new 1966 Large Date and Moon Phases could possibly be the best of them all.

Girard-Perregaux 1966 Large Date and Moon Phases

Don’t expect this replica watch to totally reinvent the 1966. All the original charm is still present in the finer details and in the overall balance achieved by GP. The case for example is 100% similar to the previous editions of the 1966 – to be precise, it features the same 41mm case as this time-and-date edition. It means that we found the same quite large bezel and the short and curved lugs, with a full mirror-polished finish. A beautiful case, well executed and very elegant once on the wrist. We have a preference here for the 38mm but we also understand men with a larger wrist. The changes are thus all located on the dial and on the displayed indications.

Girard-Perregaux 1966 Large Date and Moon Phases

The dial now features 3 complications. It feels a bit like the full calendar edition in the way the dial is arranged, with a circular sub-dial at 6 displaying the moon and a window at 12. However, on this Girard-Perregaux 1966 Large Date and Moon Phases, we first have a big date at 6, utilizing GP’s famous mechanism. It uses a clever visual effect that makes you believe there’s only one disc. However, it is composed of two discs, the right one painted in white that displays the left digit with black numerals – located on the lower level – and a second one on the left that measures 0.10mm height and that is made of transparent folanorm with black numerals printed. This transparent disc overlaps the main white disc, thus creating the illusion to the eye of a single disc – elegant, efficient and clever. Another advantage of this “Large Date” complication is to correct one of the defaults of the previous 1966. Impossible now to complain now about the small date window lost in the middle of the dial.

Girard-Perregaux 1966 Large Date and Moon Phases

The second and third complications are located in the subsidiary dial at 6: a moon phases indicator and a small second. With this layout, we probably have the most balanced Girard-Perregaux 1966 ever. The large date gives echo to the moon and all the indications feel proportioned and aligned. The hands are also different here. They keep the same leaf design but in slightly large style, as filled with a thin line of luminous paint (also correcting the issue of night-time readability). All of this is powered by a modified version of the famous GP3300 calibre – meaning that one of our original faults with the 1966 will still be addressed.

Girard-Perregaux 1966 Large Date and Moon Phases

We have here the small 25.6mm movement in the large 41mm case. There’s nothing wrong with the movement itself (except maybe a power reserve that is a bit short at 46 hours) but a larger movement would have been better looking. Anyway, the view remains pleasant, with a nicely decorated 21k gold rotor and bridges adorned with Geneva stripes and bevelled angles.

Girard-Perregaux 1966 Large Date and Moon Phases

Apart from this small imperfection, the Girard-Perregaux 1966 Large Date and Moon Phases is clearly one of the most desirable editions of the collection. For sure, it remains a 1966 and thus, a very classical replica watch. However, in the context of a dress, elegant and visually balanced timepiece (which is the case for every 1966 replica watches), this edition brings an extra-pleasure with its interesting layout and the right amount of complication. Prices: 24.360 USD / 23.450 Euros in 18k Rose Gold and 26.060 USD / 25.100 Euros in 18k White Gold. More details on Girard-Perregaux.com.

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Girard-Perregaux Replica

HANDS-ON : Replica Girard-Perregaux Cat’s Eye Anniversarywatch

GPCatsEyeAnniversary4

At Baselworld 2014 Girard-Perregaux launched a number of new models to add to their successful Cat’s Eye women’s collection. One of these was an Anniversary model, marking a decade since its launch, and previously written about on Horologium here. You can also read its specs in this earlier post.

With thanks to Avstev, I had the opportunity to see this replica watch ‘in the metal’ recently in Sydney. So – how does the reality compare to the press photos?

For those who are not familiar with the Cat’s Eye case, it measures 35.44mm x 30.44mm, and has a nice sense of ‘largeness’ and wrist presence bigger than the dimensions might indicate.

The model here is one of the two dial versions, both with the same dial design with teadrop gemstone rays. This is the opaline version, the bejewelled rays of seventy-three pink/ red sapphires on a hand-polished white mother of pearl dial.

This white gold cased piece is very elegant and the dial is unexpectedly ‘soft’ in tone. I say ‘unexpectedly’ because I did not expect the presence of so many glittering stones to be as such – the ‘ray’ design gives the dial delicacy as well as beauty. The replica watch sits lightly on the wrist and with the gorgeously rich matching red strap, it is a beautiful looking fake piece that does actually reflect what it looks like in the press material. It is dressy but not overly so, and with the right outfits (and a degree of confidence), is sufficiently versatile to be worn from day through to night.

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Girard-Perregaux Replica

HANDS-ON : Replica Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon with Three Gold BridgesDiamond-Set

GP3BridgesTourbi7

It started with a pocket replica watch.

The three gold bridges movement has been an enduring feature of Girard-Perregaux’s high-end replica timepieces since Constant Girard’s obsession with the tourbillon lead to the production of his ‘tourbillon with three nickel bridges’ pocket replica watch. It was presented to the Neuchâtel Observatory in 1867 but his final three bridges design was not patented until 1884. In 1889 his decades of work lead to his receipt of a gold medal for his tourbillon with three bridges at the Paris Universal Exhibition.

The modern ‘three bridges’ replica watches have continued to form a core part of Girard-Perregaux’s “Haute Horlogerie” collection. Last year they presented a jewellery replica watch version, the diamond-set Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges (Ref. 99193B52H001-BA6A).

In a limited number of a mere 18 pieces of which only a few are left, with two more pieces to be produced this year, I recently had the opportunity to handle one of the eighteen in Sydney.

The jewelled Three Bridges is a pink 5N18 gold 41mm case with a thickness of 11.10mm. It is a mid-sized replica watch, but the thickness means that there is a certain physical heft to it. Nonetheless, it is surprisingly light, though perhaps this a relative term. In this instance, by ‘light’ I mean that the physical presence may be pronounced, but the weight when on the wrist, is comfortable and not heavy.

Although this is a pink gold cased replica watch there are in fact two metals used. The eponymous three bridges are made from pink gold but against a contrasting rhodium-plated hand-applied guillochéd backdrop base plate. The 72-piece hand polished tourbillon (which doubles as a small seconds indicator) is also pink gold, as are the polished hour and minute hands. The bezel is set with 88 baguette-cut diamonds with a total of 11.7cts, and this is picked up also in the strap, whose pink gold buckle is set with 18 diamonds with a total of 0.20cts.

Inside is Girard-Perregaux’’s automatic Cal. GP9600 consisting of 258 components with a platinum oscillating weight and rhodium-plated hand decorated movement decoration. It is 32mm in diameter and 6.26mm in height with a frequency of 21,600VPH and a power reserve of 48 hours.

This is ‘statement piece’ replica watch, both because it is an example of Girard-Perregaux’s emblematic ‘three bridges’ design and because with 88 baguette diamonds, it’s hard not to be. It’s not a replica watch for a shrinking violet, but haute horlogerie timepieces often aren’t. As I was taking these photos under artificial rather than natural light unfortunately I haven’t done full justice to the warm pink gold case of this piece.

The price? In Australia, the RRP is AUD470,660. If this is a bit of a strain on your wallet there is a version without diamonds which is also in a limited edition, of fifty.

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Girard-Perregaux Replica

HANDS-ON : Girard-Perregaux’s 1966Jewellery

GP1966Jewellery1

Bejewelled replica watches don’t often make an appearance at Horologium, so today’s post will be of particular interest to those who like a a precious stone or two on their replica watches. Or in this case, 807 diamonds, to be precise.

Meet Girard-Perragux’s 1966 Jewellery, released in 2012 and containing almost more diamonds than you can count. It forms part of the 1966 collection, which is known for classically thin cases and importance placed on movements.

In this instance, the movement is the time-only Calibre GP-3300-0066. It measures 25.60mm, is 3.20mm thick, has a frequency of 28,800 vibrations (4Hz) and a power reserve of 46 hours.

The 1966 Jewellery replica watch is 38mm and comes in white or pink gold. The sizing means that it’s arguably unisex, for all those with the chutzpah to wear a diamond covered replica watch. In the case of this particular piece, the owner is a woman who requested that the strap on which it originally came with be changed to a red one. The alligator-skin strap that comes with the replica watch has a gem-set ardillon buckle.

The diamond-set bezel and slightly curved dial are entirely covered with ‘brilliant’ cut stones painstakingly arranged concentrically. The ‘leaf’ style hour and minute hands and four applied hour markers are slim and very much secondary to the diamond-pavé dial. What is really interesting is that if you look carefully, you will see that the Girard-Perregaux name is printed on the inside of the convex sapphire crystal.

Whether sparkling replica watches are your particular weakness or not, there’s something really quite mesmerising about the dial of the 1966 Jewellery quite apart from the dazzling number of stones – it’s just so wonderfully neat and precise…

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Girard-Perregaux Replica

Girard-Perregaux 1966 Minute Repeater, Annual Calendar and Equation of Time

Girard-Perregaux increased the size of the 1966 Annual Calendar and EOT by 2 millimeters and added a Minute Repeater. The result is the new GP 1966 Minute Repeater, Annual Calendar and Equation of Time that measures a decent 42 mm in diameter.

When the GP 1966 Annual Calendar and EOT was introduced in 2009 it was my favorite new release of the SIHH 2009. Especially the pink gold version with slate grey sunray-brushed dial that was introduced last year has become one of my favorite timepieces. What is so phenomanal is that Girard-Perregaux managed to make an unbalanced dial look incredibly balanced and that’s probably part of the charm of the GP 1966 collection.

Girard-Perregaux 1966 Minute Repeater Annual Calendar EOT

This GP 1966 Minute Repeater, Annual Calendar and Equation of Time is limited to 15 pieces and comes at a price of $287,000 USD. Just wished they would come up with a shorter name…

The silvered sunburst dial is the background of the time, calendar and EOT indications. Around the dial are solid gold applique hour-markers and black painted minute markers. The date is located roughly between the 1 and 2 o’clock position and to the left, at the 9 o’clock position is the small seconds sub dial. The month is displayed in a window opposite if the date. The Annual Calendar’s ingenious construction only requires a single adjustment of the date every year, in February, which is easily carried out through the replica watch’s crown. The hand at 4.30 indicates the equation of time.

What is Equation fo Time? It is the difference between the real solar time and the mean or civil time. The length of a solar day actually varies daily, due to the elliptical shape of the Earth’s orbit. This astronomical complication is based on a mechanism incorporating an annual disc with an elliptical cam that reproduces the Earth’s movement around the Sun.

To complete this replica watchmaking masterpiece, a Minute Repeater makes it possible to hear the striking of the hours, quarter-hours and minutes. In total this masterpiece comprises of 419 individual parts!

Girard-Perregaux 1966 Minute Repeater Annual Calendar EOT

The see-through case back reveals a peak into this very complicated mechanical wonder. The bridges look rather unusual for Girard-Perregaux, as they are skeletonized to reveal even more of the movement. A familiar design element is the balance cock, which is designed in a semi-arrow shape that recalls the Golden Bridges, the brand’s emblematic signature.

All bridges are nicely decorated with Côte de Genève and all angles have been beveled and polished by hand. The -screw-balance features small screws (variable inertia) screwed into its rim. Some of the jewels, it looks like all jewels of the gear train, are set in gold chatons.

Girard-Perregaux 1966 Minute Repeater Annual Calendar EOT

Long, long time ago, when the minute repeater was conceived, it was necessary for people to be able to hear an indication of the time during the night. An electrical light wasn’t inveted yet. Today the minute repeater has become one of the complications that is most appreciated by connoisseurs of fine replica watchmaking. In order to create the vibration that will produce a crystalline sound, the adjustment of the striking mechanism is one of the most delicate operations for a replica watchmaker, requiring nimble fingers and a particularly acute ear.

Girard-Perregaux did exhaustive acoustic research in order to optimize the Minute Repeater mechanism. This also led to three specially designed aspects of the construction of the replica watch-case:

  1. an optimal fit between the internal diameter of the case and that of the caliber, so as to achieve maximum resonance;
  2. a curved case back that increases the volume of air between the movement and the case, and enhances the sound production;
  3. and the diamond-polished bottom of the case back, which reduces acoustic interference.

Girard-Perregaux 1966 Minute Repeater Annual Calendar EOT

Technical Specifications: Girard-Perregaux 1966 Minute Repeater, Annual Calendar & Equation of Time

Case in polished pink gold, measuring 42 mm in diameter, with anti-reflective domed sapphire crystal. The case-back with sapphire crystal is closed with 6 screws and adorned with hand-engraved inscriptions.

Girard-Perregaux E09-0003 handwound mechanical movement

  • Frequency: 21,600 vib/h – 3 Hz
  • Power reserve: min.100 hours – 4 days
  • Number of components: 419 of which 48 jewels
  • Plate: rhodium-plated and circular-grained
  • Bridges: côtes de Genève, polished beveled angles
  • Striking mechanism: repeating with two facing hammers, hours, quarter-hours, minutes. Regulation of the speed of the striking-mechanism by inertia-driven governor, countersprings accessible on the bridge side, inverted minute rack; conventional gong pitches.
  • Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds, minute repeater, annual calendar, equation of time

The Girard-Perregaux 1966 Minute Repeater, Annual Calendar & Equation of Time is limited to 15 pieces and retails for $287,000 USD. More information can be found at the Girard-Perregaux website.

This article is written by Frank Geelen, executive editor for Monochrome Replica Watches.

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Girard-Perregaux Replica

Pre SIHH 2012 – Replica Girard-Perregaux 1966 Annual Calendar and Equation of Time

Girard-Perregaux is the first to show us the novelties that will be officially released at the SIHH 2012. A new version of the 1966 Annual Calendar and Equation of Time and also a new version of the 1966 Small Seconds. Both look stunning!

The Girard-Perregaux 1966 Annual Calendar and Equation of Time was first released in 2009 and immediately was my favorite of that year. This year, or actually next year during the SIHH 2012, Girard-Perregaux will show us this model with a pink gold case and a ruthenium dial. Absolutely stunning.

This timepiece possesses all the assets of beautiful replica watchmaking, including its movement, caliber GP033M0. The flat surfaces are circular-grained, sunray-brushed or decorated with Côtes de Genève, while sharp edges are chamfered then polished, as are the flat-head screws. Caliber GP033M0 comprises of 287 parts, and is of course entirely developed and produced by the Girard-Perregaux Manufacture.

Girard-Perregaux developed a Microvar balance wheel with variable inertia (see photo to the left). It features six adjustable screws and two inertia-blocks on its rim, used respectively to set the balance wheel’s equilibrium and enable fine adjustment of the movement. This ensures increased precision and more stable adjustment.

The annual calendar, with date and month, only has to be corrected in February. The hand at 4.30 indicates the equation of time, which is the difference between the real solar time and the mean or civil time. The length of a solar day actually varies daily, due to the elliptical shape of the Earth’s orbit. This astronomical complication is based on a mechanism incorporating an annual disc with an elliptical cam that reproduces the Earth’s movement around the Sun. Corrections to the calendar are made with the crown, in both directions!

The 40 mm pink gold case has gorgeous curves and the strap are rounded so it is quite flush to the case. The case is 10.72 mm thick and has a sapphire crystal on boh sides. Through the see-through case back, the movement with its pink gold oscillating weight (with circular Côtes de Genève finish) can be seen.

Now let’s take a closer look at the true novelty, the new ruthenium-adorned dial. Its slate-grey color with delicate sunray-brush looks smashing with the pink gold of the case, white painted brand name, markers, pink gold baton-type applied hour markers, and leaf-shaped hands. All these details add up to a gorgeous classic timepiece!

Let’s end with some specification of the movement, caliber GP033M0:

  • Mechanical with automatic winding
  • Calibre: 11 ½ ligne
  • Parts: 287
  • Frequency: 28,800 vibrations / hour (4 Hz)
  • Jewels: 44
  • Power reserve: minimum 46 hours
  • Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds, annual calendar, equation of time
  • Balance wheel: variable inertia with gold regulating screws (diameter: 7.18 mm)
  • Main plate: rhodium-plated, circular-grained above and below, diamond-cut facets
  • Barrel: snailing on the cover, sunray-brushing on the underside
  • Gear-train bridge: polished and diamond-cut facets, circular-grained on the underside, drawn sides, diamond-cut recesses, Côtes de Genève and “Girard-Perregaux eagle” engraving
  • Oscillating weight: pink gold, circular Côtes de Genève
  • Gear-train: gilded 2N18 wheels, burnished pivots, circular-grained sides

The 1966 Full Calendar in white gold that was introduced this year was already a magnificent play of classic and slightly more contemporary looks, this new color combination for the 1966 Annual Calendar and E.O.T. has the same playful combination. All together this looks like a winner.

In the next days we’ll cover the new 1966 Small Seconds.. stay tuned.

More info can be found at the Girard-Perregaux website and their official Facebook page.

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Girard-Perregaux Replica

Replica Girard-Perregaux 1966 Full Calendar now in White Gold

Girard-Perregaux releases the 1966 Full Calendar in White Gold. Available with a silvered-white or black dial and this one is not limited like the previous version in paladium!

Girard-Perregaux is one of those classic manufactures who remain making perfectly beautiful and elegant replica watch, no matter what the latest trend is. The best example of this is the 1966 collection, comprising several complicated and simple time-only timepieces. The newest release is a non-limited version of the 1966 Full Calendar in white gold.

The first Girard-Perregaux 1966 Full Calendar was in paladium with silver/white dial and was limited to 199 pieces. This was simply not enough, so there was a strong demand for this model in white gold, which I can fully understand. And to be honest, the 1966 Full Calender WG with black dial exeeds my expectations.

Some specifications:

  • Functions: hour, minute, sweep second, full calendar with date, day, month and moon phase indicators
  • White gold case measuring 40mm in diameter with sapphire crystal on front (anti-reflective coated) and back
  • Automatic movement, calibre GP033M0, 11 ½’’’ ligne, 27 jewels, 28’800 vibrations/hour (4 Hz), Power reserve 46 hours

The first 1966 Full Calendar I saw was on the wrist of Alex, whom I met at the third European Horomundi GTG. His paladium version was without the blue seconds hand and had an even cleaner look than this replica watch already has. The paladium case feels heavy, but absolutely not to heavy. After all it’s still a classy dress style replica watch with dimensions you might expect from suh a replica watch. Paladium is part of the platinum family and this metal is twenty times more scarce  than gold.

Good to see Girard-Perregaux makes a white gold version of this stunning replica watch. Something I was hoping for and personally I just love the black dial version. Although the white dial version is also magnificent. The details are great, like the blue seconds hand, blue font for the day and month indicator and the blue number 31 of the date. All together a very beautiful and elegant replica watch. No word about the price yet, but the limited edition in paladium was $ 19,800.

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Girard-Perregaux Replica

Replica Girard Perregaux for Boucheron and Ermenegildo Zegna

Girard-Perregaux released a limited edition for Boucheron. Earlier this year they also released a replica watch made in collaboration with Ermenegildo Zegna. Two collaborations, two beautiful new replica watches!

Over the last years Girard-Perregaux released new models in the 1966 collection and personally I just loved every single model. So you might say I’m biased. These two new models are not specifically announced as part of the Girard-Perregaux 1966 line, however the resemblance is more than convincing (at least to me).

The new execllent  limited edition Girard-Perregaux replica pour Boucheron replica watch has a round case with virtually the same looks as the 1966 collection. No wait, the case is 1mm bigger than the complicated models of the Girard-Perregaux 1966 collection, which have a diameter of 40mm. The case features the same chamfered bezel with a light satin finish. The middle part of the case has curves extending into lugs.

According to the press info of the Girard-Perregaux for Boucheron, Luigi Macaluso designed this case in 1985 for the brand’s Haute Horlogerie replica watches. The case is made of pink or white gold and measures 41 mm in diameter. It is 30 meter water-resistant, which is the same as the other models of the 1966 collection.

Besides hours, minutes and small seconds it the Girard-Perregaux pour Boucheron features a moon phase indication and large date. You will also notice Boucheron’s address: 26, place Vendome.

The date display is worth special attention, according to the press release. “It’s based on the brand’s patented system to guarantee superb readability lacking the separating line between the tens and units.” Wait, this sounds familiar! I know only one brand where the two digits of the big date are ‘flush’. Indeed, that would be Glashütte Original.

This system works differently though. One of the two discs is transparent and is on top of the other disc. This transparent disc, showing the tens, is very thin. Featuring an instantaneous date change mechanism, it’s virtually impossible to see the discs turn. It takes only 15/1000ths of a second, for the date to change!

Inside ticks the brand’s in-house automatic movement, caliber GP03300-45, with a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. The movement with 32 jewels has 46 hours of power reserve.

Another replica watch featuring a movement of the calibre GP03300 family (see photo above) is made in collaboration with Ermenegildo Zegna (try to pronounce that out load). This replica watch is called the Centennial Replica Watch and was designed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Ermenegildo Zegna.

The Centennial Replica Watch features a 40mm wide 18k pink gold case and inside ticks the automatic caliber GP0 3300-42. Besides hours, minutes and a small seconds register, it has an annual calendar with an indicator for date and month. Obviously this is the Girard-Perregaux 1966 Annual Calendar and Equation of Time… only without the equation of time and the month indicator moved to the right half of the dial. After these adjustments and with another name on the dial, it’s still a beautiful replica watch!

The Girard-Perregaux pour Boucheron replica watch is limited to 50 pieces for every case material (pink and white gold) and will be available exclusively in Boucheron stores.

The Centennial Replica Watch is limited to 100 pieces in pink gold and is only available in the top 20 Ermenegildo Zegna flagship stores.