Girard-Perregaux's new 1966 range of models break cover

The Girard-Perregaux marque presented their latest interpretations of the 1966 series at the SIHH exhibition, held recently in Geneva. The 1966 collection first appeared in 2006 and since it's arrival has become an ever-more important element of the Girard-Perregaux portfolio, with it's popularity growing in this ultra-competitive sector.

Complimenting the new column-wheel Chronograph and the Full Calendar models, I particularly like the 1966 Small Seconds piece.

Housed in a slim and elegant 38mm palladium case, the Small Seconds is an unfussy and understated work, but that classic minimalism is central to it's appeal to me. A rarer member of the platinum group of metals, palladium is a naturally lustrous metal. More resistant to scratching than gold, it gives the watch a wonderfully bright and shining finish.

The brushed metal dial is a demonstration of simplistic design and is beautifully legible. There are no features such as minutes markers, highlighted subdial or magnified date, no luminous hands or marks. The G-P branding, the hour markers along with the small seconds markers are imprinted onto the dial. Only the slender baton markers applied at the 3, 6, 9 and 12 and the square date window interupt the otherwise pebble-smooth surface.

At the 9 o'clock position is the small seconds itself. Set onto the dial, the oxidised blue steel hand sweeps around it's miniature kingdom.

The watch features an in-house GP03300-0039 automatic movement, which can be observed through the sapphire crystal caseback. It is mounted on an alligator strap with tang buckle, emphasising it's classic no-frills zeitgeist.

Released in a very limited 199 pieces, this is one which is not going to be gathering dust in Girard-Perregaux's dealers windows for long.

Girard-Perregaux 1966 Small Seconds Technical specifications:

CASE Material: palladium Diameter: 38.00 mm Height: 8.62 mm Crystal: antireflective sapphire Case-back: sapphire crystal, press-in Water resistance: 3 ATM

MOVEMENT Movement: Girard-Perregaux GP03300-0039, automatic Calibre: 11½’’’ Frequency: 28,800 vibrations/hour (4 Hz) Power reserve: min. 46 hours Jewels: 28 Functions: hour, minute, small second, date

STRAP Material: alligator Strap size: 20.00/16.00 mm Strap reference: BC2016-BK60-3BF-F Buckle: white gold pin buckle Buckle reference: B/A.1653A-A53A1

Limited edition of 199 pieces