The Girard-Perregaux 1966 Chronograph 42mm

  What a finicky industry this is.  We make a fuss over the most minuscule details of each timepiece which is unveiled to our critical eye.  Such is the case with the Girard-Perregaux 1966 Chronograph 42mm.  Only a few coin-edged widths have been added - hardly an "up-size" yet at once the proportions have been changed.

The 1966 Chronograph is one of the most classically styled in its category, and yes, an extra 2mm does make a difference.  There's a little extra empty dial space between the counters.  The tachymetric scale is just a wee bit clearer and more readable.  There is even enough room now for some elegant applied numerals to compliment the larger number "12".

This one has been given a silver opaline dial, a vintage backdrop for the blued hands and a fine choice for the pink gold applied numerals and case. Inside is one of Girard-Perregaux's acclaimed chronograph movements, the GP 3300-0057 featuring a decorated gold oscillating weight which gives a power reserve of 46 hours.

All-in-all you'd have to say it's another exceptional model to add to an equally exceptional collection.  And it's almost perfect - apart from that dastardly date indication at 6 o'clock which has no business being there at all.  It upsets the newly acquired dial space.  It disrupts the balance.  Without it there could have been an applied number "6", perhaps a little smaller than the "12", a little bigger than its neighbouring "7" and "4" - oh what could have been...... but like I said, this is a finicky industry.

The Girard-Perregaux 1966 Chronograph 42mm comes presented on an alligator leather strap with pink gold buckle.

More Girard-Perregaux 1966 pieces?

Last year's 1966 Blue Dial Chronograph

This year's 1966 Small Seconds for SIHH 2012

And the unexpectedly fussy 1966 Jewellery