Girard-Perregaux has revealed the newest iteration of its sports chronograph, the Laureato Chronograph Ti49 – the name is a reference to the 49th anniversary of a model originally created for the Italian market. The new chronograph retains all the characteristics of the current version in steel but is entirely in titanium and matched with a monochromatic grey dial.

Initial thoughts

A titanium sports chronograph isn’t revolutionary – there are a lot of them on the market – but the new Laureato possesses qualities that distinguish it from the competition. The low-key, all-grey aesthetic is appealing and also reduces the visual heft of the watch. In spite of its considerable size of 42 mm, the all-titanium construction reduces the bulky feel. Furthermore, the short lugs help with the fit on the wrist.

And more so than the steel versions with variously coloured dial, this grey dial has a retro feel as it evokes the original integrated-bracelet sports watches of the 1970s, the very watches that inspired the Laureato, which almost uniformly sported grey-blue dials.

The chronograph carries a price tag of US$19,400, a US$800 hike over the steel version. For a lightweight, monochromatic variant of the model, the premium is justified.

All grey

Based on the current Laureato Chronograph that made its debut in 2018, the Laureato Chronograph Ti49 marks the 49th anniversary of the 1975 launch of the Laureato, which was reputedly named after the 1967 Dustin Hoffman film The Graduate (Il Laureato in Italian).

The standout feature is the all-titanium construction, a first for the current-generation Laureato. The alloy used is grade 5, a corrosion resistant alloy commonly used in watchmaking.

To match the natural tone of titanium, the dial is grey and finished the Clous de Paris guilloche that is standard for the model. The applied logo at 12, as well as the hands and indices, are coated grey via physical vapour deposition (PVD). Even the date disc is in grey to go with the dial. The result is a pleasing monochromatic aesthetic.

Though the material differs, the case design remains unchanged. It retains the familiar stepped bezel that’s octagonal on top and round on the base, along with crown guards and screw-down pushers.

A large watch at 42 mm wide and 12 mm high, the Laureato Chronograph is powered by the GP03300-0141, a modular calibre made up of a self-winding base movement with a chronograph module on top.

Both are in-house creations, however, with the automatic base movement being one of GP’s tried-and-tested workhorse calibres. Having been in GP’s catalogue for a long time, it has a shortish power reserve of 42 hours.

Key facts and price

Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph Ti49
Ref. 81020-21-3263-1CM

Diameter: 42 mm
Height: 12 mm
Material: Grade 5 titanium
Crystal: Sapphire
Water-resistance: 100 m

Movement: GP03300-0141
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, and chronograph
Winding: Self-winding
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 46 hours

Strap: Matching bracelet with folding clasp

Limited edition: No
Availability: At Girard-Perregaux retailers starting March 2024
Price: US$19,600

For more information, visit Girard-perregaux.com.