Originally introduced in 2009, Girard-Perregaux will announce a new rose gold and ruthenium version of the 1966 Annual Calendar and Equation of Time at SIHH 2012.

The Annual Calendar and Equation of Time comes in a 40 mm diameter by 10.72 mm thick rose gold case. Functions inlcude hours, minutes, small seconds, annual calendar and equation of time. The annual calendar complication displays the date (at 2 o'clock) and month (at 7 o'clock), and must be corrected only once per year (February). The equation of time complication calculates the difference between apparent solar time and solar mean time, indicated by a retrograde display between 4 and 5 o'clock.

READ MORE

Michele Sofisti pictured on far left

PPR (Gucci Group) who owns a majority stake in the Sowind Group, has appointed Michele Sofisti as the CEO of the Sowind Group. He will be seconded by Stefano Macaluso, Managing Director for Girard-Perregaux, and Massimo Macaluso, Managing Director for JeanRichard and the Manufacture, who stay in their current position. He will also continue to serve as CEO of Gucci Group Watches and Jewellery, and Member of the Board of Directors of Gucci Timepieces Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Japan.

An expert of the Haute Horlogerie industry, Michele Sofisti joined Gucci Group Watches as Strategic Advisor in 2009. He was promoted to CEO in 2010 after helping successfully reposition Gucci's product offering within the watchmaking market.

(Click image for gallery - 4 photos)

Girard-Perregaux, originally founded in 1791, is a haute horology manufacture located in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland and is part of the Sowind Group. Created in 2000, the ww.tc (World Wide Time Control) collection quickly became one of the Girard-Perregaux Manufacture's iconic lines (and a personal favorite of mine aside from the awkward name "ww.tc"). The "World Time" function provides a simultaneous display of all time zones on its dial. The secret of its exclusive system is a coupling mechanism used for driving a ring displaying the time for 24 time zones, represented by the same number of cities. The hour ring has a day/night contrast function which makes it easier to read.

Girard-Perregaux is a true manufacture (meaning they produce at least one caliber in-house). This particular movement is the GP033C0 calibre, a robust self-winding mechanical movement with 63 jewels. It runs at 28,800 vph (or 4 Hz, which is the most common rate for an automatic mechanical movement) and features a 46 hour power reserve.

Its finishes, which can be seen through the sapphire caseback, are examples of the finest watchmaking tradition: circular graining on the main plate, Côtes de Genève on the bridges and oscillating weight, and blued steel screws.

The matte black alligator strap has a deployant buckle to guarantee the wearer optimum comfort. A version with a steel bracelet, also with a full satin finish, is available as well.

This timepiece has been released in many other versions including gold and titanium, but never stainless steel. This is the first stainless steel case for this collection. The dimensions are identical to previous versions, at 43 mm in diameter and 13.4 mm thick.

Water-resistance is 50 meters.

You might also like some of their other timepieces and other versions of the ww.tc, which can be seen here.

REF: 49805-11-650-BA6A, REF: 49805-11-650-11A

Retail Est. $14,000

Source: Girard-Perregaux

Girard-Perregaux is offering a one-of-a-kind ww.tc luxury watch for the Only Watch '09 charity auction. The third edition of this charity timepiece auction will support the development of research on therapeutic treatments for children afflicted with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. For the first time, this watch features a combination of a fly-back chronograph and the hours of the world, with a ceramic case and a new dial. For the dial, GP has chosen Monaco to represent Europe on the ring displaying 24 world time cities. The high tech case is composed of two parts; a black ceramic case and an inner titanium container. Black ceramic gives the watch a sporty look while being extremely light and resistant.

READ MORE

Here is a cool video of a foudroyante in action. A foudroyante uses a small dial that is marked 0-8. The hand on the dial completes a sweep every second which is an elapsed time of 1/8th of second for each number.

READ MORE

Girard-Perregaux recently introduced a new watch called the ww.tc Shadow. This particular version of the ww.tc comes with a black dial, black strap and a 43 mm black ceramic case. Housed in the Shadow's case is an in-house self-winding GP movement with a fly-back chronograph and world-time fucntion. The crowns and push-button are rubber coated and the lugs have been shortened, contributing to a very sporty and comfortable fitting timepiece.

READ MORE

[ Girard-Perregaux ]

In collaboration with Pininfarina, Girard-Perregaux has combined the excellence of a timepiece with an extraordinary motor car, personalizing one of its complication watches - the Vintage 1945 Tourbillon with gold bridge - and incorporating it in a unique Rolls Royce Hyperion, unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours this week-end.

This detachable timepiece not only fit in the vehicle's dashboard, but can also adorn the wrist of its owner. Thanks to a sophisticated system of spring balls, it can be easily extracted from its alligator strap and clipped onto the dashboard. It'ss held in a support shaped like the Tourbillon cage, which is also the signature of the Girard-Perregaux brand. Its white gold case, with its pure lines inspired by a watch from 1945, houses a Tourbillon with gold bridge. It's perfectly tailored to Hyperion, up to the dial colours that match the bodywork.

This is a shot of the new MV Agusta F4CC Superbike and one of the Girard-Perregaux Laureato EVO3 F4CC. They are both limited to 100 editions worldwide and are sold together as a package that also includes a high end Italian leather coat. All the bikes and watches come with matching numbers 1-100. The bike costs $120,000. The watch retails for $21,000, but it is not available individually. Meaning to get the watch, you gotta buy the bike too.

READ MORE