Just Arrived: The Girard-Perregaux 1957

As Girard-Perregaux celebrates its 225th anniversary this year, the Swiss haute horlogerie manufacture unveils the 1957. This 40mm steel watch features a revisited vintage design strongly inspired by the aesthetic codes of the Girard-Perregauxís Gyromatic watches dating from the 1960s.

For centuries, watchmakers had been fascinated by the prospect of winding a watch’s mainspring automatically. Girard-Perregaux produced a revolutionary solution in 1957 called Gyromatic, and it remains a milestone in the development of the self-winding wristwatch.

One of the major challenges associated with automatic winding is how to turn the circular to-and-fro movement of the movement’s oscillating mass, or rotor, into the one-way circular motion that can actually wind the mainspring.

The champagne dial adds a nice retro vibe.

For this purpose, horological engineers usually resort to a device called a motion reverser, featuring ratcheted wheels. However, the stronger the paw’s and teeth, the larger they are, leading to an increase in idle travel. The remedy lies in using smaller, hence more fragile components. The only solution here is a never quite satisfactory compromise.

The Gyromatic system substitutes roller-equipped unidirectional clutches for the ratchet wheels. The resulting construction is simple, reliable and efficient. What’s more, its compactness opens the way for slim, sleek and stylish designs.

The classic Gyromatic, circa 1957.

The Gyromatic has since demonstrated its excellence in thousands of Girard-Perreaux timepieces including the top-of-the-line Gyromatic HF (for high frequency), the self-winding watch equivalent of the Formula 1 race car. This development marked its ultimate major contribution to mechanical watch design. Along with others, it is attested by the patents granted to the company over the years.

In 1966, the Neuchtel Observatory’s prestigious Centenary Prize acknowledged Girard-Perregaux’s superior ability. The next year, no less than 73% of all rating certificates were attributed to Girard-Perregaux high-frequency watches, a tribute to the extreme degree of precision that Girard-Perregaux had brought to mechanical time technology.

As an homage to this period, the manufactures celebrates this year its iconic timepiece at the occasion of Girard-Perregaux’s 225th Anniversary. The 1957, with its glass box, champagne dial with a retro effect, dauphine hands with luminescent material and applied indexes recalls Girard-Perregaux’s heritage.

The stainless steel case with polished upper and brushed sides encloses the vintage dial under a sapphire glass that the design recalls the Plexiglas used in the past. The 1957 comes with an open case back showing the in-house movement GP03300 with traditional finishes like back in the 70’s with “Cùtes de Genëve” and circular graining decorations on the main plate & oscillating weight.

Girard-Perregaux 1957

Technical Specifications

• Reference: 41957-11-131-BB6A
• Case: Stainless steel
• Diameter: 40mm
• Height: 9.45mm
• Dial: Retro-effect champagne toned dial
• Hands: Hour and minute hands with luminescent material
• Caseback: Sapphire crystal
• Water resistance: 3 ATM (30 meters)
• Caliber: GP03300-0130 automatic movement
• Diameter: 25.60mm (11”)
• Thickness: 3.20mm
• Vibration: 28,800 Vib/h (4 Hz)
• Power reserve: approimately 46 hours
• Jewels: 27
• Components: 218
• Functions: Hour, minute, second, date
• Strap: Black alligator strap with stitches