The Heritage 1957

This little "buzzer" snuck past most of us at BaselWorld.  To a large extent, Girard-Perregaux was there in body if not exactly in spirit.

That lack of focus, attention and "with-it-ness" seems to have filtered throughout the company as the text describing this watch - the 1957 - reads:

A DESIGN INSPIRED BY GIRARDPERREGAUX’S DESIGNS FROM THE 60’S

Courtesy of Girard-Perregaux

I am not a historian of any repute, but I am fairly confident that the 50's and the 60's were different
eras not only chronologically but aesthetically and culturally. So how they came up with 57 remains a bit of a quandary.

Having said that, as GP will be in Geneva next year, and the SIHH (which really means Richemont and more specifically the firm that subcontracts their "events") has made it clear that they will be even further restricting the access of press and media, I have a sinking feeling that the amount we will hear about Girard-Perregaux will become even more finite.  It's starting to feel like watching the sun set on the Pacific.  It starts out as this huge ball of fire which gets lower, and smaller until it finally vanishes from the horizon.

The future is becoming murkier at Girard-Perregaux by the minute, but for now this is a bright spot in the deepening dark.  I really do love Girard-Perregaux, despite the growing conviction that they really do seem to be cursed.  But as a native of the Cleveland area still basking in the glow of last night's historic win - I can now tell you that curses can be lifted!  But you have to believe.  And unfortunately, many of us do not see much self-belief coming from the leadership in La Chaux-de-Fonds in terms of the brand.

But again, if Cleveland can win a championship, then clearly anything is possible!

Here are the pertinents, straight from the source:

CASE

Steel case,
Sapphire crystal case-back

CASE SIZE

Ø 40mm

STRAP & BUCKLE

Black alligator strap
Steel folding buckle

MOVEMENT

Automatic movement GP03300-0130

POWER RESERVE

Min. 46 hours of power reserve

FUNCTIONS

Hour, minute, central seconds and date