Eusébio and Girard-Perregaux

As it seems a day for reversing earlier "absolute opinions" I would like to share with you a very limited piece that Girard-Perregaux is offering in honor of (in my opinion at least) one of the greatest footballers in a generation of AMAZING footballers (Beckenbauer, Cruyff, Bobby Moore, George Best, and some Brazilian fellow answering to Pele).

Why I think this is an interesting partnership?  Well, for one it is extremely targeted (Portugal) and extremely limited.  It is laser focused in its target group - and I would agree that as it is a small number of pieces, set for a specific region, it is realistic that they can and will be sold.  I know that sounds terribly unromantic, but right now the watch business (at least in the US) is about as romantic as root canal surgery.  Therefore promotions that are pragmatic and can be realized are the ONLY promotions that can and should be considered.  

And, well, I am a fan of Eusebio.  Having lived in Portugal for year I can tell you that the man is a GOD there.  Also, and I am sorry to be morbid, it doesn't hurt that Eusebio has moved on to play with the "Cosmic 11", and therefore is highly unlikely to embarrass Girard-Perregaux or Benfica with antics like a few current (living) superstars might.  Personally, I see nothing but upside.

So allow me to introduce the The Girard-Perregaux Traveller Tribute to Eusébio Edition.

Courtesy of Girard-Perregaux/Benefica

Limited to 36 pieces, this is a SANE, rational number that realistically can be sold.

So here are the pertinents:

Girard-Perregaux Traveller Tributo Eusebio Edition

Technical specifications

Case in pink gold

Diameter: 44.00 mm

Height: 12.10 mm

Crystal: anti-reflective sapphire

Case-back: decal on sapphire crystal, secured by 6 screws. Engraving “Tributo a Eusébio”

Water resistance: 100 meters (10 ATM)

Girard-Perregaux movement GP03300-0095

Mechanical, automatic winding movement

Calibre: 30.40 mm (13^1/2 ’’’)

Frequency: 28,800 Vib/h - (4 Hz)

Power reserve: min. 46 hours

Jewels: 35

Functions: hour, minute, small second, large date, moon-phases indicator, 2^nd time zone 24 hours with day/night indicator

Black alligator leather strap with an alsavel inside, red stitchings

Folding buckle, titanium blade with pink gold cover

Reference: 49655-52-1412SBF6A

Limited and special edition of 36 pieces

The Traveller

Large date with Moon phase from Girard-Perregaux.

Courtesy of Girard-Perregaux

“Do you mean to tell me that you're thinking seriously of building that way, when and if you are an architect?"


"Yes."


"My dear fellow, who will let you?"


"That's not the point. The point is, who will stop me?”   

from The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)


This is the latest offering from Girard-Perregaux and I'm afraid I am most likely going to have to break ranks with my colleagues in the fourth and fifth estate when it comes to GP's latest offering.  I am just not feeling it, moreover I'm just not getting it.

With an already existing line of Girard-Perregaux watches with dual timezones and large dates it is curious to offer yet another variation of a fairly expensive "niche" watch.  In fact, apart from the semi transparent dial (which is cool) this in many ways might as well be the same watch that is already existing in the current collection (if the GP website is anything to go on).

Courtesy of Girard Perregaux

With sales (as far as we, the public are aware) not exactly "robust", and the Traveller collection not exactly at the forefront of most of the watch buying public, it really begs the question was this a wise move?  When you have so many pieces already in the your retail locations and more rafting around the grey market...

So get ready for that call retail partners - I suspect your GP rep is about to "put the touch" on you for another five pieces.

Courtesy of Girard-Perregaux

What is unfortunate in all of this is that in and of itself this is sort of a cool watch, but given an already overloaded catalog swollen with too many SKUs, it will have a tough go of it.  What is even more unfortunate is that Girard-Perregaux is a great brand with a lot of great people working for it who (if they could get some decent, consistent leadership), might be able to do amazing things and finally bring Girard-Perregaux to the forefront where in all honesty it could and should be.  But not unlike the Fountainhead's Howard Roark, the folks steering the boat at GP seem pretty resolute that they are going to do it their own way, damn the consequences.

Here are the specs -

Material : Pink Gold or Steel
Dimensions / Diameter : 44,00 mm 
Height : 12,10 mm 
Case-back : Sapphire crystal, secured by 6 screws 
Water resistance : 100 meters (10 ATM) 
Movement : GP03300-0109, Self-winding mechanical movement 
Caliber : 13 ½ ''' 
Frequency : 28,800 vph - (4 Hz) 
Jewels : 35 
Power reserve : 46 hours minimum 
Functions : Hour, minute, small second, large date, moon phase indicator, 24-hour 2nd time zone

Traveller moonphases and large date from Girard-Perregaux

Girard-Perregaux announced the creation of a new family of timekeepers - Traveller, and this is one of the first members of the collection - the Traveller moonphases and large date.

Courtesy of Girard-Perregaux

Now when I saw the name, my thoughts first went to the Girard-Perregaux Traveller II which had an alarm and a second time zone feature.  But tin this instance the family name Traveller is not necessarily intertwined with telling time in different locations at the same time.

Hours, minutes, seconds, moonphase, large date and power reserve are indicated.  Here are the details:

Girard-Perregaux Traveller moon phases and large date


Technical specifications

Case in steel or in steel with ceramic bezel
Diameter: 44.00 mm
Glass: anti-reflective sapphire
Case back: sapphire crystal, secured with 6 screws
Water resistance: 100 meters


Girard-Perregaux Movement GP03300-0080 (white date window) or GP03300-0080 (black date window)
Self-winding mechanical movement
Caliber: 13 ½ ’’’
Frequency: 28,800 Vib/h - (4 Hz)
Power Reserve: 46 hours minimum
Jewels: 35
Functions: hour, minute, small second, large date, moon phases indicator, power reserve indicator


Case in steel with opaline dial
Black alligator strap
Folding buckle
Reference: 49650-11-131-BB6A


Case in steel with black dial
Black alligator strap
Folding buckle
Reference: 49650-11-631-BB6A


Case in steel with ceramic bezel and gray dial
Brown leather strap
Folding buckle
Reference: 49650-82-231-HBBA