Based on their earlier Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 XXL Large Date replica watch, Moon-Phases model, the new version of the timepiece has the original silvered dial replaced with tinted sapphire. The new translucent material not only gives the timekeeper extra depth, but also finally allows the watchmaking house to show-off their in-house movements in all their metal glory.
Corum, for example, used it for its massive Admiral’s Cup Minute Repeater Tourbillon 45, while Omega employed the concept for the gorgeous Skeletonized Tourbillon Co-Axial Platinum model. However, this new Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 Large Date, Moon-Phases looks like one of the most exciting “regular” models delivered by the Swiss brand during the recent couple of years.The idea of substituting the usual silvered or enameled dial with tinted crystal is by no means new.
In its press release, the Swiss brand emphasized that the ingenuous way that the big date indicator was designed. To make the numerals look as natural as possible, they placed the first numeral on a black disk to the right with the second numeral printed on an ultra-thin (just 0.1 mm!) sapphire disk that rotates right above it. Although, viewing at the dial at certain angles, one may suspect that there is something “wrong” with it, in most cases the illusion is very convincing.
The skeleton fake Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 timekeeper comes powered by their well-known Caliber GP 03300 tractor movement that was modified in order to provide the big date and moonphase functionality.
This basically means that the date is not changing slowly with disks moving with glacier speed during a couple of hours, but instead takes just 5 milliseconds to turn to new position. The complication requires a lot of energy, so maybe this is why the mechanism will only work for 46 hours after being fully wound.
All of the aforementioned elements are nicely machine-brushed.As you can see, the metallized sapphire plate that seems to be slightly curved to better match the flowing lines of the rectangular body, allows you to see every part of the mechanism, while also providing enough contrast for the applied hour markers, three Arabic numerals, and the usual Dauphine-shaped hour and minute hands. The choice of texture allows for an even more high-contrast display, while also accenting the mirror-polished case.
Only the rings above the moonphase indicator and the “Girard-Perregaux” inscription are printed in highly contrasting color.
Available both in stainless steel (ref. 25882-11-223-BB6B) and in a lot more expensive rose gold (ref. 25882-52-222-BB6B), the body with its stylish horizontal gadroons is still delivered in the same delightfully compact size measuring just over 36 millimeters in length and 35.25 millimeters in width.
Although the case is based on the 1945 design, it is still a lot larger than the original. I am not saying that it looks gargantuan compared to the original, but if you expect it to have the same experience as your grandfather back in the 1940s, you may be mildly disappointed. However, compared to many currently available “vintage-styled” models, this one still looks relatively small.
See also: Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 XXL Chronograph in Steel (Ref. 25883-11-221-BB6C)
Photos: Girard-Perregaux
WWR preliminary verdict
Originality 5/5
Build quality: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Legibility: 4/5
Value for money: 5/5
Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 Large Date, Moon-Phases with Sapphire Dial watch specification
Price: MSRP, €13,750 (stainless steel, ref. 25882-11-223-BB6B) / €29,000 (rose gold, ref. 25882-52-222-BB6B)
Movement: Automatic, GP 03300-0105/0062, in-house, jumping date, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 32
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 46 hours
Movement decoration: Geneva stripes
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, big date, moonphase
Case material: Stainless steel (ref. 25882-11-223-BB6B) / Rose gold (ref. 25882-52-222-BB6B)
Bezel material: Matches case
Crown material: Matches case
Case shape: Square
Bezel shape: Square
Case size: 36.10 x 35.25 mm
Case height: No data
Lug width: No data
Dial: Tinted sapphire, translucent
Numerals: Arabic, applied
Hour markers: Applied
Hands: Dauphine
Water resistance: 30 meters
Strap: Black alligator leather strap
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Case back: Sapphire
Another interesting thing about the indicator is that Girard-Perregaux replica watch uses here so called “jumping date” display.