Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph 42mm | INTRODUCING

Tom Austin

• Girard-Perregaux looks back to the 70s for inspiration for its new 42mm Laureato Chronograph, finished in two-tone steel-and-rose-gold and featuring a warm brown Clou de Paris dial. 
• Powering the watch is the Manufacture Calibre GP03300, a self-winding movement with a 46-hour power reserve, typically finished to an ultra-high standard.
• The new Laureato Chronograph will initially be available in a 50-piece limited run.

Thankfully, I was born around 25 years too late to have experienced 1970s fashion firsthand, but I’ve seen enough films from the era, and spent enough time around watches, to know exactly what good ’70s style looks like. It seems that the historic Swiss brand Girard-Perregaux does too, as they experienced it vicariously, by launching the iconic Laureato smack bang in the middle of the decade in 1975. Fast-forward to 2026, and they’re bringing the 70s back with warm, brown and rose-gold tones that echo the Laureato’s of the past – but with a decidedly modern approach to a 42mm chronograph.

In an ocean of integrated-bracelet sports watches, the Laureato Chronograph stands apart with its large yet slim 42mm stainless steel case. Typically, aside from a Royal Oak Offshore, watches of this size tend to be chunky statement pieces, and while this GP is still a statement, its 12.16mm thickness calms everything back down. It’s just as helpful that the tonneau-shaped case design is simplistic and free of aggressive facets and angles, further supporting that retro, 70s style.

The steel is paired with rose gold accents, such as the chronograph pushers, screw-down crown, and the fixed, octagonal bezel, giving what is essentially a sports watch a more dressed-up appearance. The case offers 100 metres of water resistance, and, though some would never recommend swimming with a chronograph despite its pledged depth rating, its screw-down pushers will put even the minds of sceptics out there at ease.

The retro theme continues onto the dial, which is finished in chocolate brown. That, combined with the rose gold details against the steel of the case, gives off proper root beer vibes, especially with the rose gold dial furniture. The dial’s surface is finished with a Clou de Paris hobnail texture, and it’s a good job it’s sealed beneath an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, because I just want to reach in and touch it to see if it feels as satisfying as it looks.

The azurage-finished, tri-compax subdial layout is still interrupted by a date window at 4:30, which is a shame as it upsets the overall balance and symmetry of the dial, but it’s a feature of all GP chronos at this point, and has been for some time.

That arguably awkward date position is due to the Manufacture Calibre GP03300-2761 inside, a modular chronograph movement derived from the well-known GP3000 family. Operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour, the movement delivers a 46-hour power reserve and showcases traditional finishing techniques, including Côtes de Genève, circular graining, and polished bevels.

Visible through a sapphire exhibition caseback, the movement is gorgeously finished, although it could be argued that the oscillating rotor could do with some more attention, perhaps some skeletonisation to spice things up slightly.

Finally, the Laureato Chronograph comes complete with a tapered, chocolate-brown rubber strap that matches the dial perfectly and features a tight, hobnail-style Clous de Paris pattern, just like the texture on the dial. This is closed by a stainless steel triple-folding clasp.

Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph 42mm pricing and availability

The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph is now available from Girard-Perregaux boutiques and is initially limited to 50 pieces. Price: CHF24,300/€26,800.