1940s Girard Perregaux Chronograph UG Cal. 285
Ref: 22405
Specification
Lugs : 18mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : None
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold as "Watch Only" and therefore comes with no original Girard-Perregaux box or paperwork. The watch comes paired with an 18mm bracelet and also comes with an 18mm leather strap. The watch is from Circa. 1940s and is sold in vintage condition, but an overall very fair condition for its age as you can see. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.
The Watch
Here we have an outstanding 1940s Girard Perregaux Chronograph UG Cal. 285 with a 34mm stainless steel case, the curve of the case leads to drill tapered lugs and a lug-to-lug length of 41.5mm and a case thickness of 12.5mm ensuring a comfortable fit on your wrist. Down the right side, we have the chronograph pushers and a large crown in the centre. A thin smooth bezel holds a domed crystal above a stunning white dial, an outer mileage scale in red ink and a 60-second scale in black underneath are precisely executed. A large Arabic 12 with thin baton indexes marks the hours, at 3 o’clock a 30-minute register, at 6 o’clock a 12-hour register and finally a continuous seconds register each slightly recessed with thermally blued hands. In the centre intersecting the registers, we have three further scales including a Tachymetre. These scales were an important tool used in the military and other applications. Thin thermally blued hands complemented by a teardrop counterweighted chronograph hand complete this dynamic dial, in the centre, we have the Girard Perregaux motif. On the reverse, a snap on case back with an applied ships wheel with a flag on top and the letter "R" "1940 - 41", a possible yacht club connection presented to the Commodore for those years. Inside a quality manually wound Universal Geneve Cal. 285, 17 jewels, 18,000 beats per hour, column wheel chronograph movement. The watch comes fitted on an 18mm bracelet and also comes with an 18mm leather strap.
Personal Note
It doesn't get much better than this for me, especially when there is an unknown story attached with the symbol on the case back, believe to be presented to the Commodore of a Yacht Club for their work during 1940-41... If anyone can shed any more light, do let me know! Beyond that, the watch is fantastic, beautifully and perfectly proportioned and designed, one to be enjoyed and cherished! I'd highly recommend booking an appointment to see this one in the metal, you likely won't find another.
The Brand
The brand’s origins date back to Geneva Switzerland in 1791, where Jean-François Bautte, a fine pocket watchmaker and goldsmith built workshops and created his first watches. It wasn’t until 1906 that the two companies became acquainted when Constant Girard-Gallet bought the Bautte company from Jacques Bautte and the modern Girard-Perregaux was formed. The brand name was established in 1856 in the town of La Chaux-de-Fonds, thanks to the marriage of Constant Girard and Marie Perregaux.