High technology at the service of sport BASELWORLD 2013: The Girard-Perregaux Hawk Ceramic
The Hawk collection has managed to establish its own identity while remaining true to Girard-Perregaux’s manufacturier spirit. Today sees a new version in black ceramic, offering a high-tech casing for the concentration of mechanical perfection.
One is a chronograph, the other a diving watch. Their functionality serves as a reminder of the brand’s sports watch credentials, beginning in 1880, with the first mass-produced military wristwatches, followed in the 1940s with the first generation of Sea Hawk. The new arrivals’ contemporary design is matched by their performance. Their deep black ceramic cases are ready to stand up to the test of time.
An exceptional high-tech material, unchanging, hypoallergenic and heat-reflecting, the ceramic used by Girard-Perregaux is characterized by the extremely fine zirconium oxide powder it contains. An infinitesimal dimension makes it possible to achieve a hardness of 1400 HV on the Vickers scale – as opposed to 180 HV for stainless steel, a very low porosity. Extremely scratch-resistant, this ceramic has a smooth velvety look. Their inert character renders ceramics harmless for people and for the environment.
The result: a personality which highlights the strong character of the Hawk collection. Black and angular, the 44 mm diameter cases have an astonishing shine and offer a new take on the Laureato octagon by modernizing its angles. The dials offer perfect readability, playing with the reliefs, luminescent touches and layout of the displays against a decor inspired by the shape of the Girard-Perregaux Bridge. In the background, the mechanism pulses to the rhythm of the expertise that is endlessly perfected by the master watchmakers of the Manufacture’s workshops.
Sea Hawk
Water resistant to 300 meters. The new Sea Hawk, available in ceramic, makes no bones about its pretensions. This diving tool has a unidirectional anticlockwise rotating bezel for calculating diving times. A series of tests to demonstrate its capacity to stand up to pressure at a depth of 300 meters, where the watch is subjected to a pressure in excess of 1,500 kg, have guaranteed its water resistance in accordance with the very strict ISO 6425 standard. The construction of its case makes it highly shock-resistant, as does its crown, which is placed at 4 o’clock for greater comfort, reinforced by a crown guard that is perfectly integrated with the case.
Black, stamped with a motif recalling the emblematic Girard-Perregaux Bridge, its dial is multi-layered. The hour markers and the hands are enhanced with luminescent material. Certain elements are picked out in red, such as the hands of the power reserve indicator and the small second. The date appears at 1:30 for a perfectly balanced display.
Chrono Hawk
Sporty. Elegant. Modern. The Chrono Hawk leaves nothing to chance, neither the design of its case, which associates bold edges and a round bezel, nor its face, which gives prominence to the measurement of short times. Its well-tested reliability and its exceptional finish are a testimony to fine craftsmanship.
Contemporary and bold, the style plays with monochrome tones. Deep black, and yet perfectly functional, the elements of the case blend into one another, while keeping their individual strengths to end up accentuating the watch’s architecture.
The well-balanced dial showcases the time data. The counters face each other in perfect symmetry at 9 and 3 o’clock, while the date is placed at 6 o’clock. The applied hour markers and the hour and minute hands are lit with luminescent material. This classic layout is complemented with a motif inspired by the famous Girard-Perregaux Bridge.
Visible through the case’s sapphire back, the caliber GP03300, a self-winding mechanical movement, drives this very high performance piece.