Girard-Perregaux’s sophisticated watches have long had a playful edge, testing the boundaries of shapes, shadows and how light interacts with the design. This innovative approach laid the foundations for one its classic designs, the Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges dating back to 1867, which made waves for the visible elements of the movement that could be admired on the dial.

This expertise in skeletonisation has been taken to a new level in this latest watch, a take on another of the watchmaker’s classic timepieces, the Laureato. First released in 1975, it has gone down as one of the sports-chic classics of the era, defined by its signature octagonal bezel. Here not only has the dial been openworked to stunning effect, it also features a case made out of transparent sapphire crystal, bathing the internal components in light.

The elements of the dial are dressed in blue PVD, in a nod to its collaboration with Bucherer. The limited-edition model marks the latest addition to the luxury retailer’s ‘Blue’ family, which sees some of the finest names in haute horlogerie create exclusive models highlighted in this striking colour.

Powering the Laureato Absolute Light Bucherer Blue is Girard-Perregaux’s precise in-house Calibre GP01800-1652, incorporating features such as a variable inertia balance to deliver better stability and accuracy to the timekeeping. Rounding off the contemporary aesthetic is the strap made from grey GP Rubber Alloy, a material introduced by the company earlier this year that offers greater suppleness and resistance when compared to the traditional alternative.

girard-perregaux.com; bucherer.com