Apart from being a famous watchmaker, Girard – Perregaux proved to be a sports lover, too and dedicated some important collections to great events that marked the history. After having celebrated in his own way the first woman who was a co-winner at a rally, at the SIHH 2009 exhibition in Geneva, the Swiss watchmaker revealed a new limited collection – R&D 01 chronograph watch. This time it would have been in order to commemorate the Monte – Carlo Rally of 1983 – when Walter Rohrl and his co – driver Christian Geistdorfer claimed the first overall position driving a Lancia 037.

         When designing this model, Girard – Perregaux cooperated with Luigi Macaluso who helped him realize the 43 mm stainless steel case. A fine eye of a self – respected watch collector can easily recognize Luigi Macaluso` s style: a delicately manner of polishing emphasized by a rounded brushed bezel, the protected crown at 4 o`clock controls the winding and setting of the watch. There is also a second crown which has an important command role that is to govern the operation of an internal rotating bezel and it can be seen between the inverted chronograph pushers on the left side of the case. Some subtle touches of blue and red enliven the technically detailed black dial, as well as its four silver subdials, and the bold Arabic hour markers.

         Thanks to Luigi Macaluso the design of the watch is a little bit modified from what we were used to get from Girard – Perregaux: in order to make easier to read the minutes they are indicated by a large central hand and a blue arrow tip; this artifice grows the capacity of legibility of the chronograph complication. Two of the subdials – the 3 and 6 o`clock – have two capacities that of indicating the day/night scale and the date, respectively. Of course the “Monte Carlo 1983” inscription could not miss and it is engraved on the top of the date.

         What is so special about R&D 01 Chronograph Monte Carlo 1983 is the self – winding GP033C0 caliber, a movement which was created and designed by Girard – Perregaux himself. The chronograph is able to record independent intervals of elapsed time with 1/8th second precision due to the 28,800 vibrations per hour which it is able to use and improve the mechanism of the watch. The power reserve of the watch is up to 46 hours. The case back is embellished with a sapphire crystal which can be discreetly seen through the exhibition window and secured by six screws.

         The R&D 01 Chronograph Monte Carlo 1983 can be found in a limited number of items only 250. Besides the fact that this is an unique chance to have a one of a kind watch you also get the chance to get a special case bearing the symbol of the “Automobile Club de Monaco”. It is also important to bear in mind that the watch is water resistant up to 50 meters.

Girard-Perregaux R&D 01 Chronograph Monte Carlo 1983 Pictures Gallery