the/gp/chronicles

hands/on: Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 XXL, Ref. 25880

The collection of the Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 goes back to 1995 when GP brought out a vintage tribute tank watch based on an original design from 1945. Since then, the typical Art Deco shape with the pronounced lugs and the curved case has become an icon of the brand, like the Three-Golden-Bridges. In 2014, Girard-Perregaux released the to date largest Vintage 1945 in a time-only configuration, the Vintage 1945 XXL Small Seconds, Ref. 25880.

Case without lugs and crown measures a significant 36.2 x 35.2 mm, which is considerably larger than its smaller King Size cousin in 33.3 x 32.5 mm. But unlike the smaller Ref. 25835, the 25880 has a much cleaner dial without a date and putting the small seconds symmetrically at 6. Applied Breguet numerals and strong dauphine hands continue the collection’s Art Deco heritage.

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The dial has a superb brushed finish with visible vertical lines. As usual, GP adds spice with little details such as the red 60 on the small seconds dial and the blued seconds hand. I also very much like the deep sitting crown being almost flush with the case.

However, all of that is secondary. What this watch is all about are gorgeous curves. The case is curved both horizontally and vertically, the dial is curved and the case back as well. On the wrist, you discover always new curves. And those curves are not only good-looking, they of course serve a purpose. It makes this rather big watch easily wrap around your wrist, even on smaller wrist it seems to work. So biggest iteration of the Vintage 1945 is also the most curved, it all makes sense in the end and this watch does make (sensual) sense.

Click on the pics for a larger view of those wonderful curves.

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