Time to take a closer look at my Girard-Perregaux Traveller 7200, the first release of a watch labelled “Traveller” from the late 80s and in fact it is just a very classic GMT watch. Yes, it essentially uses the same layout as a Rolex GMT Master, with a fixed 24 hour hand and a rotating bezel to display a second timezone.
The Traveller GMT 7200 belongs to the GP 7000 collection which also includes a Diver (Sea Hawk) and a Chronograph, all share more or less the same case. The case has a 38mm diameter but feels more like 40mm on the wrist. If we look at the 1991 catalogue it shows the exact same version as my watch.
However, there have been quite a few different versions of case material, dial and rotating bezel as also shown in the same catalogue, including a Pepsi-style bezel. And that seems only a small selection as I have seen more versions in the wild.
The polished steel bezel is quite unique, not sure I have seen someone else using that design. AM / PM are distinguished with Roman and Arabic numbers. The dial is matte black with gilt hands and indexes harmonising well with the aged tritium lume.
What is interesting, I have seen two different style of GMT hands, large triangle as on my watch and a thinner triangle on others. Overall, I find the design very appealing. In fairness, there are quite some Rolex GMT interpretations, but that does not make it bad and it has enough own character not to look like a copy.
Caseback is solid with the GP version of an ETA-2892 doing the mechanical work. A very reliable and accurate caliber and serviceable by every watchmaker. Small crown guards hug the crown and the crown is probably the only design flaw as it comes with a smooth surface which does work but a teethed surface just works much better.
An often overlooked model from GP partly as it marks the end of the dark ages (the 80s) and has some 80s design elements. But let’s face, who cares what the market thinks, this is a great, high quality Traveller’s watch that has a timeless design and still looks quite fresh on the wrist today.
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Time to take a closer look at my Girard-Perregaux Traveller 7200, the first release of a watch labelled “Traveller” from the late 80s and in fact it is just a very classic GMT watch. Yes, it essentially uses the same layout as a Rolex GMT Master, with a fixed 24 hour hand and a rotating bezel to display a second timezone.
The Traveller GMT 7200 belongs to the GP 7000 collection which also includes a Diver (Sea Hawk) and a Chronograph, all share more or less the same case. The case has a 38mm diameter but feels more like 40mm on the wrist. If we look at the 1991 catalogue it shows the exact same version as my watch.
However, there have been quite a few different versions of case material, dial and rotating bezel as also shown in the same catalogue, including a Pepsi-style bezel. And that seems only a small selection as I have seen more versions in the wild.
The polished steel bezel is quite unique, not sure I have seen someone else using that design. AM / PM are distinguished with Roman and Arabic numbers. The dial is matte black with gilt hands and indexes harmonising well with the aged tritium lume.
What is interesting, I have seen two different style of GMT hands, large triangle as on my watch and a thinner triangle on others. Overall, I find the design very appealing. In fairness, there are quite some Rolex GMT interpretations, but that does not make it bad and it has enough own character not to look like a copy.
Caseback is solid with the GP version of an ETA-2892 doing the mechanical work. A very reliable and accurate caliber and serviceable by every watchmaker. Small crown guards hug the crown and the crown is probably the only design flaw as it comes with a smooth surface which does work but a teethed surface just works much better.
An often overlooked model from GP partly as it marks the end of the dark ages (the 80s) and has some 80s design elements. But let’s face, who cares what the market thinks, this is a great, high quality Traveller’s watch that has a timeless design and still looks quite fresh on the wrist today.
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