The other octagon
By Rafael Ortiz, Mexico City ·
Everyone talks about the Royal Oak and the Nautilus. Fewer people talk about the Laureato, which Girard-Perregaux launched in 1975 and which, for my money, is the smarter buy in the integrated-bracelet world.
This 42 mm chronograph is 12 mm thick, so it wears flatter than a Royal Oak Offshore, with an octagonal bezel and a steel bracelet that flows from 24 mm at the lugs. The blue Clous de Paris dial is gorgeous in sunlight. In a dim cockpit, though, the hands get a bit lost. More lume would help.
The GP03300 movement is fine, with 46 hours of reserve. Not exciting. You can see it through the open caseback.
At 18,500 to 20,000 dollars it's half the price of the Royal Oak Chronograph and nearly as nice to wear. That's the argument. Is it a better watch? No. Is it a better purchase? For most people, maybe.