News: Sensational Skeleton Watches From Girard-Perregaux And Ulysse Nardin
The kind of watch wearer who loves an open-worked or ‘skeleton’ dial is possibly the type of person who once dismantled their Sony Playstation just to ‘see what was inside’. Or maybe they love gawping in wonder at the intricate beauty of a mechanical movement whenever they check the time. Though not for everyone, most brands have such watches in their repertoire and two of the latest come from the respected-but-often-overlooked Girard-Perregaux and Ulysse Nardin. What’s your verdict?
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Light & Fire
There’s a certain irony in a skeletonised Laureato in that the original 1970s model was powered by a quartz battery. And yet here we are four decades on and the Laureato is now Girard-Perregaux’s hottest ticket, a model that dominates the brand’s catalogue.
The Laureato has previously come in an array of styles and materials and its evolution has mirrored the watch it’s so often compared to—the Royal Oak. Like that watch, it started off as a relatively simple luxury steel sports watch with a date, before introducing chronograph versions and then amping things up Royal Oak-style with its beefier 44mm ‘Absolute’ range that uses weird and wonderful composite case materials.
This latest version is made from crimson-coloured YAG (a synthetic crystal comprising yttrium, aluminium and garnet) and PVD-treated titanium and was launched to mark the advent of the Chinese New Year. The movement, which can be viewed through the front and the sapphire case back, is a more refined version of GP’s self-winding in-house GP01800. It has also released a Light & Shade model—in far less eye-catching monochrome—and both are limited to just 18 pieces worldwide.
Case | Red YAG and PVD-treated titanium
Dimensions | 44mm
Dial | Skeleton
Crystal | Sapphire crystal
Water-resistance | 30m
Movement | Self-winding, GP01800
Power Reserve | 54 hours
Frequency | 28, 000 VpH
Strap | Rubber
Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds
RRP | £84,700
Ulysse Nardin Diver X Skeleton White
If you’re a fan of Ulysse Nardin’s recent skeletonised models from the Freak and Skeleton X collections, then, the watchmaker’s newest release—the Diver X Skeleton White—will not disappoint. This striking timepiece features a mix of contemporary materials including a 44mm polished and satin-finished titanium case, as well as a unique white concave rubberised unidirectional rotating bezel and a sporty white rubber strap.
The bold skeletonised dial features the ‘X’ shape—found in the name of the model—in a polished and satin-finished effect, along with grey hour markers and hands in a SuperLuminova coating. The deep-blue shade found on the seconds hand and the ‘X’ gives a welcome pop of colour, although keeping the watch true to its monochrome style.
Water-resistant to 200m, this piece is powered by the automatic skeletonised in-house calibre, UN-372 with 23 jewels, 21,600 vph and a 72-hour power reserve. It features a Silicium escapement wheel and anchor balance spring, as well as an oversized oscillator also in Silicium. As dive watches go, this is a cool release that offers a slick contemporary style, plus all the usual hallmarks of a classic dive watch. It’s a win-win!
Case | Titanium
Dimensions | 44mm
Dial | Grey skeleton
Crystal | Double sapphire crystal
Water-resistance | 200m
Movement | Ulysse Nardin skeletonised calibre UN-372, automatic
Power reserve | 72 hours
Frequency | 21,600 vph
Strap | White rubber
Functions | Hours, minutes, and central seconds
RRP | €26,500
