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Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph 44mm Titanium PVD
Ref. 81060-21-491-FH6A
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Stepping up in Girard-Perregaux's range
The Laureato Absolute line began as a way of taking the 1975 Laureato's signature octagonal bezel into a more purposeful, physical direction — darker materials, sport-rated depth resistance, a dial that reads as somewhere between instrument and jewel. This 44mm titanium example sits at the serious end of that brief: the PVD treatment blackens every surface uniformly, and the blue sunray gradient dial provides the only contrast, shifting from near-navy at the edges toward something closer to steel under raking light. At 117 grams it is notably light for its presence, which changes how the watch negotiates a wrist — the diameter reads as bold but the weight does not follow through, and the rubber strap's flush integration keeps it close to the skin rather than perched above it. The GP03300 movement inside is finished to Côtes de Genève and chamfering standards that go well beyond what the sporting case suggests; the gap between the exterior's stealth aesthetic and the interior's rigour is, in its quiet way, the interesting thing about the Absolute range.
- Reference
- 81060-21-491-FH6A
- Brand
- Girard-Perregaux
- Case size
- 44mm
- Case thickness
- 14.65mm
- Case material
- Titanium
- Case shape
- Octagonal
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- GP03300
- Functions
- Chronograph, Date, Small seconds
- Water resistance
- 300m
- Bracelet / strap
- Rubber strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 46 hours
Learn more about Girard-Perregaux
The company traces to Jean-François Bautte, who was making watches in Geneva by 1791, and takes its name from the 1854 marriage of Constant Girard and Marie Perregaux, which joined two watchmaking families.
Its signature is a bridge. Constant Girard's Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges, developed from 1867 and patented in the United States in 1884, arranged the barrel, gear train, and tourbillon in a line beneath three parallel arrow-shaped bridges — turning the movement architecture itself into the design. Most decorative watchmaking hides its structure; this made structure the ornament. It remains the house's defining object.
Girard-Perregaux also has a serious claim on modern quartz: in 1971 it developed a quartz wristwatch calibre oscillating at 32,768 Hz, and that frequency became the industry standard used in essentially every quartz watch since.
The company supplied precision pocket watches to the German Imperial Navy in the 1880s, an early example of the wristwatch being taken seriously as a professional instrument.
Modern collections include the Laureato, an integrated-bracelet sports watch dating from 1975 that predates most of its rivals, and the Free Bridge and Neo lines, which rework the bridge architecture in contemporary materials. The house is owned by Kering.
- 1791
- Jean-François Bautte begins watchmaking in Geneva.
- 1854
- Constant Girard and Marie Perregaux marry, uniting the names.
- 1867
- The Three Gold Bridges tourbillon is developed.
- 1971
- Develops the 32,768 Hz quartz standard.
- 1975
- The Laureato launches.
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in Automatic Watches (1,324), Chronograph Watches (1,211), Watches 44mm and Over (928), Blue Dial Watches (792), Sports Watches (687) and Dive Watches (468).
2-year Goldsmiths warranty
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch built to be worn hard and got wet.
Strengths
- 300m water resistance, rated for actual diving
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Sits in the lower half of Girard-Perregaux's range as we list it
Worth knowing
- 44mm sits at the larger end
- 14.65mm thick, so it will not disappear under a cuff
Compare alternatives
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| Specification | 81060-21-491-FH6A | 1185-170-3/BLUE | 1-37-23-03-80-70 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £13,950 | £13,010 | £13,900 |
| Case size | 44mm | 44mm | 43.2mm |
| Water resistance | 300m | 300m | 300m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Rubber strap | Rubber strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 46 hours | 60 hours | 70 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched | Closely matched |
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 300m it is rated for swimming, snorkelling and recreational diving.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
How long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 46 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths at £13,950, pre-owned. No UK retailer we track lists this reference new.
Is this available new?
Not from the UK retailers we track. This reference is listed as pre-owned only, at £13,950 from Goldsmiths. Goldsmiths test every pre-owned watch for authenticity, timekeeping and water resistance, and warrant it for 2 years — the same term they give on a new watch.
Who are Goldsmiths?
Goldsmiths has been selling watches in Britain since 1778 and is part of the Watches of Switzerland Group, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. They are an authorised dealer, so a watch comes with the manufacturer’s own warranty.
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