Girard-Perregaux is paying tribute to the 1970s with the re-release of quartz watch the Casquette. The newly launched Casquette 2.0 encases the original neo-futuristic, elongated design and updated quartz movement in sleek ceramic and titanium.
‘This is something we have been wanting to do for some time, given the revolutionary design of this watch, and its enduring appeal since it was last produced in the late 1970s,’ says Girard-Perregaux’s chief product officer, Clémence Dubois. ‘Original versions remain highly desirable but hard to find on the secondary market, and in that we saw a major opportunity.’
The original watch, although not officially called the Casquette, quickly received its nickname from a loyal following who were enamoured with the watch’s aesthetic. Produced from 1976 to 1978, it was vastly different from the classic two-handed watches usual for the time.
Girard-Perregaux Casquette watch rebooted
The new piece nods to this history while incorporating contemporary technology, inspired by the unique special edition the brand created in partnership with Bamford Watch Department for the Only Watch charity auction in 2021. ‘We had managed to create a new and improved movement with extra capabilities, but just needed the right moment to relaunch it – it wasn’t a question of if but indeed, when,’ says Dubois. ‘Our thought was to start out with a [one-off] Casquette kitted out with this new movement on the occasion of Only Watch late last year. But the results of this auction far surpassed our expectations, [the watch] fetching almost 10 times the initial estimate, which only further confirmed we were on the right track with this major reboot.’
This new piece adds new functions to the traditional hour, minutes and seconds display, with a secret date feature that lets the wearer choose a memorable or sentimental date that can then be displayed at a specific time each day. ‘We quite liked the idea of information only you (and your Casquette) are privy to, only reinforcing the relationship of watch and wearer, as well as playing into the gadgety/geeky aspect that is undeniable with this relaunch,’ adds Dubois.
‘We affectionately refer to the changes in this new piece as “hardware and software upgrades” within the team. On the “hardware” side, the case has gone from Makrolon on the vintage version to high-performance ceramic, rubber and titanium elements. On the “software” side, we have added a plethora of new functionalities, namely a second timezone, chronograph, low battery indicator and secret date, in addition to time and date functions.’
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