Vintage 1945 Infinity Edition

Vintage 1945 & 1966 Infinity Editions

Onyx is the new black

The Vintage 1945 Infinity Edition and the 1966 Infinity Editions capture the elegance of a black tie soirée. Indeed, they demonstrate Girard-Perregaux’s capacity to imbue watches with notable design flair, seemly aesthetics and the brand’s legendary savoir-faire. These timepieces, showcasing at the Geneva Watch Days, are accompanied with one message: ‘Onyx is the new black’.

According to Girard-Perregaux’s CEO, Patrick Pruniaux, “The Vintage 1945 Infinity Edition and both the 1966 Infinity Editions in 40mm and 30mm capture the beauty of the past but are refined for today and beyond, courtesy of timeless aesthetics and mechanical virtue.” He explains, “Unlike many of our Haute Horlogerie models, these watches shun complexity, instead they encompass pure lines and graceful proportions. All three models impart time lucidly and exhibit a becoming simplicity. Dressed in black onyx, they are paragons of sophistication.”

These timepieces reinterpret the design codes of their respective eras but employ onyx as a new form of expression. The Vintage 1945 Infinity is housed in a steel case measuring 36.10 x 35.25 mm, while the 1966 Infinity is available in a 30 mm case for ladies, with a 40 mm version for men. Each of them draws upon Girard- Perregaux’s vast expertise, amassed since the company’s foundation in 1791.

Clémence Dubois, Girard-Perregaux’s Chief Product Marketing Officer states “Delicately shaping the black onyx dials into their respective rectangular and round shapes requires an inordinate amount of skill. It involves no less than 15 meticulous operations spread over a number of months within our Manufacture, endowing each piece with exceptional value.”

The original Girard-Perregaux 1945 beautifully captured the charm of the Art Deco movement. This styling is now carried over to the Vintage 1945 Infinity Edition. Its stylish rectangular case follows the curving profile of the wrist, delivering a superb ergonomic fit. Dauphine-type hour and minute hands soar over pink gold indexes to succinctly impart meaning. The crown and bracelet are perfectly integrated into the case with elegant gadroons positioned above and below the dial. The in-house Manufacture movement features a patented ‘grande date’ display. This function employs two separate discs, spaced just 0.1mm apart. It is comprised of 282 components and proclaims the date in a highly legible form.

The 1966 Infinity Edition’s pure appearance is manifest, courtesy of its slender case, round dial, leaf-shaped hands and pink gold indexes – classic features in every sense. It is supplied with a matching leather strap perfectly integrated with the case. Furthermore, a see-through case-back affords views of the self-winding movement and accompanying pink gold oscillating weight. The company’s monogram is presented at 12 o’clock in pink gold, completing this artistic ensemble.

“The new iterations of the 1945 and 1966 deliver beauty and functionality, two attributes which have formed the bedrock of our company since its foundation in 1791”, says Patrick Pruniaux. “With the black onyx dials recalling the depth of the universe and its infinite mystery, they are worthy additions to the Infinity series. Watch this ‘space’ as onyx becomes the new black.”

The Vintage 1945 Infinity model is limited to just 88 pieces, while both the 30mm and 40mm versions of the 1966 Infinity are limited to 188 examples each.

All three models will be available worldwide in authorised Girard-Perregaux retailers from September 2020. During September 2020, the 1966 Infinity Edition 40mm will be sold exclusively on MrPorter.com