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Girard-Perregaux brings back the futuristic Casquette

Reinvented, innovated and cased in ceramic and Grade 5 titanium, Girard-Perregaux launches the Casquette 2.0 in a limited number of 820 pieces.

The word 'sequel' can be quite alarming - there are plenty examples in movies that prove this. It's a gamble in many ways - trying to top the success of the original while also retaining its essence. The same logic can be applied to luxury watches. While the launch of new watches inspired by historical references is de riguer in the watch industry, bringing back nearly the same watch is less common. Girard-Perregaux is the latest brand to try this approach with the Casquette 2.0 (Ref 39800-32-001-32A). This timepiece is a renaissance of one of its most futuristic, bold creations from the late 1970s.

The original Casquette was produced between 1976 and 1978 in three case variants, Makrolon® (polycarbonate), yellow gold plate, and steel; only 8,200 pieces were produced. Here was an avant-garde watch that featured an inclusion of a Tubular LED instead of the regular 'hands' on a circular dial of the times. Powered by a quartz movement, the watch displayed hours, minutes, seconds, day, and date. 

Girard-Perregaux has now brought back the Casquette in the Casquette 2.0, which stays true to the original though has ,modern updates. The case is now crafted with scratch-resistant ceramic, and has a Grade 5 titanium caseback. Weighing just 107 grams, the watch sits more comfortably on the wrist. It is powered by a new Calibre GP03980 quartz movement with a 32,768Hz frequency, which the brand says has a life of at least two years even if the on-demand display of time was activated 20 times a day. With the new movement comes additional functions, including the month, year, chronograph, second-time zone, and secret date.

The glass of the display is sapphire crystal, and the pushers are crafted in Grade 5 titanium as well. The 'GP' logo is positioned on top and the watch bracelet comes in black ceramic with a rubber interior and a folding titanium buckle. The watch has a water resistance of 50 metres.

The Casquette was resurrected last year as well, when Girard-Perregaux with Bamford Watch Department made a Casquette Only Watch edition in forged carbon and titanium. The watch realised CHF 80,000, against an estimate of CHF 10,000- 20,000.

While the original Casquette was limited to 8,200 pieces, Girard-Perregaux has chosen to keep Casquette limited to 820 pieces. While the Casquette 2.0 is already sold out online on the brand's website, it is set to be made available in select Girard-Perregaux retailers around the world.

Images: Courtesy Girrard-Perregaux

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