Girard Perregaux Just Teamed Up with a Vineyard to Make a Limited-Edition Watch With a Pebble Dial
With more than 165 years of watchmaking in its lineage, Girard Perregaux is a brand that deeply values history. This created an instant synergy between the brand and the Chateau Latour vineyard, which was founded back in 1331 and since 1855 has been ranked among the five Premiers Crus Classés from the Médoc region of France. Together, the pair has created a one-of-a-kind offering that demonstrates this appreciation of tradition, heritage, craftsmanship, and beauty. This is the Limited Edition 1966 Chateau Latour timepiece.
Chateau Latour is situated north of Bordeaux near the banks of the Gironde estuary. This particular location is notable for its mild climate and geological complexity. Here, the ground beneath the vines is dressed in a thick blanket of pebbles. For Chateau Latour, these pebbles serve an express purpose in the winemaking process. The palest pebbles reflect light, accelerating the photosynthesis process of the vines, while the darker pebbles harvest the daytime sun, releasing heat throughout the night. Girard Perrgeaux saw beyond the practical service of the pebbles and recognized their beauty, seeing an opportunity to showcase their unique color and pattern on a watch dial, and the concept for the 1966 Chateau Latour Edition watch was born.
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“We share much in common with Chateau Latour,” remarks Patrick Pruniaux, CEO of Girard-Perregaux. “We both have a rich history, a know-how amassed over hundreds of years, and an ancestral savoir-faire. We recognize the importance of our people, how their passion and skill is reflected in the products we create. And, lastly, we recognize that the terroir is key to product excellence. I am delighted to work with one of the most prestigious vineyards in the world.”
Each dial requires 30 hours of meticulous work to complete. An artisan cuts and grinds each pebble, carefully reducing it to a mere sliver measuring just 0.45mm thick. This pebble disc is then mounted on a brass base, and in the end, the total thickness measures just 0.70mm. In using natural pebbles, each piece varies in both appearance and structure. The result is that each dial is unique. Each exceptional dial is housed in a warm, rose gold case, which beautifully brings out the different hues and tones of the pebble dial. Flip the watch over and you’ll find an exhibition caseback with the Chateau Latour logo revealing the caliber GP03300 movement.
The 1966 Chateau Latour Edition watch is available today in a limited run of just 18 numbered pieces. The timepiece is priced at €39,800 (approximately $42,800). It will exclusively be available to private guests of the Chateau Latour estate and the Villa Girard-Perregaux in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the ancestral home of the Manufacture.
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