The Laureato Bol d'Or Mirabaud Chronograph is a new sports timepiece from Swiss manufacturer Girard-Perregaux.  A tribute to the 2009 Bol d'Or Mirabaud regatta, and the active role which Girard-Perregaux plays in prestige sailing, this limited edition Laureato model offers an alluring combination of casually elegant styling, mechanical sophistication, and exclusivity.

Ardent Girard-Perregaux fans will note that this is not the first timepiece the brand has offered to mark the Bol d'Or Mirabaud.  In 2007, the first year in which Girard-Perregaux served as presenting sponsor for the race, it unveiled a special edition of its Sea Hawk Pro 1000m dive watch.   This new 2009 debut carries on the commemorative flavor of its predecessor, while presenting specific complications highly useful for the regatta competitor.  

The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Bol d'Or Mirabaud watch case measures 44mm and is manufactured from titanium, a material notable for both its light weight and hypo-allergenic properties.  In keeping with the windswept theme of oceanic adventure, rubber encases the crown, chronograph pushers, and the angular Laureato bezel.  Handsome and intricate, the dial features a matte black background, upon which the chronograph subdials, and the minute scale with its luminous Arabic hour figures are applied.  Beneath the Girard-Perregaux signature appears the words "Bol d'Or Mirabaud".  Functions are clear and simple to operate; the lowermost and right subdials keep track of chronograph hours and continuous small seconds, respectively.  The subdial at left provides an indication of 24 hours.  

Operating the chronograph reveals exceptional functionality for regatta timing demands.  Not only does the mechanism offer a flyback function permitting instant resets without a stop, the central blue-tipped hand marks off elapsed chronograph minutes, a feature which offers great legibility compared to a minute counter organized in a traditional circular counter.  The blue and red scale between 12 and 2 o'clock works in conjunction with this centralized minute counter to offer an exact read-off of the crucial ten minute period leading up to the start of a yacht race.  

Governing these functions is the GP 033C0, a self-winding mechanical movement designed and manufactured by Girard-Perregaux.  Equipped with a specialized module for the chronograph function, this slender caliber features a balance frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, and a power reserve of approximately 46 hours.  Despite the sporty mission of the watch, and its robust 100-meter water resistance rating, the back is equipped with a sapphire exhibition window.  Through this clear portal, the connoisseur can admire the lavish finishing applied by Girard-Perregaux watchmakers, including circular graining on the mainplate, and Cotes de Geneve on the bridges.  

The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Bol d'Or Mirabaud Chronograph is completed by a rugged strap in rubber and a triple folding clasp in titanium.  Thirty examples will be produced by Girard-Perregaux, each watch bearing its individual number within the series.

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