Dressed in a new high-tech metal. The same passion for style.
Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0 Saint Laurent 02
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When it burst onto the watch scene back in 1976, the Casquette was considered innovative and unorthodox with its quartz movement and avant-garde design. Last year, Girard-Perregaux and Saint Laurent Rive Droite jointly created an exclusive interpretation of the cult classic that proved an extraordinary success. Building on the success of the collaboration, the two luxury brands have now conceived a new interpretation of the Casquette for 2024. The Casquette 2.0 Saint Laurent 02 continues to uphold the design of the 70s original but is now dressed in a new suit of silver-grey clothes formed of Grade 5 titanium, a lightweight alloy that delivers a host of wearer benefits.
Always at the vanguard of fine watchmaking
Since 1791, Girard-Perregaux has been at the vanguard of fine watchmaking. It was a leading exponent of quartz timekeeping, setting the frequency of 32,768 Hz, a standard that was universally adopted throughout the watch industry.
Back in 1976, the Maison unveiled the inaugural Casquette, a rule breaker that resonated with a forward-looking world. Brimming with cutting-edge technology, dressed in new materials and presented in an avant-garde style, the Casquette was unlike anything seen before. Indeed, it was described as ‘disruptive’, ‘innovative’ and ‘unorthodox’ at the time of itsrelease.
The Casquette’s avant-garde styling tapped into the zeitgeist of the 70s with its then futuristic tubular LED display, imparting meaning with bright red numerals. Housed in an ergonomic case, it was offered in a choice of three materials: steel, gold plated steel or Makrolon, a composite material that’s both light and robust.
In 2022, Girard-Perregaux brought back the Casquette by popular demand and incorporated several enhancements, renaming the watch the Casquette 2.0. Although it shared much in common with the 70s original it had subtly evolved. Housed in a case formed of black ceramic and titanium, the model resembled the appearance of the 70s Makrolon-clad reference.
The Calibre GP3980 – additional functionality
A new quartz movement, the Calibre GP3980, sat at the heart of the Casquette 2.0, delivering additional features. The inventory of functions included the hours, minutes, seconds, day, date, month and year. In addition, it featured a chronograph, a second time zone (displaying the time in a different location) and a ‘secret date’, a memorable moment specified by the wearer such as a birthday.
A meeting of minds
Saint Laurent Rive Droite has worked closely with various blue-chip brands, reimagining designs, textures and colours, often breaking the rules, in order to craft products rich in artistic virtue. In 2023, the high-end lifestyle brand joined forces with Girard-Perregaux, creating an exclusive interpretation of the Casquette; a vision in black dressed in a stealthy suit of black ceramic and Grade 5 titanium.
A high-tech, lightweight alloy
Now, Anthony Vaccarello has re-edited this Casquette in a limited edition, presented in silver grey tones and crafted from grade 5 titanium, an alloy that is light, strong, stiff, corrosion resistant, non-magnetic and hypoallergenic.
By using Grade 5 titanium, Girard-Perregaux has been able to endow the case with a combination of different finishes, juxtaposing satin, polished and sandblasted surfaces. Each contrasting facet is the product of amassed know-how and immense skill. The ergonomic case arcs around the wrist, granting impressive levels of wearer comfort. Moreover, weighing less than the steel model of 1976, the reduced mass of the Casquette 2.0 Saint Laurent 02 augments wearer comfort. This perfectly demonstrates the Maison’s philosophy of continuously pushing forward without compromising on style.
Equipped with the aforementioned Calibre GP3980, this latest model is presented on a matching Grade 5 titanium bracelet with a rubber lining, further contributing to the cosseting wrist-feel. The titanium buckle is endowed with a micro adjustment, allowing the wearer to fine tune the sizing of the bracelet, granting the optimal wrist fit.
A shared appreciation for style
Patrick Pruniaux, CEO of Girard-Perregaux, remarks, “At Girard-Perregaux we enjoy working with other prestigious brands. Last year, we collaborated with Saint Laurent and produced an eye-catching reinterpretation of the Casquette of 1976. The case of that model was a contemporary blend of materials that resembled the Makrolon reference of the 70s but delivered additional wearer attributes. Our approach respects the iconic look of the original Casquette while at the same time subtly evolving its specification. This year’s model, the Casquette 2.0 Saint Laurent 02, resembles the steel Casquette of ’76, but is lighter and, thanks to its Grade 5 titanium case and bracelet, proves especially comfortable to wear. I’m very proud of my team…they’ve created my favourite Casquette to date.”
The model features the logos of both brands and is limited to a series of 200 numbered pieces.
Available exclusively at the Saint Laurent Rive Droite in Los Angeles and Saint Laurent Babylone in Paris as well as on YSL.COM.
Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0 Saint Laurent 02 Technical Specifications
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, day, date, month, year, chronograph, 2nd time zone, secret date
Case
Material: titanium
Dimensions: 42.40 x 33.60 mm
Height: 14.64 mm
Glass: sapphire crystal
Case-back: titanium, secured by 4 screws
Dial: tubular LED display
Water resistance: 50 meters (5 ATM)
Bracelet
Material: titanium with rubber lining
Buckle: titanium, folding with micro adjustment system
About Saint Laurent Rive Droite SAINT LAURENT RIVE DROITE is a creative and cultural destination curated by Anthony Vaccarello, located at 213, rue Saint-Honoré 75001 Paris, and extended at 469 Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles. Named ‘RIVE DROITE’ as a nod to SAINT LAURENT rive gauche line, that helped to democratize fashion and luxury in the sixties. SAINT LAURENT RIVE DROITE introduces a brand new retail destination for expression, exchange, and lifestyle, showcasing a wide range of products including exclusive pieces, limited editions, library, vintage, music, photography combined with art, performances, exhibitions, events, and cultural exchanges. Conceptualized by Creative Director Anthony Vaccarello, the extensive and diversified offer from different creative and design fields, are imagined and embraced in new ways to enlarge the universe and the DNA of Saint Laurent. SAINT LAURENT RIVE DROITE represents an amusing and chic version of today’s Saint Laurent universe. saintlaurentrivedroite.com @ysl #saintlaurentrivedroite @anthonyvaccarello
About Girard-Perregaux Founded in 1791, Girard-Perregaux is one of the oldest fine watchmaking manufactures still in operation and is appreciated by those in the know. Indeed, the firm’s history is dotted with exceptional creations that skillfully blend aesthetics and functionality. These models include the iconic Laureato, born in 1975, as well as the legendary Tourbillon ‘With Three Gold Bridges,’ a watch that made the invisible visible, transforming bridges from just a technical element to an integral part of the timepiece – a first in watchmaking. Girard-Perregaux’s place at the vanguard of horological innovation is confirmed by over one hundred recorded patents together with numerous prizes and distinctions. It remains one of the few watchmakers to retain Manufacture status for over two centuries by mastering all the required horological skills in-house and making watches infused with a notable degree of authenticity. While Girard-Perregaux respects its heritage, it continues to look ahead, embracing new technologies, state of the art materials, and fresh takes on iconic shapes. As of 2022, Girard-Perregaux and sister Maison Ulysse Nardin have formed an independent collective of high horology Manufactures.
