Today we are bringing back a very special watch from the 1970s, the Girard-Perregaux Casquette. Following on from its previous reissues, it now comes in a titanium version with yellow gold accents. I had a chance to actually touch and see what it was all about.
Girard-Perregaux will only produce 820 of these, just 10% of the original 1976 production. The new Casket 2.0 is priced at CHF 4,750 and will initially be available to current Girard-Perregaux owners. If you own a GP watch, you’ll get priority access on the brand’s website until November 14th. The remaining watches will then be sold in select boutiques for anyone to purchase. It’s worth bearing in mind that this may be the last chance for Casquette fans to get their hands on one, as the brand says there won’t be any additional production of this LE model once it’s sold out.
Genre history
The Girard-Perregaux Casquette (French for “hat”) comes from an interesting niche in the watch world. In the 1970s, the arrival of quartz technology threatened traditional Swiss watchmaking. This has led traditional brands to look for ways to adapt to changing circumstances. Casket is a prime example of such an initiative.
Girard-Perregaux adopted quartz movements as early as 1971, becoming the first historic Swiss brand to serially produce quartz watches. Later, as LED displays became more popular, the two concepts came together. The first brand to integrate these was the Pulsar developed by Hamilton in 1972 with a slightly more conventional upward-facing LED display.
GP introduced the original newsboy cap at the 1976 Basel Fair. It followed a “driver’s watch” style with an angled display. Bulova also released its version, Computron, that same year. Interestingly, yet another watch with a similar shape, the Amida Digitrend, was also displayed at the 1976 Basel Fair. The Digitrend had a mechanical movement that displayed the time digitally. So I think it’s safe to say that this style was all the rage in the late 70s.
New Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0
Girard-Perregaux relaunched the Casquette in 2022 as the 2.0 model and released two further limited editions. Color-wise, today’s release is particularly retro as it combines Grade 5 titanium and yellow gold. The latest Casquette 2.0 features a unique case with a maximum width of 33.6 mm and length of 42.4 mm. The thickest part of the watch, the display side, is 14.6mm thick. The recessed position of the crystal makes it scratch-resistant, and the sapphire makes it even more scratch-resistant. GP rates the Casquette’s water resistance to 50 meters.
The retro logo on the top of the case is 18K yellow gold, as are the pushers on each side of the case. These gold details add a bit of retro charm, but are subtle enough at the same time. I wouldn’t call this a two-tone watch any time soon.
Inside is a backward compatible module GP3980-1474. This compatibility is particularly good for owners of original caskets, as Girard-Perregaux can introduce new replacement modules if the original casket fails. This module has a red display that shows the time when either pusher is pressed. You can also display additional time zones as well as day, day, month, and year. Unlike the original, it also has a chronograph function. Finally, you can set a “secret date”. This feature flashes important dates for 20 seconds at a set time every day. Think about something personal, like a wedding or a child’s birthday.
Wearing the new Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0
Wearing the Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0 is an experience like no other. Everything about it is a contrast to what I’m used to seeing on watches, from the slanted display to the oddly shaped case and even the bracelet. Titanium bracelets feature a rubber lining, making them incredibly soft and flexible. This reminds me a bit of a 90’s Seiko Kinetic that I used to own. It featured a steel scale on a rubber bracelet, but the quality is much better here.
The Casquette 2.0 is as comfortable on your wrist as it looks. The watch is light, securely held in place by the aforementioned bracelet, and has plenty of flexibility. The small clasp is a special highlight for me. As you may know, large, bulky clasps are my weakness. This has a nice vintage feel. It has a fine adjustment function, but requires tools.
I felt cool when I walked around wearing Casquette 2.0. It looks strange, but it’s too well made to be a gimmick. I have a certain fantasy and I enjoy it. My only complaint is that there is no always-on setting for the display. Even when the watch is set at the perfect angle, the shape of the screwdriver makes it somewhat useless, as you still have to reach out with your other hand to display the time. However, I’m sure this is a battery life issue since it should be easy to program.
lastly
This watch makes me wonder why Girard-Perregaux doesn’t add a regular production model to its lineup. No, I’m even baffled that they chose not to continue manufacturing this model after it was sold out. Casquette is something of a brand hero that sets us apart from many of our direct competitors. Additionally, all previous LEs sold out quickly. I don’t think many of the 820 units will remain after existing GP clients are given the chance over the next two weeks.
This is one of my favorite watches to see on people’s wrists. It’s a conversation starter. Most people who shop in this segment buy Tudors or used older Datejusts. Do you think the Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0 is very “fashionable”? Let us know in the comments section below.
