When it comes to wristwatches, a name says it all. I mean, what part of Girard-Perregaux Traveller Large Date, Moon Phases & GMT a person with an IQ just slightly above that of an average bath rug wouldn’t understand? However, when it comes to timekeepers issued by GP, there is much more to them than just a list of features. What you get, is an extremely finely crafted accessory that features a level of refinement that you will rarely meet even in its price range.
You, probably, remember the gorgeous Traveller Moon Phases and Large Date that Girard-Perregaux has released back in March 2014. If not, you should have: there are not so many timekeepers of this caliber that so delicately combine functionality with extreme refinement.
It looks like somebody at GP was still not happy with the timepiece, so, for the next year, the luxury item is reissued with a slightly different layout.
The big date display and the moon phase indicator (one of the best in terms of execution that are currently available in a mass-produced watch) remain at their usual places at 12 o’clock and 7 o’clock respectively. The power reserve indicator that, to be honest, didn’t do a good enough job to provide visual balance for the whole tableau, was replaced with a more adequate for the task second time-zone display.
For many (including yours truly,) a nice power reserve indicator is more important than a 24-hour GMT display (for me, it is a lot more difficult to remember the last time I wound up my watch than to hold in working memory time differentials between my home town and those four or five time zones that I am particularly interested in.)
Still, I must admit that I would gladly trade it for such a nicely designed GMT indicator (especially if it is the one that goes with the Traveller John Harrison limited edition that commemorates the 300th Anniversary of the passing of the Longitude Act by the British Parliament with a rough map of Europe and the British islands painted in bright red color.)
To make using the complication a tad easier, the watch was equipped with a dedicated push-button at 4 o’clock that allows manipulating the indicator in one-hour increments. As usual, when it comes to timekeepers of such a high pedigree, the pusher looks here as organic as it could be. As does the screw-down setting crown that is deliciously comfortable to operate.
Measuring 44 millimeters in diameter and just a tad over 12 mm thick, the Traveller is massive, but not excessively so (at least, on a normal wrist) and it would look even better if accompanied by an expensive suit and nice shirt. As sporty as it is, it is also as elegant as an AMG coupe.
According to official specs, the Traveller uses as a source of power their own self-winding Caliber GP03300-0093. This is still the very same bullet-proof GP03300 mechanism with an additional module that rides atop of it. Although a natural-born dual-timer would probably look and feel a bit nicer, the design also makes the timepiece a lot more affordable, which is especially true for a less pricey version in stainless steel.
See also: Girard-Perregaux WW.TC Chronograph White Ceramic
Photos: Girard-Perregaux
WWR verdict
Originality 5/5
Build quality: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Legibility: 4.5/5
Value for money: 4.5/5
Girard-Perregaux Traveller Large Date, Moon Phases & GMT specification
Price: €14,500 (stainless steel) / €29,800 (rose gold)
Movement: Automatic, caliber GP03300-0093, in-house, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 35
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 46 hours
Movement decoration: Branded oscillating weight, “Cotes de Geneve” motif, circular graining, blued and polished screws
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, big date, moon phase, GMT
Case: Stainless steel / Rose gold
Shape: Round
Size: 44.00 mm
Case height: 12.10 mm
Dial: Off-white (refs. 49655-52-131-BB6A and 49655-52-133-BBBA) / Opaline silvered (ref. 49655-11-132-BB6A) / Galvanic black (ref. 49655-52-631-BB6A)
Hour markers: Applied, luminous dots
Hands: Luminous
Water resistance: 100 meters
Strap: Alligator or nubuck alligator strap on folding buckle
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Back: Sapphire