The calendar may say it’s 2024, but the 70s seem to be having its moment right now. From disco beats in the music charts to the resurgence of flared trousers, pop culture seems to have found its groove – and the world of watches is not exempt. Proving the concept of the 50-year trend cycle is well and truly alive, Girard-Perregaux and Saint Laurent Rive Droite have collaborated to release a new interpretation of the signature Casquette for 2024.
The Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0 Saint Laurent 02 may find itself dressed in new high-tech metal, but its polished charm remains timeless. This new release builds on the groundbreaking Casquette, first released by Girard-Perregaux in 1976. That distinctive cult classic model, with its futuristic tubular LED display and bright red numerals, has been updated using grade 5 titanium; ready for the 21st century.
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Powered by the advanced Calibre GP3980 quartz movement, the Casquette 2.0 features the hours, minutes, seconds, day, date, month, and year chronograph and can display an additional time zone. It also displays an option for a ‘secret date’ function, where a memorable moment, such as a birthday, can be specified by the wearer.
This marks the second collaboration between the Swiss horology Maison and the French fashion house. Girard-Perregaux first re-released a timepiece inspired by the Casquette in 2022, and the following year teamed up with Saint Laurent to work on an exclusive, all-black interpretation of the Casquette 2.0, this time made from ceramic and black PVD-treated grade 5 titanium.
“At Girard-Perregaux, we enjoy working with other prestigious brands,” commented CEO Patrick Pruniaux in the announcement of the release. “The case of that model was a contemporary blend of materials that resembled the Makrolon reference of the 70s but delivered additional wearer attributes.”
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In the next installment in the trilogy, the Casquette has been given a gleaming and shiny update, where the grade 5 titanium has been endowed with contrasting satin, polished and sandblasted finishes. More stylish and undoubtedly more comfortable, too, the Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0 Saint Laurent 02 actually weighs less than the steel model of 1976, and titanium alloy is corrosion-resistant, non-magnetic and hypoallergenic.
Pruniaux, in the same announcement, described this year’s model: “The Casquette 2.0 Saint Laurent 02, resembles the steel Casquette of 1976, but is lighter and, thanks to its grade 5 titanium case and bracelet, proves especially comfortable to wear.”
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While having one of these Casquettes around your wrist may have you feeling like you’re in the 70s, unfortunately, it doesn’t carry that pre-multiple economic crash price tag and will set you back around CHF 5,620 (approx. 7,500)
Limited to 200 pieces, we have no doubt that these are going to be tricky to get your hands on – in fact the model is already playing favorites among its makers: “I’m very proud of my team…they’ve created my favorite Casquette to date,” rounded off Pruniaux.
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