Girard-Perregaux is one of the oldest fine watchmaking manufactures still in operation in Switzerland today with its origins being traced all the way back to 1791. From a collector’s and enthusiast’s standpoint, vintage / neo-vintage Girard Perregaux remains one of the collecting world’s best-kept secrets. Take this beautiful Girard-Perregaux Chronograph Lemania ref. 47930 in yellow gold for instance- this is a fantastic example of why vintage / neo-vintage Gerard Perregaux is so underrated in today’s collecting landscape.
What can I say? This is an absolutely stunning watch, and it is not difficult at all to see why. It comes in a nicely sized 38mm 18-carat yellow gold case, which houses a stunning Cal. 8380-321 that is based on the venerable Lemania 1872 manual-wind chronograph movement made famous by Omega Speedmasters. The entire aesthetic and proportions of this Girard-Perregaux when held in hand and observed from a distance appear to be very well balanced. It is one of those watches that are more than meets the eye, simplistic in overall design yet detailed when examined up close.
A glance over the face of the ref. 47930 you will find beneath the sapphire crystal, a two-tone dial with two sub-dials (seconds indicator on the left, and a 30-minute counter on the right) placed at the 3 and 9 o ‘clock respectively, a stunning guilloche centre featuring blued hour, minute and chronograph hands, thin and minimal-looking roman numerals, a “Swiss Made” stamp at 6 o ‘clock and multiple red-accented numbers on the minute-track which gives the dial a nice touch of modernity. The bezel on the ref. 47930 is also stepped and domed which lends the watch some dimensionality and depth. The chronograph pushers are slightly rounded and are pleasing to the touch. Given its near-perfect proportions and slightly contoured lugs, this is a watch that would look great on any wrist and pair well with almost any outfit.
As far as its history and provenance go, there is not much information regarding the production of this ref. 47930, except for the fact that it was rumoured to have been in production since the early to mid-90s in either stainless steel or yellow gold.
Overall, the ref. 47930 offers a great balance in all aspects and possesses all the hallmarks of why neo-vintage watches have made such a comeback. The return to classical elegance is always welcomed here.
