Fifty years old!
The Laureato is fifty. Fifty years old. And while that doesn’t make it the oldest watch model on the market by any stretch, it’s still quite an achievement, and one that’s every bit befitting the very special Laureato that GP has created to mark the occasion.
The new Laureato Fifty is modeled after the very first Laureato from 1975, but it is effectively a brand-new watch, with a new bracelet, a new case and even a brand-new movement.
The Laureato Fifty takes its aesthetic inspiration from the ’75 model, mimicking that watch’s two-tone style — executed here with a combination of stainless steel and 3N yellow gold — and borrowing its signature Clous de Paris-patterned dial in sunray gray. More modern touches include a color-matched date window at 3:00 and a counterweight in the shape of GP’s double arrow logo on the 3N gold seconds hand.
Next we have the case, which debuts here in a new sweet-spot size: 39mm. Previously, the modern Laureato existed in 42mm, 38mm and 34mm sizes, with the latter two often (and exclusively on the 34mm variant) being bejeweled with gemstones. The new 39mm case is also thinner than the existing Laureatos at just 9.8mm tall. Despite this, the watch has boosted its water resistance by 50 percent, from 100m to 150m.
In addition to its new size, the case has also been completely reworked. Its angles are sharper, its finishing more impressive and its integration with the bracelet has been improved. Speaking of the bracelet, it may have received my favorite updates on the entire watch.