The future of the past.

 

In 2019, creative director at Yves Saint Laurent Anthony Vaccarello opened the concept store Saint Laurent Rive Droite on rue Saint-Honoré in Paris, where clothes are paired with accessories especially for the project in the fashionable maison's style.

 

Artists' books, gold skate decks and vinyl records occupy spaces along the black marble walls. The collection of accessories is truly exclusive, only available at Saint Laurent Rive Droite stores in Paris and Los Angeles or online.

 

The collection now includes a watch model called Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0 x Saint Laurent, limited to 100 pieces. Anthony Vaccarello's reasoning is understandable: the watch with a red digital display in the spirit of the original is surprisingly harmonious with the project's style.

The original Casquette model with a tubular LED display appeared in the brand's portfolio in 1976 and was produced until 1978. A total of just 8200 pieces saw the light of day: 2200 in gold cases, 4000 in steel and 2000 in the Makrolon polycarbonate.

 

The watches were equipped with Caliber 395 — the successor of the first quartz movement released in 1971: Girard-Perregaux Cal. 350. The model had its quirks (the watch owner had to press a button to see the time), yet it was a big success.

 

The company revisited Casquette in 2021 when it teamed up with Bamford Watch Department to work on their Only Watch project, and the Casquette 2.0 model followed shortly after in 2022.

 

Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0 x Saint Laurent
Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0 x Saint Laurent

They equipped it with Caliber GP-03980, which offered the watch owner additional functions and information: a calendar, chronograph, second time zone and secret date as a bonus. The owner chooses a date, and it lights up every day for 20 seconds at a set time to remind them of an important or happy event.

 

The case and bracelet are now made of black ceramic with titanium details, and the 820 pieces quickly found new owners. The specs have also been adapted for Saint Laurent's Casquette editions. Only the availability and a few details have changed, e.g., the logo is now black as well.