The best quartz watches are about to take off again.

 

This isn't about some unexpected triumph of quartz over mechanical watches following their recent comeback. This is about a very niche area within the diverse quartz universe.

 

Watches that have a metal case and a digital display with the digits lined up in a row — these are the types of models there's a surprising demand for. In spring 2020, Hamilton released an updated "PSR" re-edition of the quartz Hamilton Pulsar.

 

In 2021, a watch was created in the workshop of the Bamford Watch Department in partnership with Girard-Perregaux called the Casquette Only Watch Edition which sold for CHF 100,000. Now in spring 2022, the French brand Yema has evoked feelings of nostalgia for its Yema LED collection by teaming up with house synthwave DJ Kavinsky for a new edition. 

 

Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0
Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0
Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0
Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0

Another example of this trending theme is the latest edition of the Girard-Perregaux Casquette. It's not a unique piece like the Only Watch Edition this time but a series of 820 pieces. This isn't some randomly selected number — between 1976 and 1978, Girard-Perregaux managed to manufacture 8200 pieces of the watch pitched as the new face of time.

 

Three reference versions of the watch were released, which later earned the nickname "Casquette" (Fr. "cap"): ref. 9931 in steel, ref. 9934 in gold and ref. 9939 in Makrolon polycarbonate. The model has become one of the unconditional hits on vintage-watch websites over the past decade, so the fact that Girard-Perregaux casquette 1970s digital led watch wants to relive this retro and futuristic watch's success is perfectly reasonable.

 

According to Girard-Perregaux CEO Patrick Pruniaux, the current price of the Casquette on the pre-owned watch market could be ten times higher than its initial retail price. Preparations for the Casquette's reincarnation began with Only Watch. The movement it used was the GP03980-1474. It's also the one housed in the new Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0 model.

 

Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0
Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0
Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0
Girard-Perregaux Casquette 2.0

The hours, minutes, seconds, day and date haven't been touched. Thanks to its new engine, the Casquette has been transformed into a chronograph. It also received a second timezone display and the so-called "secret date".

 

The latter makes sure the watch owner doesn't forget an important date by showing it at the same selected time each day. The battery life for the GP03980-1474 should be enough to keep the watch going for two years.

 

But the most important thing about the novelty isn't its functionality, it's its unique style. Unlike the historic original, the case for the Casquette 2.0 which measures 42.40 × 33.60 × 14.64 mm is made of matte black ceramic.

The few exceptions are the titanium pushers, caseback and GP logo. The rather large case only weighs 107 g. The profile of the Casquette has also changed, but the case with slanted edges has held onto its 1970s sleekness.