An innovative aesthetic and technological new take which gives rise to a new timepiece, available in three variants. Is Perrelet leaving the DNA of the double rotor with this collection?
With its impressive watchmaking heritage spanning over 240 years of history, Swiss watchmaker Perrelet is renowned today for its timepieces with ‘animated’ dials in its many interpretations. Fired by powerful creativity and a boundless spirit of innovation, the Swiss-based Manufacture offers devotees of fine watchmaking a new and original timepiece combining high-performance mechanics with a captivating style and impeccable finishing.
Guided by creativity and the desire to explore new technological frontiers in watchmaking, the technical team at Perrelet gave rise to the new LAB PERIPHERAL DUAL TIME BIG DATE. It comes in three versions and features useful functions such as the second-time zone with day-night indicator and the calendar with a big double window.
This timepiece remains loyal to the values and DNA of the brand with its signature “Luxury in movement”. While the many current variations feature the classic Double Rotor or the Turbine, this latest creation offers a more discreet and refined animation on the dial and welcomes a new and contemporary casual-chic style in Perrelet’s collections.
The LAB PERIPHERAL DUAL TIME BIG DATE comes in a 42 mm x 42 mm stainless steel cushion-shape case, water-resistant to 5 ATM. Its soft, smooth lines along with brushed and polished lugs, the embossed rectangles decoration on the case band and the polished octagonal bezel with satin-brushed profile, endow this model with a strong and distinctive character.
Great attention was paid to the architecture of the dial boasting an original construction. The three-dimensional effect is achieved by the multi-level structure and different decorations which add depth. It’s embellished by a variety of finishes and plays on three color variations: deep blue or black combined with silver-colored details and silver. The dial shows an elegant pattern with vertical lines in relief within a metallic circular-brushed rim, surrounded by a matt sandblasted ring.
At 12 o’clock the date is displayed in two small windows in black Arabic numerals on a white background and vice versa on the black dial edition, enhancing optimal legibility. The star of this latest timepiece is the dual time function which allows two time zones to be displayed at the same time: local time and home time. Highly appreciated by globetrotters and easy to set thanks to the crown in the third position, it takes place on the silver counter at 6 o’clock. Decorated with circular grooves it bears the second-time indication with a mix of Arabic numerals and indices. The day/night indication is revealed through a small round aperture between 10 and 11 o’clock. The hour and minute hands of the two-time zones are treated with white SuperLuminova.
The cut-out hour-markers filled with white SuperLuminova, as well as the hands of the main time, are applied to the central disc of the dial and suspended towards the minutes flange, giving the impression that they are literally floating on air, to allow the owner of the LAB PERIPHERAL DUAL TIME BIG DATE an unhindered view on the most distinctive feature of this timepiece: its oscillating weight.
While it is generally visible through the case-back, the LAB PERIPHERAL DUAL TIME BIG DATE model allows watch enthusiasts to observe the motion of the oscillating weight while reading the time. This technical innovation was made possible by the new generation in-house manufacture self-winding Caliber P-421. The oscillating weight, a 180° plate’s segment, is fixed to a toothed wheel (with toothing on the inside) known as a “couronne”, itself positioned on the outer part of the movement that meshes with a pinion placed on the outer rim of the movement. The rotor, on ball bearings, is adorned with a 180° screw-down plate bearing an engraved grooves decoration clearly visible on the dial side.
This newly designed automatic calibre, composed by 302 parts, beats at 28.800 vibrations per hours and offers 42-hour power reserve. The sapphire crystal porthole on the case-back, sealed with 6 screws, reveals its balance-wheel in action and the rhodium plated bridges with Côtes de Genève finishing and engravings in gold 3N.
The watch is completed by a black or blue calf leather strap with white stitching, according to the versions, and a stainless-steel folding clasp embellished with the Perrelet logo.
The LAB PERIPHERAL DUAL TIME BIG DATE is the expression of cutting-edge technology and contemporay style as a result of Perrelet’s profound know-how which lives up to the high quality standards of the traditional Swiss watchmaking. It’s a must-have that can’t miss in the collections of true watch connaisseurs in search of exclusivity!
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Ref. A1101/1 (silver dial)
Ref. A1101/3(black dial)
Ref. A1101/4 (blue dial)
Movement: Manufacture Perrelet P-421 caliber, mechanical automatic movement
Total diameter: 34.80 mm
Jewels: 30
Power reserve: 42 hours
Balance-wheel shock protection system: Incabloc, Circular-grained and rhodium plated main plate
Functions:
Central hours, minutes and seconds hands
Big date window at 12 o’clock
Second time zone with day-night indicator at 6 o’clock
Case: Cushion-shaped, polished-brushed stainless steel, octagonal bezel
Size: 42mm x 42mm
Thickness: 13.51 mm
Anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass on both sides
Case-back with sapphire crystal glass, secured by 6 screws
Water resistance: 5 ATM
Dial:
Three color variations: silver, deep blue and black
Central part with vertical decoration and circular-brushed rim, surrounded by a matt sandblasted ring
Cut-out hour-markers filled with SuperLuminova
Luminescent hours and minutes hands
Central seconds hand
Silver, black or blue flange for seconds indication on a scale of 5
Oscillating weight visible on dial side, engraved grooves decoration
Date window at 12 o’clock (two white disks with black Arabic numerals on silver and blue dials – two black discs with white Arabic numerals on black dial)
Circular grooves decoration on the second time zone counter at 6 o’clock, round aperture between 10 and 11 o’clock for day/night indication
Strap:
Black calf leather strap with white stitching on silver and black dial executions
Blue calf leather strap with white stitching on blue dial version
Stainless steel folding clasp embellished with the Perrelet logo
Retail Price: CHF 4.980,00
SUMMARY
First of all, I would like to congratulate the Perrelet management for this new collection. As you know I am a big fan of world time and dual timers, these watches have a great fascination.
On the other hand, with these watches, Perrelet leaves the DNA of the “dual rotor” that Perrelet stands for. The then owner of the brand Flavio Audemars came to me and wanted to know my opinion about this unique selling proposition. I was not happy with it, because Perrelet has another historical unique selling proposition: Perrelet was demonstrably the inventor of the automatic wristwatch.
For Audemars, Perrelet was purely a losing proposition; it was his passion. He wanted to sell the brand to Chopard, but KFS had no need. Finally, the brand became a member of the Spanish Festina-Lotus group. The owner of the Festina-Lotus Group – Miguel Rodríguez – also consulted me because of the high level of insider knowledge about Perrelet, although Rodríguez was resistant to advice.
Rodríguez had also acquired the Joseph Chevalier brand, whose rights were with me.
In the meantime, we drifted apart, as I withdrew from the public eye due to my state of health.