Girard-Perregaux Gyromatic Chronometer HF Calibre 32A 18K Full Gold ( 91.5 grams )

Girard-Perregaux Chronometer HF

The Girard-Perregaux Chronometer HF was made in response to the quest for more accurate watch movements. It was based on an AS calibre to which a proprietary automatic winding unit and rotor were added, from which the movement family “Gyromatic” was named.  The winding mechanism works as shown in the diagram below.

The Caliber 32A Movement

Chronometry had been regarded as the pinnacle of watchmaking since the 18th century. In 1966 Girard-Perregaux began submitting their newly developed Gyromatic Calibre 32A movements to the Bureaux officiels de contrôle de la marche des montres (B.O). This calibre oscillates at 36 000 vibrations per hour (vph), and was a continuation in the development of the line, as increasing the frequency of the movement’s oscillations was preferable to increasing the size of the balance wheel. The theory was, the faster the balance swing, the less impact on timekeeping variations from positional change and variation in temperature.

Collecting The Caliber 32A

I have been collecting the 32A powered watches for a couple of years now and Girard-Perregaux watches generally for about four years. I began collecting these particular watches as the quest for precision in a mechanical watch was quite interesting to me. After all not many people wear mechanical watches “because they’re accurate”. The fact that these watches were the ultimate in terms of accuracy before the “quartz crisis” ensures their place in horological history. The rarity factor appealed as I’d read various articles and forum posts about these watches which gave me adequate information to spot good examples.

Good examples are getting harder and harder to find, as the years go by. Badly treated cases are a concern. The original finish for the majority of watches was a brushed steel top and sides with polished underside for steel variants. Gold plated versions in any condition are rarer. Solid gold variants had polished cases and coin edge bezels. Badly damaged dials and rusty movements are not easy to fix on such rare watches. Of course, some movement parts would theoretically be interchangeable with other 32 series, but this would take expert analysis or advice from the factory. On this photo showing two Chronometer HF’s, it is interesting to note subtle differences on the dial.