Even in today’s no-rules style era, there are some things that the fashion gods usually frown upon, chief amongst them tampering with a product already bestowed icon status. So we’re a little surprised that Saint Laurent and Swiss watchmaker Girard-Perregaux have joined forces to reimagine the latter’s 1976 classic Casquette timepiece—and even more surprised that we’re actually feeling it.
The original Girard-Perregaux Casquette watch
Created between 1976 and 1978, the original Casquette was a limited run of 8,200 pieces. It gave the time at the push of a button, and the date with another push. A starkly different take on the classic wristwatch, its original drop—resembling a Casio (launched two years earlier) on steroids— represented significant risk, but was ultimately a hit as the brand pivoted during the Swiss watch quartz crisis. It eventually became a much sought after piece by retro watch fans everywhere.
Saint Laurent and the Casquette 2.0
While Girard-Perregaux dropped the Casquette 2.0 only last year, this version has been ‘reinterpreted’ alongside creative director Anthony Vaccarello and his team. Placed in its Saint Laurent Rive Droite collection, objects that are sold exclusively in two stores only: one in Paris, the other in LA, as well as online here, priced $6,700.
The watch itself is a limited run of 100 pieces. Made in black ceramic and black PVD-treated grade 5 titanium, it also features a Saint Laurent signature on the caseback. When it comes to the display you get: hours, minutes, seconds, day, date, month, year, chronograph, a second time zone and a secret date.
The Esquire verdict
OK, so cards on the table, this isn’t exactly a ‘redesign’ in the strictest sense of the word. The main differences arguably lie in the caliber update (from the original) and the use of ceramic. But it remains a worthy addition for a watch aficionado, or indeed one of Saint Laurent.
Although the watch might not feel like luxury in the classic sense, its sleek architectural lines and sheer anti-traditional watchmaking vibe does fit with the sense of fun and shock value that Vaccarello has brought to Saint Laurent since joining in 2016.
Yes, it does resemble something that could beam you down onto a neighbouring planet at any minute. But is that really a bad thing? There should always be room for a spot of intergalactic retro styling in your watch collection.