About This Watch:

The Monte Carlo Rally is one of history's most well-known and internationally renowned automotive races.  Founded by Prince Albert I in order to promote Monte Carlo as a tourist resort in 1911, the race runs between the French Alps and the French Riviera during the winter months, beginning on the icy roads of such locations as the Sisteron through the Col de Turini, a mountain pass road with many steep hairpin turns, down to the sunny coast of the Riviera.  Since 2005, Girard-Perregaux has been a partner, along with the Automobile Club de Monaco, in organizing and producing the race.  In celebration of the races, Girard-Perregaux produced limited edition timepieces to honor some of the most significant victories in the history of the race, including the 1984 win by Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer in their Audi Quattro with the Laureato Rallye Monte Carlo Chronograph Ref 80178.

The History:  Girard-Perregaux traces its beginning to 1791, when watchmaker and goldsmith Jean-François Bautte signed his first watches, creating a manufacturer in Geneva to handle all facets of watchmaking, from the engineering to the hand assembly and polishing of each timepiece.  In 1852, Constant Girard founded Girard & Cie, and upon marrying Marie Perregaux in 1856, they founded Girard-Perregaux Manufacture.  When Girard’s son took over control in 1906, he took control of the company and acquired Bautte House from the heirs of Jean-François Bautte.  The company has manufactured its own movements and handles every step of production, from engineering and design to polishing, assembly, and final encasement of each timepiece.

The Watch:  The Laureate Rallye Monte Carlo Chronograph Ref 80178 is a limited edition, 500-piece production run timepiece that features a 46mm titanium case with a sapphire crystal surrounded by an octagon-shaped rubber bezel.  The dial is carbon fiber, with four sub-registers at the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions.  Powered by an automatic in-house movement, the Ref 80178 has a 46-hour power reserve with a water resistance rating of 30 meters.  The solid case back features an engraving signifying the 1st place finish of the Audi Quattro driven by Röhrl and Geistdörfer in 1984.

The Details:  This Girard-Perregaux Laureato Rallye Monte Carlo Chronograph Ref 80178 is piece number 84 of 500.  The case and case back show some wear consistent with use, as does the rubber strap and three-piece Girard-Perregaux titanium clasp, which are visible in the photographs.  This timepiece includes an outer box, inner wooden box with plaque, document box with the user manual, dealer booklet, manufacturer booklet, and warranty card.