Girard Perregaux Tuxedo Dial Racing -Bandit

This particular example of the Girard Perregaux high-frequency Gyromatic with Tuxedo dial, may be the best I’ve ever personally handled. You do not have to be a vintage watch enthusiast to see why this example is so special. Its immaculate. The 38mm cushion case has been immaculately maintained for decades and the dial shows zero signs of use. All original case lines are intact as is the radial brushing pattern stemming from the dial center, which extraordinarily complements the hand applied stainless steel hour markers. The black and steel hands give a seamless and clean look to the overall amount of complexity on the dial.
 
I have personally never seen a cleaner version of this watch as I have owned three in the past. The racing chapter ring, which typically has faded out over time due to a paint defect with the graduating increasing and decreasing in length markers, is 100% intact. Also, the black paint on the outer ring of the chapter ring, is nearly fully intact, something that just does not occur after decades. The watch is fitted with a signed 6.5 mm compressor style crown.
 
The Girard Perregaux caliber 440 automatic movement was fully serviced prior to sale and is keeping to COSC standards. The movement dates to 1972, the same year of production as the piece, featuring a day & date complication, hacking ability and a 17 jewel 36,000 V/H high frequency movement. This particular example also features a faraday case anti magnetic case back. This piece punches way above its weight class in terms of price to relative value. The case design, quality of movement build, dial detail, anti-magnetic properties all exceed anything companies such as Rolex brought to the table during that period as a combined product.
 
The buyer is a dear friend from Miami Beach who recently moved to West Caldwell New Jersey to open up travel agency. Upon seeing this piece, he knew that even though his guy didn’t win the tennis match that it was better than selling LaserJet printers out of the trunk of his crown Vic. He compared the piece to Xanadu compared to the courtroom. After a few rounds of mother May, I, spotting a double-breasted robin, and ordering an Arnold Palmer although it didn’t initially occur to him, and thinking on it burger boy, bandit knew he needed this piece for the rest of his life. Bandit is known for inventing point shaving in the CCNY vs Kentucky game which resulted in the purchase of a black Fleetwood. We toasted with a glass of Armagnac, the next vodka.