A Historic Automatic Movement, The 1960's Girard Perregaux reference 8194 Gyromatic

Automatic movements were considered a huge phenomenon when they first were released. Instead of having to wind one’s watch every day, one could simply wear it an know that, with sufficient power reserve, the watch would continue to run and keep time.

Girard Perregaux is a Swiss watch manufacture that, in 1852, was founded as Girard & Cie in La Chaux-de-Fonds by Constant Girard. Throughout it’s history, the company has produced exceptional watches. In the 1950’s, like many other brands, the company was faced with demand for self-winding wristwatches. In 1957, the brand released their first automatic movement, known as the 21 series, but to consumers at the time, Girard Perregaux coined the name Gyromatic. Thus, the first serially produced automatic wristwatch from the brand was born.

As the brand went into the 1960s, the company began using what is known as the 31 and 32 series. These movements were based on ebauche movements by AS and according to some research, the movements were exclusively used by Girard Perregaux for a short period of time. The watch today is part of the 32 series version of the Gyromatic.

To describe the watch, what we have is a 33mm Gyromatic that was manufactured in the 1960’s. The watch has a steel case that is in good overall condition with some signs of wear. Besides the signs of wear, the watch has an impressively strong case. There are very few signs of polishing, if any signs. The watch has moderate size lugs that make the watch sit true to size. The watch has a white, silver dial that is extremely clean and attractive. It has applied hour markers in an “Rolex Explorer-esk” fashion, with numbers at 6, 9 and 12.

The watch has a a signed crown with the GP initials and also has a date window at 3 o’clock. The way the dial is designed allows for the date window to go unnoticed for those who feel date windows distract and cloud the dial. It does not have a silver window that outlines the date window, so it integrates quite seamlessly. The watch runs on an automatic, Gyromatic movement that is part of the 32 series. These movements were 11.5 lignes and were produced from 1962 through to the mid 1970’s.

On the inside caseback, one will see the case metal stamped (stainless steel) as well as the Girard Perregaux logo. The outside of the caseback is also stamped with the case metal. Looking at the movement, one can see that the rotor is signed by Girard Perregaux and also has the Gyromatic name on it.

The bridge that suspends the balance wheel is signed with GXM. GXM was the import code that Girard Perregaux used when they imported movements from Switzerland to the USA market. So it is likely this watch was imported and sold in the USA market. Girard Perregaux began this practice in about 1936.

This watch is a great example of how Girard Perregaux met the demand for automatic watches. The watch is really a no-nonsense stainless steel watch that is incredibly legible, wearable, and houses a fairly iconic movement for the brand.

Enjoy!