The Sea Hawk is a modern version of a classical Girard-Perregaux sports watch, and we have to admit, it’s a pretty good one. On Monochrome-watches.com, we presented you the new Sea Hawk, before its launch at Baselworld 2013, as well as its chronograph brother, the Chrono Hawk. For 2014, this chunky dive watch has been updated with a new color scheme – a cobalt blue dial with orange accents – that looks really great for summer.
The Sea Hawk is an iconic watch for Girard-Perregaux, and the 2013 version maintained the visual characteristics that made it distinct: rubber strap, crown at 4 o’clock, and the very specific layout of the dial. The angular, rugged, rather bulky case is also part of the appeal, with its octagonal rubber ring underneath the bezel.
The main update in this year’s version of the Sea Hawk is the new color used for the dial and bezel. Still sporting its honeycomb texture, the dial is now presented in a bright cobalt blue that contrasts well with the orange accents of the hands. The unidirectional rotating bezel, made of steel with injected rubber, now includes two colored areas, in black and orange, to ensure a perfect reading of dive times. The rubber strap, with folding buckle, is now in a matching cobalt blue color. The watch also is available on steel bracelet.
Aside from these aesthetic changes, the Girard-Perregaux Sea Hawk is still the same very appealing sports watch, due to both its diving capability and its level of finishing. The 44-mm stainless steel case deserves some attention, as the finishing on it is really amazing for a sports watch. Every facet – and there are lots of them – features a brushed finish in a specific direction. Believe us, that’s not an easy watch to craft. The Sea Hawk is guaranteed to be water-resistant to 1,000 meters and features a helium release valve on the left side of the case.
This high-end feeling also extends to the inside of the watch, which features the in-house automatic Caliber GP3300. It has hour, minute, second, and date functions, along with a 46-hour power reserve indicator. The movement beats at a frequency of 28,800 vph, or 4 Hz. Even if you can’t see it, the movement is, as always the case with GP, very well finished.
On the wrist, the Sea hawk is a very masculine and robust watch. The 44-mm size, as well as the weight and thickness, can be felt, but the shape of the case helps to balance it on the wrist, even a small wrist. The new color scheme works really well, even if it’s not the most “discreet” theme we’ve seen. (If you like a “quieter” dive watch, go for the new Rolex Sea-Dweller 4000.) The Girard-Perregaux Sea Hawk is one of the funkier dive-watch choices out there, and it’s one of the very few high-end watches that are perfect for summer, weekends, and vacations — or just for watch lovers who want to be a tad different.
The Girard-Perregaux Sea Hawk in Cobalt blue will be available just before summer, for $10,100 on rubber strap and $11,850 on steel bracelet.
Specifications:
- Case: steel & rubber
- Diameter: 44 mm
- Dial: cobalt blue
- Crystal: nonreflective sapphire
- Case-back: screw-down
- Water resistance: 1,000 meters
- Movement: GP03300-0074, mechanical, self-winding.; diameter: 25.6 mm (11 1/2 lines); frequency: 28,800Vph (4 Hz); power reserve: min. 46 hours; jewels: 27; functions: hour, minute, small seconds, date, power reserve indicator
Absolutely awesome!! But would have preferred a full seconds running hand. A true dive watch if the sub-seconds hand has lume on it. Reminds me so much of a Ulysse-Nardin Maxi Marine Diver model.