This watch will be called the 8Tech, as there are no other names that sound quite like it. It might also make you wonder — what exactly is an 8Tech anyway? As watchmaking nerds, we were certainly curious. Thankfully, the answer is not that Girard-Perregaux is collaborating with the next 4Chan or something like that. 8Tech refers to “a groundbreaking technique (where) the case is formed of octagonal carbon parts, creating a random structural pattern,” according to the press release that dropped in our inbox. The 44 mm case, which is made from a composite of carbon and titanium, can be sorted out by the specs alone.
The 8Tech literally appeared just as we closed our giant chronograph story — well, part one anyway – in the coming Autumn issue of World of Watches (WOW), but we simply had to write it up. Isn’t the Internet awesome? 8Tech deserves a closer inspection due to the amazing engineering and material science techniques. Girard-Perregaux explains:
“The case material is composed of unidirectional, non-braided and pre-impregnated carbon fibres combined with lightweight titanium powder to form extremely thin layers, measuring just 0.05mm in thickness. These layers are superimposed upon one another, each orientated differently to form ‘stacks’ which are then cut into octagons, an industry first.”
“The octagonal shapes are placed in a mould and subjected to heat and extreme pressure. The case components including the bezel are then milled out of the material, and refined by hand. This one-of-a-kind technique endows the case with a shimmering appearance.”
According to our research, this description is pretty much textbook-like until you reach the part about octagons where we’ll begin our investigations. It is important to note that the material can be finished by hand, as well as having the ability to produce both polished and matte surfaces. The material appears to have excellent specific strength while being lightweight — reportedly five times lighter than steel. It is not a small difference between titanium and this material. Unfortunately, Girard-Perregaux did not mention the precise weight of the 8Tech at all, so we will have to await the reports of our friends who are attending the big show in Geneva.
Let’s end with a brief note about the chronograph feature. This watch runs on an automatic GP03300-1058 in-house movement. This is not a standard chronograph, but a modular movement that has been decorated in many different ways. It is possible that this calibre does not boast a column wheel, and therefore it may be cam-actuated. There are 419 listed parts in this calibre, which is an impressively high number. It allows for a lot of fine finishing. Girard-Perregaux has deployed this calibre many times in recent years, including once in a carbon glass watch that foreshadowed the 8Tech.
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