Black single pass pig skin for the GP Chronograph

Some watches you wear without thinking.

And then there are pieces like this — ones that ask for more.

This pink gold Girard Perregaux chronograph came to me for my 30th birthday, and it's hard to describe what it means without leaning into the sentimental. It reminds me of that exact point in time: a moment to slow down, to choose more deliberately, and to care for the things that require care.

From the 1950s, it’s fragile in all the right ways. Not waterproof in any way. A delicate dial. One of the most beautiful pulsation scales I’ve ever seen. It’s not a daily wear piece — and that’s exactly what makes it special. Every time I reach for it, it feels like a small ritual.

Oversized at 37mm, it would’ve been unusual in its day. You can’t help but wonder about its original owner. A doctor? A gentleman with a taste for the eccentric? That curiosity, that mystery, is part of the experience.

It’s also a watch that doesn’t allow shortcuts. With fixed bars, strap changes aren’t casual — you either go single pass, or permanently glue or even stitch something in place. So you choose carefully.

Right now, that choice is a black pigskin single pass strap with a warm tan lining. It’s ultra-thin, pliable, and cut to taper gently from 18mm to 16mm — a small touch of refinement that echoes the delicacy of the watch itself. It wraps through the lugs effortlessly, disappearing into the silhouette.

Not loud. Not complicated. Just enough.

It’s the kind of strap that doesn’t fight for attention, so the warmth of the 18k case and the pop of those blued hands can do what they’re meant to do.

I don’t wear this piece often, and I don’t need to. It’s not here to be convenient. It’s here to remind me of a moment — and of the value in slowing down.

Strap specs:
Black pig skin single pass strap
Tan pig skin lining
240mm
18/16mm