I've been eyeing a very attractive 1950s-60s Girard Perregaux Sea Hawk on ebay, and I noticed that the logo, while it looks like a typical stylized version of the Sea Hawk logo from the 60s, is different from the all-caps logo present on the only other versions of this watch I have found in an internet search. Here's the one from the ebay auction (https://www.ebay.com/itm/c-1960s-vi...-Stainless-Steel-mens-wristwatch/303092148283Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network): Note the stylized Sea Hawk logo. I found other examples of the nearly identical watch here: - http://bbwatches.info/gpseawhitelther.php - https://forums.watchuseek.com/f11/any-vintage-girard-perregaux-experts-out-there-1806490.html These images show an all-caps SEA HAWK logo: The minute hand is also slightly different on the ebay one. I wonder if the ebay example represents a watch made in a transitional period for the logo, or if it's a redial. Curious if anyone has experience with Girard-Perregaux watches of this period. Also, here's a complete nube question: Is the number 1209851 on this movement (from the ebay listing) a movement series number or individual serial number? I ask because I saw another Sea Hawk of this vintage (but with a different dial) with the same number on the movement (https://www.ebay.com.sg/itm/Mens-Or...-S-Vintage-Swiss-Made-17j-Watch-/382548297596Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network) .
Girard Perregaux watch movements of this era did not have true serial numbers, unless they were chronometers. The number on the movement represents the caliber number “12(.)09” and the production run. So there will be many watches with the same “serial number”. It may be possible for GP to get an accurate production date from the production run info. However, the do charge for the service. For mere mortals, the best way to date a GP is to consult a movement database like Dr. Ranfft’s Pink Pages. Here is info on the cal. 12.09: http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&2&2uswk&Girard-Perregaux_12_09 If you are lucky it will have a range. This listing shows “ca. 1960”. Probably as good as you will get. Hope this helps, gatorcpa
A couple of things that I notice. The watch you are interested in may have a replacement crown, gold vs. SS. The photos of the comparison watch looks to be a re-dial. The A in Sea Hawk is raised and it doesn't look right. The "Girard Perregaux" also looks off.
Thanks for the help, gatorcpa. I had tried to find this info on the Ranfft site but was a bit bewildered by the site's organization scheme. And Mac5, I was wondering about the crown: it almost looks like a chromed crown worn down to brass base metal, if such a thing exists. There is no hyphen in the Girard Perregaux in the comparison watches, but you see it w/o hyphens on lots of G-Ps from the 50s online.
I’ve had good luck by bookmarking this site: http://www.ranfft.de/cgi-bin/bidfun-db.cgi?10&ranfft&a&2uswk This is the first page of the movement database. Then type your brand name in the search box. You’ll get all the listings for that brand. gatorcpa