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Recently sold at a Bonham’s auction in 2008, is probably one of the finest Girard-Perregaux watches one might ever see. It was a 2007 GP Opera Number Two 2 watch. The name of the watch belies the incredible intricacy and value of this watch. It is also an important watch for its ability to replicate the chiming of the carillon bells of famed Westminster Abbey. The presentation box for the watch was also included and was a wondrous thing itself with its highly polished metal art bars on grey suede. The watch sold for a bargain $120K (it is estimated that such a watch is worth more than $550K) – you can get a replica Girard-Perregaux watch for a bargain too.

One might think it would be impossible to get a copy of an Opera watch – but you can consult the web and find the TOS “Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon Opera Two Watch”. And it does appear to be an exact copy of the real thing – complete with a crocodile skin wrist strap. It also comes in a beautiful “rose gold” case – circular like the original. It is also a completely functioning complication – a perpetual calendar with a skeleton tourbillon. Like the original, there is also a partial cut-away skeleton from 9 o’clock to 12 o’clock.

Sadly, there do not appear to be other replica Operas out there – but that should be so for obvious reasons. An eye-catching replica is the RWB “Girard Perregaux Vintage 1945 Stainless Steel White Leather Ladies Watch” – which is a bit of a long name but still accurate. The case is square and surrounded by faux diamonds. The face is of the night and in dark blue with 8 ‘diamond’ stars and a moon partially between its full and gibbous phases. A sub-dial timer almost seems to be like a heavenly body heading for the astronomical gap on this Girard Perregaux replica watches.