Gucci has announced the launching of its newest men’s watch that stands apart from the brand’s other watches, in collaboration with the Sowind Group (that produce Girard-Perregaux watches) as Gucci will be 93 years old when the watch comes out next year.
The new model combines the finest Swiss watchmaking traditions with the Italian label's reputation for fashion.
Interestingly, the 'diver' title is hard earned. In order for watch models to be called diving watches, it must be water resistant to 100 metres, resistant to salt and fully function underwater, and feature a unidirectional rotating bezel—a test that the Gucci Dive passes with flying colours.
Due out next year, the Gucci Dive is an official divers’ watch, certified to adhere to ISO standard 6425. But what is most significant about it is its movement.
The movement in the Gucci Dive is not a standard ETA movement, like those used in Gucci’s other mechanical watches, but a GP3300, a high-end automatic made by the Sowind Group.
Two years ago, Sowind of Girard-Perregaux, became Gucci’s sister company when it was acquired by the luxury-goods conglomerate PPR.
Michele Sofisti is the CEO of both Sowind and of Gucci’s watch division.
The 3300 movement is Girard-Perregaux’s workhorse, used in such G-P watches as the Sea Hawk 1000M and Chrono Hawk 1000M (in which it is paired with a Dubois Dépraz chronograph module).
The Gucci Dive comes with interchangeable leather and rubber straps and is available in a Lumiova-treated black and pink gold versions.
The Gucci Dive will be much more expensive than other Gucci watches:
The steel version is at $8,600.
And the rose-gold is at $12,600.
Most other Gucci watches retail for less than $2,000.
The rose-gold Dive is a limited edition of 93 pieces.
In the Philippines, Gucci is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc. (SSI) and is located at Greenbelt 4, Ayala Center and Rustan’s Tower Shangri-La Plaza Mall.
