Ever since the Girard-Perregaux Laureato returned at Baselworld 2016, it’s been obvious that this is the model that the brand is investing its future in. Last year was when the Laureato really took off after the GP team unveiled 34 new additions to the rapidly expanding collection. At SIHH this year (which GP returned to last year), while we didn’t get to see as many new Laureato looks, we did get to see the addition of a new complication to the famous sports model with the Laureato Chronograph. It’s a clear next step in growing the line to compete with some of the more iconic models in this crowded segment of the watch industry, namely the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak (which we covered a boatload of new releases for here) and the Patek Philippe Nautilus. And while the Laureato hasn’t had the cultural signoff that we’ve seen the Royal Oak and Nautilus have in recent years (from being name-dropped in countless hip-hop songs to appearances on the wrists of a number of television and movie stars, the luxury sports watch sphere is definitely having its pop culture moment), it has the history to back up this continued growth. If you go back to the early 1970s when the market for a sporty, everyday watch was becoming apparent (thanks, Gérald Genta), the Laureato was the second watch released ? after the Royal Oak ? from this developing school of design. Just like last year’s new releases, the Laureato Chronograph comes in a variety of materials a...