Perrelet have united with the Dubai-based watch artisan IFL Watches, creating a stunning new version of their Weekend GMT.
As some of you may know, I’m fairly impartial to the world of watch customisation. But like everything in life, there are a few exceptions. One of them is when the third-party customisation of a watch is fully authorised, mutually benefiting both brands as an official release.
Naturally, this new Perrelet, made in collaboration with IFL Watches, falls into that very category. While Perrelet is best known for its avant-garde Turbine displays, the dressier Weekend line has become the brand’s perfect minimalist canvas.
Introduced in 2017, the collection has since welcomed open-heart, skeleton, aventurine, and even Eastern Arabic numeral interpretations. Alongside Emirati watch artisan IFL Watches, though, this new version of the Weekend may be the most exotic watch in the entire catalogue.
Home For The Weekend
What truly defines the Weekend’s presence in the Perrelet roster is its modest sizing. At 41mm in diameter, 47.3mm lug-to-lug and just 9.61mm thick, the Perrelet Weekend GMT Atlas carries forward that same remarkable wearing experience. The lines are classic, and the watch sits low and close to the wrist thanks to its sub-10mm thickness.
Designed to slip effortlessly under a cuff, the Weekend has always been an ideal choice for more formal attire. The limited-edition Weekend GMT Atlas is available with two strap options. The watch comes standard on a seven-link articulating steel bracelet, tapering slightly to a butterfly deployant clasp. Alternatively, buyers can opt for a blue alligator leather strap with a steel pin buckle.
Whichever you choose depends entirely on the character you want the watch to project: the bracelet for more casual or sporty occasions, or the leather strap for dressier settings. There is no quick-release system on either option, though, so you’ll need to reach for the spring bar tool if you want to swap between them. With 50 metres of water resistance, it’s perfectly comfortable straddling both worlds, unless that world happens to be underwater.
Mr. Worldwide
And fittingly, I should mention the world, because IFL Watches’ contributions have made this the most distinctive Weekend in the collection. The familiar design language remains intact, with slim stick hands and a deep sunray-brushed blue 24-hour register at the centre.
The only interruption to this inner ring is the white date window, which stands out among the meticulous artwork, alongside the red-tipped GMT hand. Beyond that, however, the similarities end. IFL Watches has transformed the remainder of the dial into four beautifully painted scenes.
Moving clockwise, the first depicts a mountain range beneath a rising sun, contrasting cool alpine blues and whites with vibrant orange highlights. Next comes a desert landscape, presumably Egypt, complete with the Sphinx and pyramids beneath the midday sun. From six to nine o’clock lies a tropical beach at sunset, where a dolphin breaches beyond the palm trees. Finally, the rainforest completes the journey, a lush sea of green from which a single red macaw emerges.
At the centre of it all sits a compass rose, tying the four landscapes together and celebrating the spirit of travel. It’s a playful composition, gently segmented by the applied baton indices, that gives the watch a distinctive, whimsical personality unlike anything else in the collection.
Soprod Sensation
But what good is the artwork without the engineering to support it? Thankfully, Perrelet has that covered too. Turning the watch over reveals an exhibition caseback showcasing the automatic Cal. P-401. Beating at the luxury-standard frequency of 4Hz (28,800VpH) with a 42-hour power reserve, the movement also incorporates both a date display and a caller-style GMT complication.
Developed in collaboration with Perrelet’s sister company, Soprod, itself part of the wider Festina Group, the Cal. P-401 represents Perrelet’s alternative to industry stalwarts like Sellita and ETA. While Soprod may not enjoy the same level of recognition, its reliability has been proven through its use not only by Perrelet but also by brands such as Baltic and Serica, both of which have helped cement Soprod’s place in modern watchmaking.
Initial Thoughts
As someone who only recently caught the travel bug, Perrelet’s latest collaboration with IFL Watches left me feeling both excited and a little melancholic. Not because of the quality of the watch, mind you, as the Weekend GMT Atlas is unquestionably well made, but because of what it represents: the wonder of travel itself. It’s been quite some time since I last wandered through somewhere completely unfamiliar. The prospect of travelling can sometimes be intimidating, but it almost always creates memories that last a lifetime.
Though I probably won’t be venturing deep into the Amazon or climbing mountains in Nepal any time soon, but at least this new watch lets me dream about those adventures in spirit. Overall, Perrelet and IFL Watches have done an excellent job with this limited-edition timepiece. Not only does it demonstrate just how far watchmaking can be pushed artistically, but it also shines a well-deserved spotlight back onto one of the most underrated dress watch collections in modern horology.
Reference & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reference | A1304/S1 |
| Dimensions | 39mm case diameter × 47.3mm lug-to-lug × 9.61mm thickness |
| Case | Stainless steel |
| Dial | Sunray-brushed blue with hand-painted depictions of the desert, rainforest, beach, & mountains |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Caseback | Open, sapphire |
| Movement | Automatic Cal. P-401 with caller-style GMT & date complications |
| Power Reserve | 42h |
| Beat Rate | 4Hz / 28,800VpH |
| Water Resistance | 50m / 5bar |
| Strap/Bracelet | Steel bracelet with butterfly clasp Complementary blue alligator leather strap with steel pin buckle |