Pequignet Royale Grand Sport watches

The Pequignet Royale Grand Sport is a 44 mm steel version of the Royale, larger than the standard model and driven by the brand's own Calibre Royal. Émile Pequignet founded the company in Morteau, France, in 1973, and the Calibre Royal of 2010 was its first in-house mechanical movement. Pequignet says the calibre is designed, prototyped, checked and assembled in its Morteau laboratories, and calls it 100% French.

The Calibre Royal is self-winding, with its oscillating weight on view through the back. It runs at 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz), with 39 jewels and an 88-hour power reserve from a single barrel. aBlogtoWatch noted that the balance sits under a full bridge, a robust construction seldom found in high-volume production movements, and that Pequignet advises against running it past 72 hours of the reserve, to maintain isochronism. The dial follows the movement: a double date that jumps instantly at midnight, small seconds at 4 o'clock and a power-reserve indicator.

The range splits into the plain Grand Sport and the Grand Sport Moonphase, which adds a moon phase at 6 o'clock. The plain model comes with a black dial with Arabic numerals (9030243CN) or dot markers (9030643CN), or a silver dial with silver numerals (9030233). The Moonphase comes with a black dial (9030443CN) or a silver dial with silver numerals (9030433) or gilt numerals (9030438). The silver-dial versions come on a black (CN) or brown (CG) strap.

Pequignet gives the black Moonphase a thickness of 12.3 mm, 52.3 mm lug to lug and a 22 mm lug width, with a sapphire display back held by six screws and 5 ATM water resistance. All versions have a sapphire crystal, and the buckle or folding clasp is embossed with the royal lily.