Some watches tell the time. Others tell a story. With the new Weekend GMT Atlas, Perrelet takes a new step forward, offering a timepiece where miniature art becomes the natural extension of a horological complication designed for travellers.
The result of an unprecedented collaboration with IFL Watches, a studio based in Dubai and renowned worldwide for its hand-painted dials, this edition limited to just 50 pieces goes well beyond a simple stylistic exercise. It combines the Swiss watchmaking expertise of Perrelet with an artistic approach in which each watch becomes a unique piece.
In a world where limited series abound, few can truly claim an exclusive character. Here, no dial is identical to another. Each one is created individually by the IFL Watches artists, making every Weekend GMT Atlas an original creation.
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A dial that takes you travelling before it even leaves your wrist
The first glance is immediately captured by a composition rich in detail that evokes the spirit of exploration.
At the centre of the dial sits an elegant compass rose, the universal symbol of great discoveries and navigation. Long before the age of GPS, this instrument guided seafarers across the oceans. Perrelet takes up this historic symbol and makes it the heart of a watch dedicated to today’s travellers.
Around this compass rose, the IFL Watches artists have imagined a genuine miniature travel journal. Dolphins leap from a sea of vivid hues, lush tropical vegetation recalls exotic destinations, while the pyramids of Egypt evoke the great civilisations that have fascinated travellers for centuries.
The result has a striking visual depth. Despite the richness of the illustration, legibility remains excellent thanks to particularly discreet baton indexes that blend into the composition without ever disturbing the artistic balance.
This mastery perfectly illustrates the challenge met by the craftspeople: turning a horological function into a vehicle for artistic expression without ever sacrificing functionality.
A GMT function perfectly integrated into the design
While the dial naturally draws attention, the Weekend GMT Atlas remains above all a true travel watch.
The GMT complication is fully in its element here. Local time is shown by the central hands, while a fourth hand, recognisable by its white triangular tip outlined in red, indicates home time on a 24-hour scale.
This graduation is set on an elegant blue satin ring surrounding the compass rose. The integration is particularly successful: the technical function almost fades behind the artistic composition while remaining instantly legible.
The discreet date window at three o’clock also contributes to this quest for balance, blending naturally into the design without breaking the overall harmony.
Discreet elegance for everyday wear
Since its launch in 2019, the Weekend collection has established itself as one of Perrelet’s most versatile lines. This new version retains the proportions that made it a success.
The 39 mm stainless-steel case boasts a particularly well-balanced silhouette, reinforced by a modest thickness of just 9.61 mm. These dimensions allow the watch to suit slender wrists as well as fans of more classic timepieces.
The alternating polished and satin-brushed surfaces, the slimness of the bezel and the delicately bevelled lugs all reflect the care given to the finishing. The result is an elegant watch that never seeks ostentation.
Perrelet also supplies two straps with this limited edition: a seven-row steel bracelet and a second one in blue alligator-style leather. Thanks to the quick-change system, just a few seconds are enough to shift the watch’s style, from sporty chic to a dressier look.
The in-house calibre P-401 at the heart of the creation
Beneath this artistic dial beats a movement developed entirely by SOPROD, a company belonging to the same watchmaking group as Perrelet.
The automatic calibre P-401 runs at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers a 42-hour power reserve. It provides the display of hours, minutes, seconds, the date and a second time zone that is particularly intuitive to use.
Visible through the display case-back, the movement reveals a level of finishing in keeping with the watch’s positioning. Pearled bridges, sunburst decorations and a personalised oscillating weight are reminders that this creation is not limited to its outward appearance.
The case-back also features a decorative motif inspired by the dial and shows the limited-edition numbering, reinforcing the exclusive character of each piece.
A collaboration that gives meaning to the limited edition
For several years now, IFL Watches has established itself as a benchmark in the world of hand-painted artistic dials. This collaboration with Perrelet is not about simply personalising an existing watch, but about creating a genuine dialogue between fine craftsmanship and Swiss watchmaking.
The Weekend GMT Atlas succeeds in preserving the identity of the Weekend collection while giving it an emotional dimension rarely achieved on a GMT watch in this price category.
Priced at 2,950 CHF or EUR and produced in just 50 pieces, this limited edition will appeal as much to collectors drawn to artisanal work as to lovers of original watches looking for a timepiece that stands apart from industrial production.
With this creation, Perrelet proves that a travel watch can be far more than an instrument for measuring time. It becomes an object of emotion, a miniature work of art that you discover a little more each day on your wrist, and a permanent invitation to look beyond the horizon.
Frequently asked questions
It is a limited edition of just 50 pieces, created with IFL Watches, a Dubai-based studio famous for its hand-painted dials. Every dial is painted individually, so no two watches are alike, and it is based on Perrelet’s Weekend GMT.
At the centre sits a compass rose, surrounded by a miniature travel scene painted by the IFL Watches artists — dolphins leaping from a vivid sea, lush tropical vegetation and the pyramids of Egypt. Discreet baton indexes keep the watch perfectly legible despite the rich illustration.
Local time is shown by the central hands, while a fourth hand with a red-outlined white triangular tip indicates home time on a 24-hour scale set on a blue satin ring around the compass rose. A discreet date window sits at 3 o’clock.
The automatic calibre P-401, developed by SOPROD (part of the same group as Perrelet), running at 28,800 vibrations per hour with a 42-hour power reserve and showing hours, minutes, seconds, date and a second time zone. The stainless-steel case measures 39 mm across and just 9.61 mm thick, with the movement visible through a display case-back featuring a personalised rotor.
It is delivered with two quick-change straps — a seven-row steel bracelet and a blue alligator-style leather strap — and is priced at 2,950 CHF or EUR, limited to only 50 pieces.
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