The Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 XXL Large Date and Moon Phases reference 25882-11-421-BB4A is a 36 mm tonneau-shaped dress watch in stainless steel, with a blue dial, a double-window large date and a moon-phase display at 6 o'clock. It belongs to the Vintage 1945 family, which takes its case shape from Girard-Perregaux's mid-twentieth-century tonneau wristwatches rather than a round case. This guide covers the specifications, what the large date and moon phase actually do, how the blue dial compares with the other XXL dial options, how the watch wears, price context and what to check before buying. Bizak & Co. sources the 25882-11-421-BB4A to order; the pre-owned and new watch catalogue lists the configurations we can seek.
Last reviewed on September 27, 2026 by Filip Biczak. Prices are dated observations, not quotes.
Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 XXL 25882-11-421-BB4A specifications
| Attribute | 25882-11-421-BB4A |
|---|---|
| Case | 36 mm tonneau (barrel-shaped) stainless steel, roughly 44 mm lug to lug on the tonneau axis |
| Dial | Blue with applied index and Arabic numerals, large date window at 12, moon-phase display at 6 |
| Complications | Large date (double window), moon phase |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Strap | Leather |
| Case back | Typically display back on this family, showing the automatic movement |
| Condition sourced | Brand new |
Source: Girard-Perregaux, Vintage 1945 collection and the Girard-Perregaux watches overview, which list current Vintage 1945 configurations and case dimensions.
What do the large date and moon phase actually do?
The large date is a double-window display: two discs, one for the tens digit and one for the units digit, sit side by side under a shared aperture so the date reads in bigger type than a standard single-window date. It is a genuine legibility upgrade rather than a styling flourish, and it is the more mechanically involved way to show a date because the two discs have to index independently while staying aligned under the same window. The moon phase at 6 o'clock tracks the roughly 29.5-day lunar cycle on a rotating disc, usually painted with a moon and stars against a blue or night-sky background. Most moon-phase modules need correcting by about one day every two and a half years against the true cycle, which is normal for the mechanism and not a fault. Together the two complications give the dial genuine calendar information beyond hours and minutes, which is the point of a "large date and moon phases" watch as opposed to a simple three-hander.
The Vintage 1945 case: where the tonneau shape comes from
Girard-Perregaux's Vintage 1945 line takes its name and case profile from the brand's rectangular and tonneau-cased wristwatches of the mid-1940s, a period when barrel and cushion cases were a common alternative to round cases across Swiss watchmaking. The modern Vintage 1945 collection revived that case language with a stepped, elongated tonneau case, exposed lugs and a dial that keeps the numerals and hands legible despite the non-round shape. Within the collection, Girard-Perregaux offers the case in several sizes and with different complications, from time-only pieces to the large date and moon-phase configuration reviewed here and higher complications such as a tourbillon in other references. The shape is the collection's identifying feature: unlike a round dress watch, the Vintage 1945 reads instantly as a Girard-Perregaux from across a room.
Blue, silver or a special edition: which Vintage 1945 XXL dial?
| Blue dial (25882-11-421-BB4A) | Silver dial (25882-11-121-BB6B) | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Blue lacquer, most visually distinct from the silver-dial dress-watch norm | Silver-toned, closer to a traditional dress-watch dial |
| Case and strap | Steel case, leather strap | Steel case, leather strap |
| Bizak catalogue ask, 27 Sep 2026 | US$15,899 brand new | US$12,799 brand new |
The blue dial carries a premium over the silver dial in our sourced catalogue, reflecting stronger demand for the colour rather than any difference in the movement or complications. Girard-Perregaux has also released the same large-date-and-moon-phase layout in limited editions such as the titanium DLC "Earth to Sky" and the onyx-dialled "Infinity" pieces, which sit further up in price and rarity and are worth knowing about if you want the complication in a less common case metal.
How does the Vintage 1945 XXL wear?
At 36 mm across the round-equivalent width, the Vintage 1945 XXL sits on the smaller side of current dress watches, but the tonneau shape adds visual length along the wrist that a 36 mm round case would not have, so it reads larger than the diameter alone suggests. The elongated case and exposed lugs follow the curve of the wrist reasonably well for a rectangular design, though tonneau and rectangular cases generally sit less flush than a round case on a flat wrist. It suits a dress-watch role: worn under a cuff, with a jacket, where the blue dial and moon phase read as detail rather than a sports-watch statement. Buyers moving from a round Calatrava-style dress watch or a Reverso should expect a genuinely different silhouette rather than a variation on the familiar round dress case.
How much is a Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 XXL 25882-11-421-BB4A?
- Retail. Girard-Perregaux's current pricing for Vintage 1945 large date and moon-phase pieces sits broadly in the mid five figures in US dollars as of 2026, with the exact figure set by the boutique or authorised dealer for the specific dial and case metal; check the collection page linked above for the current list price on this configuration.
- Bizak catalogue ask. On 27 September 2026 our sourced catalogue listed the blue-dial 25882-11-421-BB4A at US$15,899 brand new, and the silver-dial 25882-11-121-BB6B at US$12,799 brand new, both sourced to order.
- What moves the price. Dial colour and case metal are the main levers within the standard XXL line; the titanium and onyx special editions sit meaningfully higher. Box, papers and an unworn, unpolished case matter for resale on any Girard-Perregaux, as they do across independent and manufacture brands generally.
Those figures describe what we saw and will move. Ask for a dated quote for the specific dial and set; our luxury watch price guide explains how to read a dealer quote against retail.
Buying a Vintage 1945 XXL: what to check
- Box and papers. A brand-new Girard-Perregaux should come with the original box, warranty card and any accompanying booklets; confirm the warranty card is blank and undated for a genuinely unworn piece.
- Reference match. The case back or movement should match the paperwork's reference exactly, including the dial-colour suffix; Girard-Perregaux uses the trailing code to distinguish dial variants within a case reference.
- Moon-phase alignment. Check the moon disc sits centred in its aperture and that the date discs read cleanly without overlap; misalignment on a supposedly unworn watch is worth asking about before you buy.
- Case finish. The tonneau case has both brushed and polished surfaces; even, symmetrical finishing on both sides of the case is a basic quality check on any new or lightly worn example.
- Strap fit. Confirm the lug width and strap length suit your wrist before committing, since a tonneau case cannot always take a generic replacement strap as easily as a round case.
- Service and warranty terms. Ask what warranty period applies through the seller and where authorised service is available in your region, since Girard-Perregaux's service network is smaller than the largest Swiss groups.
Our authentication process describes what we inspect before dispatch.
Quick answers
How much is a Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 XXL 25882-11-421-BB4A?
Bizak's sourced catalogue listed the blue-dial 25882-11-421-BB4A at US$15,899 brand new on 27 September 2026, sourced to order. Retail through Girard-Perregaux sits broadly in the same range depending on the dealer and configuration.
What does "large date" mean on this watch?
A double-window date display using two separately indexed discs under one aperture, which shows the date in larger type than a standard single-digit date window.
How often does the moon phase need correcting?
Typical moon-phase mechanisms drift by about one day roughly every two and a half years against the true lunar cycle, which is normal and not a fault.
Is the Vintage 1945 XXL a large watch?
At 36 mm across it is modest by diameter, but the tonneau case adds visual length along the wrist, so it wears with more presence than a 36 mm round case.
What is the difference between the blue and silver dial XXL?
Both share the same case, complications and strap; the difference is dial colour and, in Bizak's sourced catalogue on 27 September 2026, an asking-price gap reflecting demand for the blue dial.
Request a Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 XXL sourcing quote
Tell us your preferred dial colour, case metal, condition and whether box and papers are required, plus your budget and timing, through our sourcing enquiry form. We confirm the specific watch, photographs, papers and final price before you commit. Catalogue entries: 25882-11-421-BB4A blue dial, 25882-11-121-BB6B silver dial; browse the watch catalogue, or sell or trade your Girard-Perregaux.
Related reading: Patek Philippe reference numbers explained · Audemars Piguet watch prices · Patek Philippe watch prices · Authenticity guarantee.
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