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Girard Perregaux

Girard Perregaux is a historically significant Swiss maison who made some of the first ultra-thin watches in the world. Today they make a variety of luxury watches on par with some better-known brands.

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Girard Perregaux History

Girard Perregaux is one of the historical Swiss maisons and has contributed much to the development of the wristwatch as we know it today. The knowledge of its importance, quality, and refinement is not truly widespread today, but it represents one of the best secrets of horology.

The maison was founded in 1852 when Constantin Othenin Girard registers the company Girard & Cie. Two years later he marries Marie Perregaux – and after four years, the company finds a seat in La Chaux-de-Fonds and the manufacture Girard-Perregaux is created, intending to create precision watches. 

After ten years of development, Girard Perregaux makes movements so precise that they win several competitions hosted by the Observatory of Neuchatel, and in 1867, it presents a tourbillon watch that wins the gold medal at the World Exhibition in Paris.

After twenty years, in 1889, the company releases an iconic timepiece: “Esmeralda”, a pocket watch featuring a tourbillon with three golden bridges. A watch so incredibly sophisticated and innovative that, after winning the gold medal at the World Exhibition in Paris, the organization forbids the company to compete again until 1902.

GP Esmeralda

Girard Perregaux Esmeralda

But the company is most famous for something else: Girard Perregaux is the inventor of the modern wristwatch. From 1880, the company develops the first wristwatches for military use, on the behalf of the German Imperial Navy, and manufactures 2,000 units. This is the first mass-manufactured wristwatch of history.

In 1903, Constantin Girard dies, and the company is taken over by Constant Girard-Gallet. He develops the watchmaking business aggressively and expands the company by purchasing other brands: the most important acquisition is the one of Bautte, a historical watchmaker specialized in ultra-flat movements, which was founded in 1791: this is why Girard Perregaux proudly displays this date on the dial of its watches.

A master watchmaker of rare talent, Jean-Francois Bautte was also an astute “industrialist” and businessman with a brilliant, imaginative and generous character. He is credited with creating the first genuine ultra-thin watches and the truly visionary concept of the Manufactory as a producer of high-quality timepieces.

During the following years, the company expands the production of wristwatches. In 1928, the majority of the shares is bought by Otto Graef, and the firm expands internationally in Europe and America, launching successful models like the Sea Hawk and the Gyromatic, one of the first hi-beat wristwatches of the world.

In the Seventies, the company is one of the most active in the development of quartz technology, and Girard Perregaux develops internally its movements, based on the 32,768 A/h frequency that will become the international standard for quartz watches, and in 1975 releases one of its most iconic models, the “Laureato”.

Girard Perregaux Laureato ref. 81000-11-131-11A

The company in the Eighties enters into the Sowind group together with Jeanrichard, a manufacturer of high-end movements.

From 1989, the company returns to the mechanical watch production, releasing in 1991 a wristwatch version of its legendary three gold bridges gyrotourbillon pocket watch.

In 2008, the Sowind enters a partnership with the Kering group, and in 2011, the latter becomes the majority shareholder.

Most Popular Girard Perregaux Models

Bridges

Based on the iconic “Esmeralda”, the Bridges collection groups the best offerings from Girard Perregaux, and is composed of timepieces that feature among the best horological complications of the whole business.

It is the oldest of the maison and has been interpreted in such a modern, assertive way that you often doubt about its true year of birth.

If you are a horology fan, you would find every complication you’d dream of, contained in an essential and simple case.

Tourbillon Three Bridges model

The basic references for the Bridges watch lines are in titanium (either raw or black-coated), and while the size is big, they are very wearable. The last to come out is called Neo Bridge and is a re-design of the collection. It comes as a time-only automatic watch with a micro-rotor, and you may find it from around $17,500 upwards. The gold cased varieties, called Classic Bridges, start from around $25,000.

The constant escapement version starts from $40,000, and the first tourbillons of the Triple Bridge collection start from around $50,000. Around $80,000 you may find the gold and diamonds references. Exquisite complications like three-axis tourbillons and minute repeaters fare in the hundreds of thousands.

Laureato

The Laureato collection includes several sub-lines of luxury sports watches.

From the basic quartz-based time-only vintage models of the Seventies, you rise up to the beautiful mechanical diver watches and chronographs of the mid-Eighties to reach the top end, where you are going to find the exclusive tourbillon-fitted models.

The early success of the collection prompted the company to release a wide array of models, comprising chronographs and skeletonized models. 

GP Laureato on leather strap

Laureato ref. 81010-11-634-11A

The more affordable references of the Laureato collection start from around $1,000 for the quartz-based vintage models, up to $3,000 for the ones with unique complications, such as the Equation Soleil.

From around $3,500 you can find the first mechanical chronographs, the sporty-looking EVO3, and BMW Oracle models. The first automatic time-only Laureato starts from around $4,700, both in the man’s and ladies’ references, which are smaller and diamond-studded. 

The black titanium Absolute reference sells for around $7,500 upwards. Around $8,000, you start to find the bimetal references. while the gold versions with leather wristband start from around $9,500. This is also the price of the regular Laureato chronograph.

The first skeletonized versions are in the market around $18,500. This is also the price of the ceramic models. The full gold Laureato with integrated bracelet is around $25,000. The top-end tourbillon models start from around $60,000, upwards.

1966

The 1966 line is another popular collection from Girard Perregaux, continuing the tradition of the Gyromatic models of the Fifties: the one of the simple, classic dress watch. While fashion has changed over the years, the elegance of this beautiful line is unchanged. And has prompted the maison to reinforce the collection by introducing new models, offering interesting complications and a refreshed design.

1966 ref. 49534-52-1329SBB6A

How Much Does a Girard Perregaux Cost?

GP’s watches aren’t exactly cheap, but they are a good valuable relative to comparable Swiss brands. For example, vintage references from the 1966 collection can be found for under $5,000, while some old steel sports models can be had for under $2,000. $7,000-$15,000 seems to be GP’s “wheelhouse” price-wise, although they also make spectacularly complicated watches that can reach into six figures as well.

Who Wears Girard Perregaux Watches?

Chen Xiao

Chen Xiao

Mar 2019 – Girard-Perregaux joins forces with a Chinese acting star, the renowned Chen Xiao, with an advertising campaign based on three key concepts: engagement, precision, innovation.

Chen Xiao began his acting career in the TV series Our Class Song, subsequently coming first in regional exams to enter the Central Drama Academy. Over the years he played a number of different roles in well-known films and TV series, including Swordsman (2013), Legend of Lu Zhen (2013), The Romance of the Condor Heroes (2014), as well as The Taking of Tiger Mountain (2014), The Founding of An Army (2017) and Nothing Gold Can Stay (2017).

He is known for his intense, energetic portrayal of the characters, which earned him many accolades from his fans, and also put him in the running for major awards in the international film world. 

“No one knows what tomorrow will bring, but we deal with each situation when it occurs. These things come to us; our role is to welcome them and experience them. Time is our ally. Let’s live it with elegance”, said Chen Xiao – a perfect statement for an iconic watchmaker active since 1791.

Kobe Bryant wearing Girard Perregaux

Kobe Bryant wearing a GP

Apr 2019 – Girard Perregaux is proud to support Kobe Bryant and his Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation, the charitable organization of the world’s leading basketball star, which goal is to improve the lives of young people and families in need. 

On a charity evening in April, at the home of one of the foundation’s committee members in Los Angeles, more than 60 VIP guests, including Cindy Crawford, Rande Gerber, Jo Champa and Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, attended the evening and took part in an auction led by Andrea Fiuczynski from Christie’s.

The profits from the evening were donated to the foundation.

A Girard Perregaux, WW.TC Shadow personalized and identical to the one worn by Kobe Bryant was auctioned that same evening. On the back of Kobe’s watch, his initials and jersey number are engraved. 

Laura Pergolizzi

Laura Pergolizzi prominently wore a Laureato in her “Tightrope” video

When you say LP, what does a Baby Boomer think? That would be a vinyl record, of course. But in the world of today, LP is also the professional name of an Italian American singer and songwriter, Laura Pergolizzi, who has written songs for Cher, Rihanna, the Backstreet Boys, and Christina Aguilera. 

LP is a friend of the Girard Perregaux brand. She’s so passionate about the brand that she wore a Laureato watch during the shooting of one of her latest videos, “Tightrope”. More, she has visited the booth of the company at the 2018 SIHH, with a surprise: during her visit she has entertained the crowd in a session of unplugged songs, accompanying herself with the ukulele and showing off her amazing voice.


Are Girard Perregaux Watches Good?

If you’re wondering where does Girard Perregaux falls relative to other luxury watch brands, well, they’re legitimately right up there with top Swiss watchmakers. Girard Perregaux even invented the world’s first true constant-force escapement and continues to make other incredibly complicated watches as well. Their finishing is outstanding, though they can often be found for much more attainable resale prices than brands like Audemars Piguet.