Girard-Perregaux Watches
ALL GIRARD-PERREGAUX WATCHES MODELS
All About Girard-Perregaux Watches
History of Girard-Perregaux
The historical origins of Girard-Perregaux brand has been inseparably connected with two legendary watch makers:Jean-François Bautte and Constant Girard.
The great watchmaking tradition of the bicentenary Manufacture dates back to 1791, when Jean-François Bautte established a watch company in Geneva. This firm used to produce high-quality mechanical timepieces, jewels, automata and music boxes. A multi-talented maestro, Bautte was also a pioneer of jewelled watches and ultra-thin timepieces. His initial clients were from the imperial families of Europe. To a great extent, his business visions allowed him to successfully trade with faraway countries outside the European continent.
In 1852, Constant Girard founded his watchmaking business. Four years later, Constant Girard founded a watch manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds in partnership with the family members of his wife Marie Perregaux. The name of the new company was created by combining the titles of Constant and his wife Marie: Girard & Perregaux.
Constant Girard was a visionary watch maker and inventor of some innovative horology mechanisms. In 1889, Constant Girard won a gold medal at the Paris Universal Exposition for his exceptional Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges timepiece. Thanks to the eminent leadership of Constant Girard and his son-in-laws (Henri, Jules and François Perregaux), the Manufacture continued to develop further and started trading with faraway countries like Japan.
Followed by the demise of Constant Girard in 1903, his son Constant Girard-Gallet managed the company. In 1906, the illustrious Bautte watch making company was merged with Girard-Perregaux. In the late 1920s, the Girard-Perregaux was acquired by Otto Graef, a watchmaker of German origin. In 1992, the Italian entrepreneur and former racing car driver Luigi Macaluso took over the prominent Swiss brand. In 2011, Kering group acquired this iconic Swiss watch manufacture.
Girard-Perregaux Watch Collections
With an elaborate history of more than two centuries, Girard-Perregaux offers a multitude of meticulously crafted fine mechanical timepieces. The premium Swiss brand's flagship wristwatch collections are: The Bridges, the Vintage 1945, the 1966, the Laureato and the Cat’s Eye. Each of them proudly maintains its own history and design ethos.
The Bridges is the most historically important collection from the House of Girard-Perregaux. This extraordinary watch collection enjoys an impressive history that dates back to the 19th century. In 1860, Constant Girard created a tourbillon featuring three parallel bridges and in 1884 he patented this ingenious invention. In 1889, Constant Girard won a gold medal at the Paris Universal Exposition for his Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges timepiece.
The iconic Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges remain a perpetual source of inspiration for a number of girard perregaux timepieces. In 1991, the first wristwatch with Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges was introduced. Since then, the luxury brand has been progressively expanding this prestigious collection by including various new models.
Based on this iconic concept, Girard-Perregaux has also developed some tourbillon watches with single-bridge or with two-bridges. In addition to its classic creations like La Esmeralda Tourbillon and Classic Bridges, this iconic collection also offers a number of contemporary interpretations. The sophisticated models like Neo Bridges, Cosmos, Quasar and Free Bridge are the modern evolutions of the Bridges concept.
The Vintage 1945 is a magnificent collection of fine mechanical watches. The distinct feature of these timepieces is their striking rectangular case with a curved silhouette for ensuring optimum comfort. This classic collection pays tribute to an iconic Girard-Perregaux watch that was introduced in the mid 1940s.
In 1945, Girard-Perregaux introduced a new mechanical watch inspired by the famous Art Deco design. This timepiece featured a distinctive rectangular case featuring curved sides.
In 1995, Girard-Perregaux launched a modern interpretation of this iconic model. This new edition brought in redesigned exterior designs and modern materials, but still fitted with a hand-wound movement just like its ancestor. It also marked the beginning of the brand’s new Vintage 1945 collection. In 1996, the first Vintage 1945 automatic watch was born. The first girard perregaux vintage 1945 lady watch was also launched in the same year. Since then, this classic line has evolved to an extensive series that accommodates various types of watch models including chronographs.
Subsequently, the brand started manufacturing new Vintage 1945 timepieces featuring complex mechanisms. For example: equation of time, jumping seconds, Date with moon phase, off-centered hour and minute, perpetual calendar, split-second chronograph and tourbillon. In 2004, Girard-Perregaux unveiled the Vintage 1945 Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges, which combines two iconic designs of the legendary Swiss watch manufacture.
In 2015, the brand celebrated the 70th anniversary of the collection by launching special edition watches. The collection also includes models large sized XXL versions. In 2020, Girard-Perregaux expanded this line by adding the Vintage 1945 Infinity watch model.
The 1966 is an exceptional mechanical wristwatch collection known for its simply elegant design features. One of the brand’s flagship collections, this line combines the prestigious Swiss manufacture's innovative spirit with creative freedom and watchmaking excellence. In 1966, Girard-Perregaux received the Neuchâtel Observatory's Centenary Prize in recognition of its contributions towards the development of precision timekeeping. The 1966 collection pays tribute to this distinguished achievement.
Introduced in 1975, the Laureato is a magnificent collection of luxurious sports timepieces featuring solid yet ergonomic case construction, octagonal bezel and integrated bracelet. The first generation Laureato watch models were equipped with the iconic quartz movement developed by Girard-Perregaux. In 1995, the manufacture introduced the Laureato self-winding model, which featured a broader and redesigned case.
Early in the new millennium, girard perregaux laureato received a complete makeover with new models featuring larger cases and more elaborate mechanisms. The collection presently includes new automatic and quartz versions, made with materials like stainless steel, gold, ceramic or titanium. The Laureato series offers watches with different case sizes starting from 34 mm to 44 mm. The collection also includes Skeleton, Chronograph, Tourbillon and Perpetual Calendar models.
Introduced in 2004, Cat’s Eye collection offers extra-ordinary luxury wristwatches for women. Known for their sensual curves and oval form, Cat’s Eye watches represent the poetic side of fine mechanical watchmaking traditions nurtured by Girard-Perregaux. These ultra-feminine timepieces stand out with their attractive case designs, exquisite gem-setting patterns and elaborate decorations of its dial.
Buy Girard-Perregaux Watches Now
An established specialist in the high-luxury mechanical watchmaking, the brand offers a vast choice of complication timepieces from its flagship collections. Its product range traditionally includes simple time-only watches as well as intricate grand complications.
Each Girard-Perregaux timepiece is a legitimate representative of the immense technical expertise gained by the premium Swiss watch manufacture over two centuries of extensive research and development.
Further, all timepieces from the brand feature immaculate aesthetic finishing and elaborate decorations. The luxury brand passionately continues exploring the new frontiers in the high-end watchmaking, while at the same time honoring the long-established watchmaking tradition.