- Cellini Favorites
- Recent News
- About the Brand
Founded in 1791, Girard-Perregaux is one of the oldest fine watchmaking manufactures still in operation and is appreciated by those in the know.
This year the company celebrates its 230 th anniversary, a fitting testament to the brand’s watchmaking expertise. Indeed, the firm’s history is dotted with exceptional creations that skillfully blend aesthetics and functionality. These models include the iconic Laureato, born in 1975, as well as the legendary Tourbillon ‘With Three Gold Bridges,’ a watch that made the invisible visible, transforming bridges from just a technical element to an integral part of the timepiece – a first in watchmaking.
Girard-Perregaux’s place at the vanguard of horological innovation is confirmed by over one hundred recorded patents together with numerous prizes and distinctions. It remains one of the few watchmakers to retain Manufacture status for over two centuries by mastering all the required horological skills in-house and making watches infused with a notable degree of authenticity. While Girard-Perregaux respects its heritage, it continues to look ahead, embracing new technologies, state of the art materials, and fresh takes on iconic shapes.
Girard-Perregaux is part of the Kering Group, a world leader in luxury apparel.
230 Years in the Now
We have been playing with shapes and materials for over 230 years. This is evident through the different iterations of our iconic Bridges collection for instance, which gave the horological world the classic Esmeralda, the hyper-modern Quasar, or more recently the complex, aerial design of our Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges. These innovations all have an element of disruption in common, turning watchmaking upside-down.
A timeless tradition of INNOVATION: Since our founding we have audaciously turned the world of watchmaking upside down – literally – to reveal the art in precision engineering. Our Tourbillon ‘With Three Gold Bridges’ transformed Bridges in the 1860s from just a technical element into a visible and integral part of the timepiece, a first in watchmaking. Presented as a first prototype in 2008 and manufactured as of 2013, the Constant Escapement L.M. is yet another technical revolution from Girard-Perregaux featured in the Bridges collection. It solved a problem occupying our profession for over five centuries: that of constant force. The watch was awarded the “Aiguille d’Or” at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.
In the spirit of REINVENTING OUR ICONS: In 1975, Girard-Perregaux was one of the first companies to offer a sporty elegant model equipped with an octagonal bezel and an integrated steel bracelet. The design of the Laureato has since become known for its enchanting interplay of straight lines and curves and blend of polished and satin-brushed surfaces. It embraces the notion of ‘sporty-chic’ while also complementing formal attire. Its extraordinary versatility has led to its iconic status.
To celebrate our bicentenary in 1991, we presented a version of the Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges, miniaturized to wristwatch size.
In the spirit of reinventing our icons in 2016, we launched the sublime Haute Horlogerie piece La Esmeralda Tourbillon in tribute to our original 19th century pocket chronometer.
In 1889, the original La Esmeralda Tourbillon was awarded a gold medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition. The Tourbillon we reinvented in 2016 to mark our 225th anniversary is yet another watchmaking icon for all brands and for all ages. Continuing our tradition of bridging between technical mastery and iconic design, this year we revealed the Free Bridge. It pushes the boundaries of design and innovation with ‘aerial bridges’ and a sculptural movement featuring an escapement made of high-tech silicon.
