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Girard-Perregaux

Girard-Perregaux

Timeless Swiss innovation since 1791.

Girard-Perregaux is a historic Swiss manufacturer renowned for its in-house movements, tourbillon artistry, and elegant yet modern timepieces like the Laureato.

Brand Information

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Girard-Perregaux

Girard-Perregaux is one of Switzerland’s oldest and most respected watch manufacturers, with roots dating back to 1791. The brand was officially formed in 1856 through the union of Constant Girard and Marie Perregaux, and it quickly established a reputation for technical innovation and refined aesthetics. Today, Girard-Perregaux continues to produce in-house movements and complications with a strong emphasis on heritage, craftsmanship, and contemporary design.
The brand is best known for its iconic Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges, first patented in 1884. This architectural movement layout — turning functional bridges into decorative design elements — became a hallmark of Girard-Perregaux and remains one of the most recognizable tourbillon designs in horology. Modern interpretations, like the Neo Bridges and Quasar, carry this legacy into the 21st century with skeletonized structures and futuristic materials like sapphire and titanium.
Girard-Perregaux’s core collections include the Laureato, a luxury sports watch first launched in 1975, which has experienced a major resurgence in recent years. With its integrated bracelet, octagonal bezel, and refined finish, the Laureato competes in the same category as icons like the Royal Oak and Nautilus — but with its own distinctive character.
The 1966 and Vintage 1945 collections showcase the brand’s classic watchmaking side, featuring slim dress watches and retro-inspired models with complications such as moon phases and complete calendars.
Today, under the Kering Group umbrella, Girard-Perregaux continues to blend historical mastery with modern watchmaking excellence. With a balance of innovation, mechanical depth, and enduring design, the maison remains a favorite among collectors who appreciate quiet sophistication and horological substance.
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Girard-Perregaux and what is the brand known for?

Girard-Perregaux is one of Switzerland's oldest watch manufactures, founded in 1791 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The brand is celebrated for its Laureato collection (one of the first integrated bracelet sport watches, predating the Royal Oak), the tourbillon with three gold bridges — a distinctive architecture featuring three parallel gold bridges holding the gear train — and in-house manufacture movements across virtually all collections.

What is the Girard-Perregaux tourbillon with three gold bridges?

The Three Gold Bridges tourbillon is Girard-Perregaux's most iconic and historically significant creation, first presented in 1867 and awarded a gold medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition. Three parallel bridges in gold hold the barrel, gear train, and tourbillon in a symmetrical arrangement visible through the dial. The architecture has been continuously produced for over 150 years and remains the purest expression of Girard-Perregaux's watchmaking philosophy.

What is the Girard-Perregaux Laureato?

The Laureato was launched in 1975, the same year as the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, as Girard-Perregaux's integrated bracelet sport watch with an octagonal bezel and brushed/polished finishing contrasts. Though overshadowed historically by the Royal Oak's fame, the Laureato is a genuine co-pioneer of the luxury sports watch genre. It was relaunched in 2016 and has since become one of GP's most commercially successful modern collections.

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Girard-Perregaux