1791: the beginning of an epic saga
Constant Girard and Marie Perregaux married in 1854 and created a workshop at the forefront of watchmaking innovation. Another union followed in 1906 when Girard-Perregaux acquired the House of Jean-François Bautte in Geneva. Our origins date back to the first launch of Bautte in 1791, whose creations revealed the beauty of time thanks to extraordinarily fine cases inlaid with precious stones.
Our Manufacture
Surrounded by the Jura mountains in the west of Switzerland, our factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds is the heart of Girard-Perregaux. We remain one of the few watchmaking companies to have retained the status of Manufacture for more than two centuries thanks to our in-house mastery of all the watchmaking skills required to make watches. The Manufacture is both a source of pride in our heritage and a source of wonder for our master watchmakers. The magnificent landscapes, elegant architecture and rich history of the region are inexhaustible sources of inspiration for all of us.
The bold vision of Constant Girard-Perregaux
A watchmaker by trade, Constant Girard-Perregaux revolutionised the history of watchmaking in 1867 by imposing for the first time the mechanism of a watch as a design element in its own right, beyond its technical function. Its consecration came in 1889 when its Tourbillon sous Trois Ponts d’Or “La Esmeralda” won a gold medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition. The overall structure of the calibre has remained unchanged for over 150 years and remains a perpetual source of inspiration.
Free Bridge: a tribute to the origins
“Free” because it is airy, open and free of conventions, the Free Bridge model is a revisited and technical interpretation of the Girard-Perregaux tradition. Its shape takes up the design of the Manufacture’s iconic spire bridge, while reinterpreting the contemporary structures often seen in architecture. The result is a perfect link between past and future, with a touch of innovation.
Birth of an icon
Launched in 1975, the Laureato is a true jewel of sporting elegance. With its sleek design and comfort on the wrist thanks to the strap integrated into the case, the Laureato combines aesthetics and functionality as only the Maison Girard-Perregaux has the secret. Designed and handmade in our Manufacture, the prominent octagonal bezel is the emblematic element of the Laureato models – a collection available in a rich palette of sizes, materials and colours.
2021: a new chapter
Girard-Perregaux is celebrating its 230th anniversary this year. The festivities have already started with the introduction of the Laureato Absolute Wired, a limited edition novelty with a Carbon Glass case. This high-tech material combines layers of carbon fibre and glass fibre, which are subjected to high temperatures and pressed to acquire their homogeneity. The layers that make up the material create uneven strata within it and are randomly aligned, making each watch unique.
Discover more than two centuries of know-how: www.girard-perregaux.com