GIRARD PERREGAUX YEAR 1957, MANUAL WINDING

The beginnings of a legendary brand
The history of Girard-Perregaux began in the 19th century when Swiss watchmaker Jean-François Bautte founded his own manufacture in 1791 in Geneva. Bautte not only made movements, but also designed cases and assembled watches, making him a pioneer in Swiss watchmaking.

In 1852, watchmaker Constant Girard founded the company Girard & Cie in La Chaux-de-Fonds. His marriage to Marie Perregaux in 1854 led to the merger of both watchmaking families and the birth of the prestigious brand Girard-Perregaux.

Innovation and technical advances
From the start, Girard-Perregaux stood out for its innovation and precision. One of its greatest achievements was the creation of the Tourbillon with three golden bridges, designed in 1867 by Constant Girard. This revolutionary design not only improved the mechanism’s precision but also made the bridges a prominent aesthetic element of the watch. In 1889, this model won a gold medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Girard-Perregaux became the official watch supplier for the German Navy, reinforcing its reputation for manufacturing high-precision watches.

The impact of the 20th century
During the 1960s, the brand made history again with the creation of the first high-frequency movement with 36,000 vibrations per hour: the Gyromatic HF. This advancement improved the accuracy of automatic watches and set a standard in the watchmaking industry.

In 1970, Girard-Perregaux was one of the first brands to develop quartz watches, introducing the GP 350 caliber with a frequency of 32,768 Hz, which became the worldwide standard for modern quartz watches.

Return to haute horlogerie
Despite the quartz crisis, Girard-Perregaux continued to focus on mechanical watchmaking. In the 1990s, it relaunched the iconic Tourbillon with three golden bridges, reaffirming its commitment to haute horlogerie.

Over the past decades, the brand has continued to innovate with iconic models such as the Laureato, a luxury sports watch that debuted in 1975 and has experienced a renaissance in the 21st century. It has also developed exclusive complications such as the Constant Escapement L.M., a technical feat that enhances the precision of the watch’s escapement.

Legacy and current prestige
Today, Girard-Perregaux remains one of the most exclusive and respected Swiss watch brands. Its combination of traditional craftsmanship, technical innovation, and sophisticated design keeps it as one of the most cherished by collectors and luxury watch enthusiasts.

Girard-Perregaux represents over two centuries of passion, innovation, and excellence in watchmaking, solidifying its position as one of the most important Swiss houses.

TEMPPUS. All rights reserved.