Girard-Perregaux Watches

The Girard-Perregaux watch brand's history is inextricably linked to two great watchmakers: Jean-François Butte and Constant Girard.

The bicentenary Manufacture's remarkable watchmaking legacy dates back to 1791 when Jean-François Butte founded a watch manufacture in Geneva. This company used to make high-end mechanical watches, jewelry, automata, and music boxes. Butte was a multi-talented master who invented jeweled watches and ultra-thin clocks. The imperial houses of Europe were his first clients. His commercial ambitions allowed him to trade successfully with countries outside of the European continent to a large extent.

Constant Girard was a pioneering watchmaker who invented several novel horological mechanisms. Constant Girard's remarkable Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges timepiece won a gold medal at the Paris Universal Exposition in 1889. The Manufacture continued to flourish under the able guidance of Constant Girard and his son-in-law (Henri, Jules, and François Perregaux) and began trading with far-flung countries like Japan.

Following Constant Girard's death in 1903, the company was handled by his son, Constant Girard-Gallet. Girard-Perregaux amalgamated with the famed Butte watchmaking firm in 1906. The Girard-Perregaux was purchased by Otto Graef, a German watchmaker, in the late 1920s. Luigi Macaluso, an Italian entrepreneur and former race car driver, took over the prestigious Swiss brand in 1992. This legendary Swiss watchmaker was purchased by the Kering company in 2011.

Girard-Perregaux watches have a rich history dating back over two centuries and offers a wide range of exquisite mechanical clocks. The Bridges, the Vintage 1945, 1966, the Laureato, and the Cat's Eye are the premium Swiss brand's main timepiece collections. Each one is proud of its history and design philosophy.

The Bridges is the House of Girard-most Perregaux's historically significant collection. This magnificent watch collection has a long and illustrious history dating back to the nineteenth century. Constant Girard invented a tourbillon with three parallel bridges in 1860, and he patented his brilliant innovation in 1884. Constant Girard's Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges timepiece won a gold medal at the Paris Universal Exposition in 1889.

Several Girard Perregaux watches take their inspiration from the classic Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges. The first wristwatch with a Tourbillon and Three Gold Bridges was released in 1991. Since then, the distinguished collection has been steadily expanded by the addition of new models by the luxury brand.

Girard-Perregaux has also created tourbillon timepieces with a single bridge or two bridges based on this renowned concept. This legendary series features various contemporary variations in addition to its classic classics such as La Esmeralda Tourbillon and Classic Bridges. Neo Bridges, Cosmos, Quasar, and Free Bridge are complex models that have evolved from the Bridges concept.

The Vintage 1945 line of exquisite mechanical timepieces is outstanding. The stunning rectangular case with a curved profile for maximum comfort is a distinguishing feature of these clocks. This timeless collection pays homage to a legendary Girard-Perregaux timepiece from the mid-1940s.

Girard-Perregaux debuted a new mechanical watch in 1945 that was influenced by the famed Art Deco style. This clock was distinguished by its rectangular casing with curved sides.

New Collections

Girard-Perregaux introduced a new rendition of this iconic model in 1995. This updated iteration included altered exterior designs and modern materials, but it was still powered by a hand-wound mechanism like its predecessor. It also marked the start of the Vintage 1945 collection for the brand. The first Vintage 1945 automatic watch was introduced in 1996. In the same year, the first Girard Perregaux vintage 1945 lady watch was released. Since then, this classic line has grown into a wide collection that includes chronographs and other watch styles.

Following that, the company began producing new Vintage 1945 clocks with complicated movements. For instance, time equations, jumping seconds, dates with moon phases, off-centered hour and minute, perpetual calendar, split-second chronograph, and tourbillon are all examples. The Vintage 1945 Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges was presented by Girard-Perregaux in 2004, and it blends two renowned designs from the legendary Swiss watchmaker.

1966 is a remarkable mechanical timepiece line with simple yet elegant design elements. This line blends the famed Swiss manufacturer's innovative spirit with artistic flexibility and watchmaking quality, making it one of the brand's signature collections. Girard-Perregaux was awarded the Centenary Prize by the Neuchâtel Observatory in 1966 for its contributions to the advancement of precise timekeeping. This outstanding feat is honored in the 1966 collection.

The company, a long-time specialist in high-end mechanical watchmaking, provides a wide range of complex timepieces from its flagship collections. Its product line has typically included both simple timepieces and elaborate grand complexities. Each Girard-Perregaux timepiece is a legitimate representation of the premium Swiss watchmaker's vast technological competence garnered over two centuries of extensive research and development.