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Girard-Perregaux

Coordinates:47°05′54″N6°48′59″E/ 47.09843°N 6.8163°E/47.09843; 6.8163
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47°05′54″N6°48′59″E/ 47.09843°N 6.8163°E/47.09843; 6.8163

Girard-Perregaux SA
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryLuxurywatchmaking
Founded1791
1852 (Girard & Cie)
FounderJean-François Bautte
Constant Girard
HeadquartersLa Chaux-de-Fonds,Switzerland
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Patrick Pruniaux
ProductsWatches
ParentSowind Group
Websitewww.girard-perregaux.com

Girard-Perregaux SA(French:[ʒiʁaʁpɛʁəɡo]) is a luxurySwisswatchmanufacturewith its origins dating back to 1791.[1][2]In 2022, then-owner French luxury groupKeringsold its stake inSowind Group SA,the parent company of Girard-Perregaux, viamanagement buyout.[2][3] Headquartered inLa Chaux-de-Fonds,Switzerland,the company opened the Girard-Perregaux Museum near its headquarters in Villa Marguerite in 1999.[4]It is best known for the historicTourbillonwith three gold bridges, which was awarded a gold medal at the 1889International ExpositioninParissoon after the launch of the watch.[2][5][6]Other notable models from the company include the collection 1966, Vintage 1945, and models such as Tri-Axial Tourbillon and Laureato, an icon inspired from the 1970s.[6][7][8]

History

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Early history

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Constant Girard

In 1791, watchmaker andgoldsmithJean-François Bauttesigned his first watches.[7]He created a manufacturing company inGeneva,grouping for the first time ever all the watchmaking facets of that time. This included the engineering of the watch all the way to the final hand-assembly and hand-polishing of each piece.[1]In 1832, Jacques Bautte and Jean-Samuel Rossel succeeded Jean Bautte, becoming the head of the company.[1]

In 1852, the watchmakerConstant GirardfoundedGirard & CieinLa Chaux-de-Fonds,Switzerland. He then married Marie Perregaux in 1854, and theGirard-Perregaux Manufacturewas founded in 1856.[7]In 1906, Constant Girard-Gallet, who took over control of the Manufacture from his father, acquired the Bautte House and merged it withGirard-Perregaux & Cie.[9]

Recent developments

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Since thequartz crisis,the brand has pursued its activities by reinforcing from the 1980s its position in the domain of high-quality mechanical watches. Since late 1980s, Girard-Perregaux has been a part of the SwissSowind Group.[2][7]

In 1999, the Villa Marguerite, a building in La Chaux-de-Fonds from the beginning of the 20th century, became the Girard-Perregaux Museum. A selection of old watches and documents illustrating the history of the brand was presented there, before its closure.[4][10]

In 2011,Sowind Group,the Swiss holding incorporating Girard-Perregaux, became a subsidiary of the French luxury groupKering.[2]In 2012, Girard-Perregaux launched the Le Corbusier Watch Trilogy, paying a tribute to the famous architect.[11]In 2021, Girard-Perregaux partnered with the luxury car manufacturerAston Martin.[12]

Watch manufacturing

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In 1965, Girard-Perregaux designed the first high-frequency mechanical movement, with the balance beating at 36,000 vibrations/hour: the Gyromatic HF

Girard-Perregaux relies on being amanufacturerofmovementsand watches, and a manufacturer of cases and bands. They bring together some tens of different components: watchmakers, engineers, movement decorators, polishers, etc. This global approach, founded on the traditional know-how of the watchmaking craftsmanship, allows them to create and direct high quality watches and movements from the assembly stages all the way to the final encasement.[9]

Girard-Perregaux designs, manufactures and develops its own movements:

  • a large collection of high-end watch making movements, of which theTourbillonwith three gold bridges is the emblematic piece.
  • a complete range ofmechanical movementsat automatic reassembly (GP2700, GP3200, GP3300, GP4500), that can fit all the types of watches, all by serving as the base for the module constructions of mechanisms with complications.
  • Quartz movements

Notable patents

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The Manufacture has approximately 80 patents in the watchmaking domain and is the originator of many innovative concepts.

  • 1965: Girard-Perregaux designed the first mechanical movement at high frequency, with the balance beating at 36,000 vibrations/hour: the Gyromatic HF.[9]
  • 1967: Girard-Perregaux received the Centenary Award from theAstronomical Observatory de Neuchatelin recognition of the accomplishments of the Manufacture generally, and specifically for the Observatory Chronometer wristwatch that used the Gyromatic HF movement.
  • 1970: Girard-Perregaux presented its first wristwatch to the world to be equipped with aquartzmovement and the following year a second one which vibrates at 32,768 hertz, the frequency remaining the universal standard for quartz watches today.[13][14]
  • 2008: Girard-Perregaux presented prototypes of a constant-force escapement, distinguishing itself from all the other known escapements to this day. The first watch housing the constant escapement was presented in 2013.[15][16]
  • 2016: Girard-Perregaux re-launched its model Laureato, born in the 1970s, in the form of a limited edition of 225 timepieces. In 2017, the Laureato became a full collection.[8]

Notable models

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Tourbillonwith three gold bridges

Tourbillon with three gold bridges

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It is the emblematic model of Girard-Perregaux.[2][5][6]In 1884, Constant Girard submitted to theUnited States Patent Officea patent of the design of the movement “Tourbillonwith three gold bridges.” The three bridges were redesigned in the form of arrows and placed parallel to each other. The movement was no longer just a functional and technical element, but it also became an element of design in every way. In 1889, the Tourbillon with three gold bridges was awarded a gold medal at theUniversal Exposition of Paris.[2][5]

In 1980, Girard-Perregaux decided to make 20 pieces to conform to the original of 1889: 1500 hours of work were necessary to create the first one. To celebrate its bicentenary in 1991, the company created a miniaturized wristwatch version of its famed Tourbillon with three gold Bridges. Since then, it is offered in different versions, and is sometimes associated with other watchmakers’complications.

Vintage 1945

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Vintage 1945 has a rectangular case and a design inspired by anArt Decostyle watch dating back to 1945.[5]The Vintage 1945 is powered by the Girard-Perregaux 9600-0019, mechanical self-winding movement, an all in-house movement.[17]

Girard-Perregaux 1966

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In 2012, Girard-Perregaux introduced a new Girard-Perregaux 1966 Full Calendar and a 1966 Chronograph, which has been highlighted as a new grand classic by Girard-Perregaux themselves.[18]This Girard-Perregaux 1966 is a slightly larger faced model than previously issued by the watchmaker at 42 mm and may be a sign of the changing demands upon watchmakers by the watch enthusiast community.[19][20]

Laureato

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The Laureato was born in 1975.[21]Its original design featured an integrated bracelet and an octagonal bezel. In the 1980s, the Laureato models mostly featured quartz movements.[citation needed]

In 1995, to celebrate the Laureato’s 20th anniversary, the Manufacture decided to relaunch the model, this time equipped with a calibre GP3100 automatic movement, with three hands and a date.[22]In 2005, a sportier version of the Laureato, named the Evo3, designating the model’s third major evolution, was presented. In 2016, for the 225th Anniversary of the brand, the Laureato collection returned to centre stage thanks to a re-design of its lines, aimed to be as close as possible to its original features: octagonal bezel and fully-integrated bracelet were back. However, the movement fitted into the steel case was not a quartz, but a GP3300 movement.[23]

Since 2017, new models combining different case materials, such as pink gold, titanium, steel and ceramic, along with blue, black or silver hobnail-pattern ( "Clou de Paris" ) dial have joined the Laureato collection. The latest addition is a sapphire case model, presented in 2020, the Laureato Absolute Light.[24]

Notable patrons and owners

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An award-winning Girard-Perregaux pocket watch

See also

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References

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  1. ^abcGirard-Perregaux (2017-10-13)."The History of Girard-Perregaux".Girard-Perregaux.Archived fromthe originalon 2019-10-16.Retrieved2018-12-24.
  2. ^abcdefg"Girard-Perregaux".www.kering.com.Archived fromthe originalon 2019-01-21.Retrieved2018-12-24.
  3. ^Forster, Jack (February 2, 2022)."Interview: Ulysse Nardin, Girard-Perregaux CEO Patrick Pruniaux on the Brands' Departure from the Kering Group".Hodinkee.
  4. ^ab"Girard-Perregaux Museum - Villa Marguerite - Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie".www.hautehorlogerie.org.Retrieved2018-12-24.
  5. ^abcd"Girard-Perregaux - Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie".www.hautehorlogerie.org.Retrieved2018-12-24.
  6. ^abc"Girard-Perregaux".hodinkee.Retrieved2018-12-24.
  7. ^abcd"History - Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie".www.hautehorlogerie.org.Retrieved2018-12-24.
  8. ^abForster, Jack (February 3, 2016)."Introducing: The Girard-Perregaux Laureato 2016 (Could This Be The Watch That Puts GP Back On Top?)".Hodinkee.Retrieved2020-06-30.
  9. ^abcFrançois Chaille, Girard-Perregaux
  10. ^"Girard-Perregaux va ouvrir un nouveau musée".Tribune de Genève(in French).ISSN1010-2248.Retrieved2020-06-30.
  11. ^Girard-Perregaux Unveils the Le Corbusier Watch Trilogy
  12. ^Richard Mille partners with Ferrari; Girard-Perregaux with Aston Martin
  13. ^Watch Collector on a Budget? Start With Vintage Quartz
  14. ^The Restoration Of The Girard-Perregaux Caliber 350, The Most Important Quartz Watch You've Never Heard Of
  15. ^Clymer, Benjamin (April 11, 2013)."In-Depth: The Girard-Perregaux Constant (Force) Escapement, Explained".Hodinkee.Retrieved2018-12-24.
  16. ^"Watch Bridges Constant Escapement L.M 93505-21-631-BA6E".Girard-Perregaux.2016-12-02.Retrieved2018-12-24.
  17. ^The Watch Review Site,"Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 Three Gold Bridges",March 2012
  18. ^The Watch Review Site,"Girard-Perregaux 1966 Chrongraph 42mm",March 2012
  19. ^Muraj, Evald (February 23, 2015)."Introducing The Girard-Perregaux 1966, With Guilloché Dial And Reduced Sizing".Hodinkee.Retrieved2018-12-24.
  20. ^"1966 Collection - Girard-Perregaux: Swiss watch manufacture".Girard-Perregaux.2016-10-14. Archived fromthe originalon 2020-09-01.Retrieved2018-12-24.
  21. ^Amsellem, Nicolas (2017-06-02)."Girard-Perregaux Laureato automatique 38mm: le retour de la Laureato".Les Rhabilleurs(in French).Retrieved2020-06-30.
  22. ^"Girard-Perregaux - Back in Time:" Laureato "- Trends and style - WorldTempus".en.worldtempus.com.Retrieved2020-06-30.
  23. ^"Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42 mm 81010-11-131-11A".www.chronopassion.fr(in French).Retrieved2020-06-30.
  24. ^"Crystal Clear: Girard-Perregaux's New Laureato Absolute Light Combines Aesthetics, Clarity, and Functionality".Watchonista.2020-02-13.Retrieved2020-06-30.
  25. ^Jack, Valerie (2013-10-22)."Quentin Tarantino Spotted Wearing Girard-Perregaux 1966 Annual Calendar & Equation of Time".Luxury Watch Trends 2018 - Baselworld SIHH Watch News.Retrieved2018-12-24.
  26. ^Girard-Perregaux (2013-10-21)."Girard-Perregaux, Tribute to Quentin Tarantino, Lumière Award 2013".Girard-Perregaux.Retrieved2018-12-24.
  27. ^"Girard-Perregaux Partners Kobe Bryant Foundation".Luxury Insider.2012-05-23. Archived fromthe originalon 2020-07-26.Retrieved2018-12-24.
  28. ^"The On- And Off-Screen Watches Of Brosnan, Pierce Brosnan".Quill & Pad.2016-08-08.Retrieved2018-12-24.
  29. ^"Girard-Perregaux and Hugh Jackman Fight Cancer".WatchTime - USA's No.1 Watch Magazine.2012-10-24.Retrieved2018-12-24.
  30. ^"Celebrity Watches".Official Watches.2015-04-20. Archived fromthe originalon 2018-12-25.Retrieved2018-12-24.
  31. ^"Nicolas Sarkozy Wearing Girard-Perregaux".Luxuo.2010-03-16.Retrieved2019-01-27.
  32. ^Novela, Daniel (2013-02-22)."Power, And the Watch".Luxury Watch Trends 2018 - Baselworld SIHH Watch News.Retrieved2019-01-27.
  33. ^"5 Antique Pocket Watches Over 100 Years Old".Luxury Bazaar.2011-10-20.Retrieved2019-01-19.
  34. ^Weare, Michael (2013-12-05)."Girard-Perregaux Brand Profile".DreamChrono.Retrieved2019-01-19.
  35. ^"Girard Perregaux Heritage Dates Back to 1791".www.armstrongrockwell.com.Archived fromthe originalon 2018-12-28.Retrieved2019-01-19.
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