
Over 230 years of history tells the story of the brilliance that only the genuine article possesses. Girard-Perregaux is a watchmaker who is not afraid to innovate while preserving tradition. The passion and skill of its watchmakers continue to win the hearts of people around the world. Unraveling its secrets reveals the true value of the brand.
Sponsored by
The True Value of Girard-Perregaux 1Over 230 years of valuable manufacturing
What is the value of an authentic watch? Of course, various practical specifications, such as accuracy as a time signal device, are important. However, that alone is nothing more than a mere piece of machinery. The value of a watch depends on whether or not it is filled with “the creator’s thoughts”. One of Hermes’ masterpieces that is well-known to all fashion lovers is the Sacs à Depeche. It is a simple leather handbag. However, it is made of the world’s most carefully selected leather. This is not because it is high-end, but rather because a certain quality is necessary to keep it beautiful for many years. The tailoring is also meticulous. Instead of using a standardized sewing machine, skilled craftsmen sew one stitch at a time by hand, taking into account the individuality of the outer leather (each piece of leather has its own characteristics) and the condition of the lining. This is why the flap of the Sacs à Depeche is easy to open and closes naturally. Craftsmen do not become meisters by reading a few textbooks. A good craftsman is nurtured by passing on the experience gained in the field over the years and passing on the accumulated skills. The love of the craftsman for his product creates the environment for the creation of a masterpiece, which in turn leads to its value.
I digress, but Girard-Perregaux is a brand that has such a spirit, and has produced many valuable products that have been recognized around the world because of its unsparing love for its watch products. Girard-Perregaux’s origins date back to 1791. The company’s origins date back to 1791, 46 years before Hermès was founded in 1837. Jean-François Bott, who had a talent for goldsmithing and watchmaking, quickly set up a manufacture system to manufacture all products in-house, and his clientele grew. Meanwhile, in 1856, Constant Girard founded Girard-Perregaux in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, a workshop named after his wife, Marie Perregaux.
From the beginning, he developed a tourbillon machine with three parallel bridges, which won a prize at the 2nd Paris Exposition in 1867. In 1889, he won a gold medal at the 4th Paris Exposition Universelle for his improved three-bridge tourbillon ” Esmeralda “. In 1906, he took over the Botte workshop and established the foundation of the Manufacture Girard-Perregaux, which continues to this day.
The true value of Girard-Perregaux 2The man behind the establishment of the authentic watch in Japan
Girard-Perregaux quickly gained a position as a master watchmaker in Europe. However, it is not surprising that Girard-Perregaux had a close relationship with Asia, especially with Japan, a country far away from Switzerland, After staying in Singapore, François Pergot, brother-in-law of Constant Girard, came to Japan, which had not yet established diplomatic relations with Switzerland, and saw the potential in Japan. François was the first Swiss watchmaker to arrive in Japan, and his beautifully designed and finely crafted watches were a foothold for the watch business in Japan.
Later, with the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between Switzerland and Japan, François Pergot established a watch store in the foreign settlement of Yokohama, which later became Chinatown. His energetic activities came to an end in 1877, but François’s spirit still rests in the Foreign Cemetery in Yokohama. His contribution to the popularization of mechanical watchmaking in Japan is great, and in 2020, the 160th anniversary of Girard-Perregaux’s arrival in Japan will be celebrated once again, reaffirming the ties between Girard-Perregaux and Japan at large.
A vanguard eye and outstanding development capabilities
We have skimmed over the history of Girard-Perregaux, and over the course of its long history of watch development, the brand has launched a number of remarkable models as an accomplished manufacture. In the 1900s, the business was taken over by the innovative entrepreneur Otto Greffe, who set up an in-house research and development department. In the 1900s, the business was taken over by the innovative entrepreneur Otto Greve, who quickly established an in-house research and development department, a progressive approach even in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the heartland of Swiss watchmaking. The in-house development was successful, and by the 1930s, the number of wristwatches sold exceeded that of pocket watches, transforming the company into a brand of the next generation. In the 20th century, Girard-Perregaux entered the age of speed. In 1966, in pursuit of timekeeping precision, the brand launched the Swiss watch industry’s first “Gyromatic High Vibration Automatic Movement,” a high-speed 36,000 vibrations per hour movement that boasted unparalleled precision and even won the Neuchatel Observatory’s 100th anniversary prize.
Girard-Perregaux has also left its mark on the history of quartz watches in terms of being ahead of its time, starting mass production of quartz models in 1971 for the first time in the world, and the brand’s “32,768 Hz” frequency is still the world standard for quartz specifications today. Girard-Perregaux was also quick to create unique masterpieces in the dress and sporty watches, a category that is driving the current watch trend. The Loréat, initially called the ” Quartz Chronometer,” made its debut in 1975. The round case with an octagonal bezel and case-integrated bracelet is a style that has been carried over to the 21st century and is still being used in an increasing number of variations today.
The true value of Girard-Perregaux 4Sublimating the classics created by Girard-Perregaux into the latest mode
Another of Girard-Perregaux’s strengths is its excellent sense of updating its watches in accordance with the times. The three-bridge design, born in the 19th century at the dawn of the brand, was re-edited from a pocket watch to a wristwatch in 1991, and has evolved into a practical masterpiece that can be enjoyed in the modern lifestyle. But Girard-Perregaux was not content to rest on its laurels: in 2020, not only was the case made of sapphire crystal, the ultimate in transparency, but the iconic three-bridge was also replaced by a transparent sapphire. The “Quasar Light,” as it is called, is a futuristic three-bridge timepiece, and it has wowed watch enthusiasts since its debut.
Over the years, he has refined the original style he created, and his sense and efforts have sublimated the classics into the latest mode. Furthermore, with an eye on the future, he continues to develop advanced functions with a voracious appetite, and continues to produce watches on his own. What makes this possible is, of course, the know-how that has been steadily built up over 230 years as a manufacture. The presence of engineers who have inherited this pride cannot be overlooked. It is precisely because of the wealth of resources and the depth of experience that Girard-Perregaux is able to continue releasing authentic timepieces that incorporate the full range of its creators’ ideas. The true value of Girard-Perregaux is precisely concentrated in this.
What to Get Now?Three Notable Girard-Perregaux Models
Finally, here are some of Girard-Perregaux’s most notable models that are currently on sale.
Girard-Perregaux's 1 notable modelGP's masterpiece is the L'Oréat
Since its birth in 1975, the L’Oréat has been supported as a luxury sports luxury watch. It is characterized by its octagon-shaped bezel and integrated bracelet that combine sportiness and elegance. Equipped with a high-precision in-house movement, the watch is available in a variety of materials and sizes, including stainless steel, gold, and ceramic. The image below shows the Loréat 38mm stainless steel model. The exquisite size, which has a strong presence but is not too large, will surely match a wide range of fashion styles. Two new colors, mid blue and sage green, have been introduced in response to the passionate requests of “GP lovers.
Girard-Perregaux Featured Model 2
The two L’Oréat watches were launched to commemorate the 160th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Japan. Each dial is indigo in color, and the design is inspired by the colors of Japan. Each was produced in a limited edition of 100 pieces. Be sure to get your hands on one before they become hard to find.
Girard-Perregaux's hottest models 3Quasar Light,
No discussion of Girard-Perregaux would be complete without mentioning the ” Quasar Light,” a 140-year-old patented tourbillon that is still in production. The three arrow-shaped bridges, patented 140 years ago, are still a symbol of Girard-Perregaux. The three bridges and the case are entirely expressed in sapphire crystal style, making this ultimate skeletonized version a true work of art.