Girard-Perregaux

Who are Girard-Perregaux?

Girard-Perregaux is a Swiss watchmaker based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, which traces its roots to a Geneva workshop opened in 1791 and takes its name from Constant Girard and his wife, Marie Perregaux. It belongs to Sowind Group, which also owns Ulysse Nardin and has been owned by its management since Kering sold it in 2022. This page covers its history, collections and ownership, then what to check when buying a pre-owned Girard-Perregaux in the UK.

Girard-Perregaux is known above all for the Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges, a design it first presented in 1867 and patented in the United States in 1884, and for the Laureato sports watch of 1975 (Girard-Perregaux). It also played a part in the history of quartz: Wikipedia credits it with a 1971 quartz watch running at 32,768 Hz, the frequency most quartz watches still use.

The history of Girard-Perregaux

Girard-Perregaux’s history runs from a Geneva workshop in 1791 to an independent La Chaux-de-Fonds manufacture. The key dates are Jean-François Bautte (1791), the Girard-Perregaux name (1856), the Three Bridges tourbillon (1867 to 1889), the quartz work of 1971, the Laureato (1975), Luigi Macaluso’s Sowind Group (1992), Kering ownership (2011) and the sale to management in 2022.

Two origins. The company dates itself to 1791, when the watchmaker and goldsmith Jean-François Bautte opened his own company in Geneva (Girard-Perregaux). Constant Girard founded Girard & Cie in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1852, married Marie Perregaux in 1854, and the Girard-Perregaux manufacture was founded in 1856 (Wikipedia). The two lines joined in 1906, when Constant Girard-Gallet, who had taken over from his father, bought the Bautte house and merged it with Girard-Perregaux & Cie (Wikipedia). Sources differ on when Constant Girard started his own business: Wikipedia says 1852, while a search summary of Girard-Perregaux’s own “the house” page gives 1847.

The Three Bridges. Girard-Perregaux says its first Three Bridges chronometer tourbillon was presented at the Neuchâtel Observatory and the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1867. Constant Girard patented the refined three-bridge design in the United States in 1884, and in 1889 La Esmeralda, a pocket watch with three gold bridges, won a gold medal at the Paris Exposition Universelle (Girard-Perregaux). Wikipedia’s account starts the story with the 1884 patent application, so the 1867 date comes from the company itself.

High frequency and quartz. Girard-Perregaux developed a high-frequency mechanical movement in 1965, which won a prize at the Neuchâtel Observatory’s centenary in 1966 (Girard-Perregaux). Wikipedia names it the Gyromatic HF, at 36,000 vibrations an hour. The company presented its first quartz wristwatch in 1970, and in 1971 a second quartz watch running at 32,768 Hz, which Wikipedia says remains the standard frequency for quartz watches.

The Laureato. The first Laureato, with an octagonal bezel and an integrated bracelet, appeared in 1975 (Girard-Perregaux; Wikipedia). Girard-Perregaux counts five generations, in 1975, 1984, 1995, 2003 and 2017 (Girard-Perregaux). Wikipedia says the 1995 version used the GP3100 automatic movement and that the Laureato became a full collection in 2017.

Macaluso and Sowind. Luigi Macaluso became Girard-Perregaux’s agent in Italy in 1987, joined its board in 1989 and took over the presidency of the Sowind Group on 15 September 1992 (Wikipedia, Luigi Macaluso). Sowind brought together Girard-Perregaux, the movement maker GP Manufacture and JeanRichard (Wikipedia, Luigi Macaluso). Wikipedia’s Girard-Perregaux article dates the brand’s entry into Sowind to the 1980s, earlier than Macaluso’s presidency. Macaluso died in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 2010 (Wikipedia, Luigi Macaluso).

Kering and after. In June 2008 PPR, as Kering was then called, bought 23% of Sowind, with Macaluso keeping control (Europa Star). In July 2011 Kering raised its holding to 50.1% (Wikipedia, Sowind Group). In 2013 the Constant Escapement L.M. entered production and won the Aiguille d’Or, the top prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (Girard-Perregaux). In January 2022 Kering agreed to sell its entire stake in Sowind to the group’s management, with the sale expected to complete in mid-2022 (aBlogtoWatch; Watchonista).

What is Girard-Perregaux known for?

Girard-Perregaux is known for the Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges, for the Laureato sports watch of 1975, for early work on high-frequency and quartz movements, and for the Constant Escapement of 2013. It makes movements in-house at La Chaux-de-Fonds. The details below are each sourced.

The three bridges. The Three Bridges design arranges the movement under three bridges; on the 1889 La Esmeralda they were made of gold (Girard-Perregaux). Girard-Perregaux made a Three Bridges wristwatch in 1994, and in 2025 put the design into a Laureato, the Laureato Three Gold Bridges (Girard-Perregaux).

The quartz frequency. Wikipedia credits Girard-Perregaux’s 1971 quartz watch with setting 32,768 Hz as the frequency that became universal for quartz watches. Our guide to mechanical and quartz watches explains how the two differ.

Movements. Sowind’s manufacture develops and produces Girard-Perregaux’s high-end movements (Wikipedia, Sowind Group). SJX reports that Girard-Perregaux and Ulysse Nardin share some departments, while others are exclusive to each brand, and that the calibre 4800, with a 60-hour power reserve and silicon escapement, is made entirely in-house for Girard-Perregaux. Our guide to in-house and outsourced movements explains why buyers ask about this.

The Constant Escapement. Girard-Perregaux showed constant-force escapement prototypes in 2008 and the first watch with it in 2013 (Wikipedia). It won the Aiguille d’Or at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève that year (Girard-Perregaux).

Which Girard-Perregaux collections are there?

Girard-Perregaux’s current collections, as listed on its own site, are the Laureato, the Bridges, the 1966, the Vintage 1945, the Cat’s Eye and the Grand Complications. The collections table gives a one-line description of each.

A few points help when you are reading listings:

• Laureato generations. Girard-Perregaux counts five generations of Laureato, from 1975 to 2017 (Girard-Perregaux). A 1990s Laureato and a current one are different watches with different movements, so check the year and reference.
• Bridges. “Bridges” covers several watches built around the three-bridge layout, from tourbillons to more recent designs (Girard-Perregaux). Ask for the exact model name.
• Retired names. The Olimpico, introduced in 1968, was discontinued in 1996, and the WW.TC world-time watch dates from 2000 (Wikipedia; Girard-Perregaux). JeanRichard, a former Sowind brand, is now defunct (aBlogtoWatch).

Who owns Girard-Perregaux?

Girard-Perregaux is owned by Sowind Group SA, a Swiss holding company in La Chaux-de-Fonds that also owns Ulysse Nardin. Kering sold its entire stake in Sowind to the group’s management in 2022. Marc Michel-Amadry has been Girard-Perregaux’s managing director since early 2025.

Kering had held a controlling stake in Girard-Perregaux since 2011 and in Ulysse Nardin since 2014 (aBlogtoWatch). When the sale was announced on 24 January 2022, Watchonista reported that Sowind’s board included Kering’s managing director Jean-François Palus and Patrick Pruniaux, then chief executive of both Girard-Perregaux and Ulysse Nardin. Financial terms were not disclosed (aBlogtoWatch). Wikipedia lists Pruniaux as Sowind’s key person. Girard-Perregaux’s own site describes it as “an independent manufacture” (Girard-Perregaux).

The current shareholders of Sowind Group are not named in the sources we could reach. Michel-Amadry was previously chief commercial officer of IWC and head of Sotheby’s Switzerland (SJX). We found no UK company for Girard-Perregaux on Companies House.

Buying a pre-owned Girard-Perregaux in the UK: what to check

Check that the serial number matches the warranty certificate, which Laureato generation or Bridges model you are looking at, and that the watch is not recorded as stolen. Then decide what guarantee you need: Girard-Perregaux’s own, or the seller’s.

1. Papers and the full set. Ask which papers come with the watch and whether they are originals. Our guide to what “full set” means explains what each item proves.

2. Model and generation. The Laureato has five generations and several movements (Girard-Perregaux; Wikipedia). Check that the reference, movement and year match the papers.

3. Authenticity. Fakes can come with forged papers. Buy from a seller who will put authenticity in writing and accept returns, and have the watch checked by a watchmaker you choose. Our guide on how to spot a fake watch covers what a watchmaker looks at.

4. Stolen-watch check. Before you pay, check the serial number against a stolen-watch register and ask the seller to confirm the watch is not reported lost or stolen. Our stolen-watch check guide lists the UK registers.

5. Warranty and servicing. Girard-Perregaux’s site offers a warranty extension service but does not state the terms (Girard-Perregaux). Ask who last serviced the watch. See watch warranties explained.

6. Who you buy from. There are three main routes:

Source: Girard-Perregaux, girard-perregaux.com (checked 29 October 2026).

For how independent dealers compare with appointed retailers, read grey market versus authorised dealer.

For the full process from setting a budget to collecting the watch, see the guide to buying a luxury watch.

Frequently asked questions

When was Girard-Perregaux founded?

The company dates itself to 1791, when Jean-François Bautte opened his workshop in Geneva (Girard-Perregaux). The Girard-Perregaux name dates from 1856 (Wikipedia).

Where is Girard-Perregaux based?

In La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland (Wikipedia).

Who owns Girard-Perregaux?

Sowind Group SA, which also owns Ulysse Nardin. Kering sold its entire stake in Sowind to the group’s management in 2022 (aBlogtoWatch).

Is Girard-Perregaux still part of Kering?

No. Kering held a controlling stake from 2011 and agreed to sell it in January 2022 (aBlogtoWatch).

What is the Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges?

Girard-Perregaux’s signature tourbillon design, first presented in 1867 and patented in the United States in 1884. La Esmeralda, a pocket watch with three gold bridges, won a gold medal in Paris in 1889 (Girard-Perregaux).

When was the Laureato introduced?

In 1975. It has since had four more generations, the latest in 2017 (Girard-Perregaux).

Did Girard-Perregaux invent the quartz watch frequency?

Wikipedia credits its 1971 quartz watch with running at 32,768 Hz, which became the standard for quartz watches.

Does Girard-Perregaux make its own movements?

Yes. Sowind’s manufacture develops and produces its movements, and the calibre 4800 is made in-house exclusively for Girard-Perregaux (Wikipedia, Sowind Group; SJX).

What is the connection between Girard-Perregaux and Ulysse Nardin?

Both belong to Sowind Group and share some departments at a common facility (SJX).

This page is general information. Watch60 is independent and has no commercial relationship with Girard-Perregaux or Sowind Group.

We check the facts on this page against the sources listed, and it is correct to the best of our knowledge as of October 2026. Brands change their warranty, servicing and sales terms, so confirm them with the brand or the seller before you buy.