Girard-Perregaux
Geared with Patents and Complications

Girard-Perregaux is named after its husband and wife founders, Constant Girard and Marie Perregaux, in 1856. They have been creating wristwatches that are way ahead of their time.

For example, they created the first balance that reduced the seconds into tenths and also the first mechanical high-frequency (36,000 vph) movement known as Gyromatic h.F. 1661 caliber in 1957.

Even during the beginning of the quartz era, GP was never disrupted at all and instead they produced large scale of Swiss quartz movement with an oscillation frequency of 32,768 hz that set the industry’s standard.

In 1992, Girard-Perregaux was beginning to face problems from the tight competition and its minority shareholder, Dr Luigi “Gino” Macaluso, bought over the company.

They began to equip themselves with the brand’s own movement from design to construction to production engineering. Now they are never stopping in producing newer generations of calibers and movements like the newer 3000 series calibers and 1900 calibers.

With a joint agreement with Ferrari to co-brand the Ferrari brand, the company created the famous “pour Ferrari” collections since 1993. Some of these amazing Ferrari timepieces are:

Pour Ferrari S.F. Foudroyante
Pour Ferrari "F1 World Champion"
Pour Ferrari 330/P4

One of their greatest creations since 1991 was the Tourbillon with three gold Bridges. Besides its beautifully skeletonized design, its movement and three bridge tourbillon escapement has mesmerized many collectors.

Every detailing on the watch is exquisitely crafted including its engravings on the brass plate and its two transparent sapphire crystals.

This art was further transferred into their other collection, the Vintage 1945. They have the Vintage 1945 Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges. This range was designed to give the 1940s nostalgic feel. Some of the other collections in this line are:

Vintage 1945 Tourbillon Magistral
Vintage 1945 Chronographe A Rattrapante Foudroyante
Vintage 1945 Date and Small Second
Vintage 1945 Grand

The other nostalgia inspired range is the Classique Elegance line which was meant to be focused on the 1970s dress watches. This collection was designed to meet the needs of travelers and so its functions include chronographs and Dual GMT, as well as alarms.

Check out Classique Elegance WW.TC and Classique Elegance Traveller II.

Another elegantly designed collection is the Richeville which uses a tonneau-shaped case with geometrically curved sides. The Richeville Tonneau Gent’s Automatic Chronograph and the Richeville Tonneau Chronograph are examples of great looking mens watches from this line.

Girard-Perregaux has one of the most sophisticated musical alarm watches under the Opera range which is Opera Two and Opera Three.