The Triple Bridges holds a special place in the history of Girard-Perregaux, as does the tourbillon. In 1867, a watch with three bridges and one tourbillon won a prize for chronometry at Neuchâtel Observatory, and the distinctive design became a de facto logo for the brand. The striking design of the triple arrow-headed bridges is undeniably pleasing, but its origins weren’t aesthetic. Constant Girard conceived this design as a method of ensuring the tourbillon was as accurate as possible. From its initial appearance in 1867, the design evolved, and was patented (with the US Patent Office) in 1884. In 1889, the watchmaker unveiled Esmeralda, a tour de force pocket watch with three golden bridges, a tourbillon and a pivoted detent escapement. This was at the Paris Universal Exhibition, where it won the gold medal and became forever enshrined in the canon of Girard-Perregaux’s watchmaking. In the subsequent 100-odd years, GP has made many more tourbillons with triple bridges, holding true to a design that is undeniably classic but still remarkably relevant, as you can see from this well-sized 40mm version in pink gold. Girard-Perregaux has smartly pared back everything else, aside from the titular bridges and tourbillon. Nothing detracts the… Read More
EDITOR’S PICK: This Laureato is the reason why you should always bet on black
Editor’s note: What is it about an all-black watch that really gets the heart racing? I mean, it’s a neutral colour, like white, silver, or grey, yet just by adding a heavy dose of toner, an entire watch can be transformed. Case (and dial, and strap) in point, the black ceramic Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm. A luxury sports watch made, well, sportier. Since its surprise reveal a little over a year ago, the Laureato has become an increasingly significant player in the luxury sports category, thanks to its crowd-pleasing good looks and impressive mechanics. SIHH 2018 showed us that the Laureato is an increasingly important part of GP’s lineup too, as handsome new chronograph variants dominated their latest batch novelties. But I was particularly taken by this black ceramic-on-rubber offering. Announced late last year, to me this Laureato really lives up to its sporty pedigree, thanks to its hard-wearing 42mm lightweight ceramic construction and rubber strap. Now, typically I’d advocate for the bracelet variant, especially on a integrated case style like this, but here I think the rubber really works. It makes the Laureato far more casual, and really wearer-friendly, and better honours the casual spirit of the design. While the bracelet… Read More
INTRODUCING: Bridging time – the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Tourbillon
The release of Girard-Perregaux’s Laureato collection has been anything but a slow burn. Beginning in 2016 with a limited-edition tribute to the 1975 original, the La Chaux-de-Fonds based manufacturer wasted no time in expanding their offerings. And in 2017 they released a fully-fledged collection of three-handed sports watches. This year, we not only see sporty chronographs and a selection of wonderfully open-worked dials added to the mix but also a tourbillon in an all-titanium body. For students of watch history, the tourbillon forms an integral part of Girard-Perregaux’s identity. Ever since the centuries-old watchmaker won gold for the legendary La Esmeralda pocket watch – a tourbillon with three gold bridges – at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1889. Playing a starring role in GP’s latest Laureato is a tourbillon comprised of 81 parts and weighing just 0.44 grams, held in place at 6 o’clock by a titanium arrow-shaped bridge – a motif that has straddled GP’s dials for more than 150 years, while its recognisable octagonal bezel and integrated 43mm case and bracelet are also crafted in lightweight titanium. And the proprietary GP 09510-0003 automatic movement inside brings the hands of the blue “Clous de Paris” dial to life, with… Read More
LIST: 3 perfect Girard-Perregaux Laureatos for 3 types of Australians
Earlier this week, Girard-Perregaux presented their latest and greatest in Sydney. Sadly, Melbourne-based team Time+Tide was not able to attend, but we managed the next best thing — a chat to GP’s man of the moment, Global Marketing and Communications Director, Fabrice Dangeli. Now, Mr Dangeli is a well-travelled man of the world, so rather than ask him the particulars of his new products, we thought we’d pose him a little exercise … Now that the Laureato line encompasses everything from time-only to tourbillons, we thought we’d see if he could pick the right Laureato for three distinct types (or is that stereotypes?) of Australians. And yes, we know one of the watches isn’t a Laureato … yet. The sporty sun-and-surf-loving Australian “For this type of Australian, the person who loves nature and the outdoors and the beach, it has to be the 42mm steel Laureato, on a steel bracelet, with a blue dial — the watch I’m wearing right now actually.” The cultured, urban Australian “Ah, for me it has to be our new Laureato Chronograph, with the panda-style dial in grey and black. This watch you can wear anywhere, at the gym or with a suit —… Read More
HANDS-ON: Stay golden – the Girard-Perregaux Classic Bridges
One of Girard-Perregaux’s leitmotifs is the golden bridge. Typically deployed in a trio, the golden bridges — with their broad, arrow-headed shoulders and pleasing, perfectly aligned symmetry — have been holding the brand’s wheels and balances in place since 1860. The golden bridges first showed up in a wristwatch in 1981, and these days it serves as a de facto logo. Girard-Perregaux has also been playing with tradition, with their modernist neo-bridges watches and this new, more accessible model, the Classic Bridges, which sees two bridges take pride of place on the dial; the smaller of the two looking after a balance wheel instead of the loftier tourbillon. That’s not to say that the Classic Bridges isn’t an impressive piece — this 40mm version (there’s also a suitably more epic 45mm option) is pure flex, with a large, no-nonsense pink gold case, and exceptionally finished, partially openworked dial. The satin polished steel components provide a nice contrast to those bridges and the broad, brushed hour and minute hands (there’s no seconds hand). The combination of contrast and power is compelling enough, but for me it’s the balance of the in-house movement that takes the Classic Bridges to the next level. The bridges are… Read More
HANDS-ON: The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph
Let’s be real here. Ever since we saw the new Laureato last year, we knew the chronograph version was inevitable. After all, what’s a luxury sports watch without the option of the default sports complication? There’s no doubt that this good-looking sporty option is the brand’s commercial focus, so it makes sense that a veritable bevy of chronograph models was released at SIHH 2018. Offered in 38 or 42mm, in steel or pink gold, strap or bracelet, and a range of dials (including a real cool black with blue registers option), there might not quite be something for everyone, but you’re certainly spoiled for choice. I opted to look at what is perhaps the safest/most classic of the combos: 42mm, steel, blue dial on bracelet. Honestly, it’s a winning combination right out of the gate, but it’s the details that make it. Let’s kick off with the dial, the hobnail texture is familiar and looks good. There’s contrast thanks to the circular grain on the chrono registers, as well as the brighter blue hands and indices, which really go full-on electric in the right light. I’m sure the date at four will grind the gears of some reading this, but… Read More
HANDS-ON: Sportier, stealthier – the Girard-Perregaux Laureato in black ceramic
Since its surprise reveal a little over a year ago, the Laureato has become an increasingly significant player in the luxury sports category, thanks to its crowd-pleasing good looks and impressive mechanics. SIHH 2018 showed us that the Laureato is an increasingly important part of GP’s lineup too, as handsome new chronograph variants dominated their latest batch novelties. But I was particularly taken by this black ceramic-on-rubber offering. Announced late last year, to me this Laureato really lives up to its sporty pedigree, thanks to its hard-wearing 42mm lightweight ceramic construction and rubber strap. Now, typically I’d advocate for the bracelet variant, especially on a integrated case style like this, but here I think the rubber really works. It makes the Laureato far more casual, and really wearer-friendly, and better honours the casual spirit of the design. While the bracelet versions of this watch (whatever the material), look quite work-ready, this Laureato really needs to be worn with short sleeves, preferably on a teak deck somewhere unseasonably warm. And with its 100m of water resistance, super-hard case and general air of masculine charm, this watch is more than up for whatever adventure you might have planned. This watch proves that… Read More
VIDEO: 4 standout Girard-Perregaux watches from SIHH 2018
It’s clear that Girard-Perregaux have decided they’re onto a winner with their sporty-yet-luxurious Laureato, as new versions of the model dominated the brand’s SIHH 2018 line-up. Laureato Chronograph The piece I gravitated towards was the Laureato Chronograph, a modular upgrade to the regular automatic; the familiar Clous de Paris texture of the dial joined by three snailed subdials, while the case — in both 38 and 42mm options — has grown some crown guards and octagonal screw-down pushers that are actually easy to screw down. A real joy to use, and it doesn’t look too bad on the wrist either. Laureato Ceramic While we saw ceramic versions of the Laureato this year, the rubber strap is a small, but significant, addition. It adds even more to the ceramic case’s feeling of lightness, and accentuates the watch’s sporty character. And the range of finishings on the black ceramic case isn’t just beautiful — it’s a testament to GP’s skill. Laureato Flying Tourbillon If the Ceramic Laureato is stealthy, this Flying Tourbillon is a standout. Shown only in precious metals, the dial is seriously photogenic, thanks to its dramatic architecture and finishing. The constantly whirring, slightly off-centre tourbillon is the undisputed star…. Read More
