Girard-Perregaux Laureato: A Forgotten Gem from the 1970s Rediscovered

In the world of integrated bracelet sports watches, the Patek Philippe Nautilus and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak have long been the stars. However, one model from the same era has remained unfairly overlooked: the Girard-Perregaux Laureato.

Launched in 1975, the Laureato was exceptional not only in its design but also in its groundbreaking technology. It featured a world-first high-frequency quartz movement that was independently designed and developed at the Girard-Perregaux factory. This movement earned numerous prizes for its timekeeping accuracy, earning the watch the nickname "Quartz Chronometer" before the "Laureato" moniker stuck.

Now, to mark the Laureato's 50th anniversary, Girard-Perregaux has released a special edition in a steel and yellow gold bimetal configuration. Powering this anniversary model is the all-new GP4800 caliber, a compact and highly-engineered automatic movement featuring a silicon escapement and a variable inertia balance wheel for exceptional precision.

The Laureato's design legacy also lives on, with the 1970s-inspired aesthetic complemented by modern touches like the skeletonized balance bridge and the incorporation of Girard-Perregaux's signature "three gold bridges" architecture. Just 200 examples of this special Laureato Fifty will be available worldwide, offering collectors a chance to own a piece of horological history.