A Timepiece That Will Be Passed Down Forever #07: Girard-Perregaux "Laureato Fifty"

Girard-Perregaux is a pioneer of the "manufacture" concept, a vertically integrated production system that has become firmly established in the watch industry today. Founded in 1791, the long-established company continues to weave tradition and innovation at the forefront of the watch industry. Looking back at its long history of over 230 years, numerous masterpieces come to mind, but the highlight of 2025 will be the Laureato Fifty, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

Half a century after its creation, the crystallization of watchmaking technology and design sense continues to grow in appeal.

　In fact, the very first Laureato, launched in 1975, could be said to be a symbol of Girard-Perregaux's visionary spirit and innovation, which continues to this day. With its distinctive octagonal bezel, the tonneau-shaped case on which it was based, an integrated bracelet, and an in-house developed quartz movement, it was undoubtedly a groundbreaking model at the time. While quartz watches have become commonplace today, they represented cutting-edge technology at the time the Laureato was born. The current international standard for quartz movements, with a vibration frequency of 32,768 Hz, was established by Girard-Perregaux in 1971. Packaging this cutting-edge technology in the form of what we would now call a "luxury sports watch," which was also cutting-edge in design at the time, made the entire watch a mass of innovation.

　It's been 50 years since its birth. Exactly half a century later, the Laureato has returned to its roots while also undergoing further evolution, revealing its full potential. The latest model, the Laureato Fifty, which was just announced on October 7th, has two main highlights: its design and its movement. While its exterior is clad in a combination of yellow gold and stainless steel, reminiscent of the original model, its greatest draw is the in-house developed movement, the caliber GP4800.

　Perhaps inspired by the original model, which was equipped with a quartz movement and was small in size in keeping with the times, the Laureato Fifty achieves a compact size in line with current trends, with a diameter of 39mm and a thickness of 9.8mm. The combination of stainless steel and yellow gold used for the exterior does not simply replicate the design of the original model. The chamfered edges of the tonneau-shaped case, which forms the base for the eye-catching octagonal bezel, have been revised to be more acute. In addition, the octagonal bezel, which was fully polished on the original model, has been changed to a satin and polished finish, resulting in a more three-dimensional effect, sharper definition, and a greater sense of unity in the integrated design of the bezel, case, and bracelet.

　The Laureato is now classified as a luxury sports watch, and one of its distinctive features is the bracelet that is integrated with the case. The refined "new Laureato" retains the two-tone design of the original, but adopts tapered H-shaped links that gradually become thinner toward the buckle, and by shortening each link, the bracelet feels more integrated as a whole, and the smooth curves that the thin links give the bracelet also improve the fit on the wrist.

　In addition, the polished yellow gold center links are curved at the top, giving them a slightly higher profile than the flat, brushed steel links. The effect of this subtle design and the contrast between the brushed and polished finishes gives the bracelet a sense of volume, despite the shortness of each link, elevating the Laureato Fifty to an unforgettable presence at a glance.

　Meanwhile, the new caliber GP4800 will serve as the new flagship caliber following the GP3300, which has built a solid reputation for the Maison over many years. Capitalizing on the strengths of the new development, the watch is endowed with performance and reliability befitting modern times, thanks to features such as a double-supported variable inertia balance wheel that eliminates the regulator and the introduction of a silicon escapement. The movement design, in keeping with the Maison's iconic "Three Bridges" design, combines aesthetic appeal with durability, with the entire movement supported by three large bridges.

　The new Laureato has a new heart. With its throbbing pulse, the Laureato has solidified its presence half a century after its birth and has gained a raison d'être that should be passed on to the future.