Girard Perregaux Sea Hawk Date 1960s

Girard-Perregaux is one of the oldest and most prestigious Swiss watch manufactures with an impressive history dating back to 1791. Here are some special aspects of the company’s history:

#1 Early Foundation (1791)
Jean-François Bautte founded a watch manufacture in Geneva, which later merged with that of Constant Girard-Perregaux. Girard-Perregaux itself was officially established in 1856.

#2 Pioneer of Haute Horlogerie
The company was known early on for its innovative strength. One of the greatest milestones was the development of the legendary tourbillon with three gold bridges (1867), which remains a trademark of Girard-Perregaux to this day.

#3 Influence on the Wristwatch
In 1880, Girard-Perregaux received an order from the German Navy to produce wristwatches for officers – one of the first industrial productions of wristwatches ever.

#4 Technological Innovations
In the 1960s, Girard-Perregaux was a leader in the development of quartz technology. In 1970, the brand presented the first quartz movement with 32,768 Hz, a frequency that is now the standard for quartz watches worldwide.

#5 Exclusive and Limited Models
Girard-Perregaux remains one of the few true watch manufactures today that produce almost all components themselves. Their models, such as the Laureato collection or the Bridges Tourbillon, are highly sought after by collectors.

#6 Independence and Tradition
Despite belonging to the Kering Group (until 2022), the brand has preserved its independence and traditional craftsmanship.

Girard-Perregaux stands for exclusive craftsmanship, technical innovation, and a deep-rooted history in watchmaking.