Girard-Perregaux

The watch brand Girard- Perregaux is one of the oldest Swiss watch manufacturers, based in La Chaux -de-Fonds in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland.

History

In 1850, the young watchmaker Constant Girard - Othenin opened his watch shop. After he had married in 1854 Mary, the sister of the chronometer -maker Henri Perregaux, the company was renamed in 1856 in Girard -Perregaux. The company was oriented from the outset to produce comparatively precise chronometer. Between 1866 and 1876 it won several prizes at the place by the Observatory in Neuchatel chronometer contests. Of particular note here are the pocket chronometer with 3- bridge work and Tourbillon, for which Girard -Perregaux in 1867 and in 1889 was awarded the Gold Medal for outstanding achievements in the field of precision at the World Exhibition in Paris. On order of the German Navy made ​​Girard- Perregaux already in 1880 some 2,000 copies of a wristwatch, which is regarded as one of the first major contract work this young business.

In 1906, Girard- Perregaux bought under the direction of Louis -Constant Girard- Gallet based watchmaker Bautte and Moynier, which had been founded in 1791 by Jean Francois Bautte, and led from then on in the company's history, the year 1791 as the founding year. During the economic crisis acquired Otto Graef, the owner of the Manufacture Internationale de Montres d' Or ( MIMO), the makers of the first wristwatch with a slide rule, in 1929 a majority stake in the company following the insolvency of Girard- Perregaux in the previous year. In 1969 Girard- Perregaux to the stock market.

Other milestones in the company's history, the 1957 introduced automatic wristwatch with Gyromatic plant and 1966 the production of the first mechanical high-frequency work, the Chronometer HF, whose balance with 36,000 semi-oscillations ( amplitudes) worked per hour and 1966, the profit century Award for chronometry of the Observatory in Neuchâtel. In 1970, the first industrially manufactured quartz watch Switzerland was presented by Girard- Perregaux. The default of 32.768 Hz for quartz movements then set by Girard- Perregaux is still regarded in the industry. 1978 held the smallest quartz movement in the world. As the heirs of Otto Graef remained without issue, the company was sold in 1979 at the trading house Desco von Schulthess.

In 1988, Girard- Perregaux was sold to its managing director Francis Besson in conjunction with some banks. After GP had for almost 20 years only produced quartz watches, the company is the production of mechanical watches resumed in 1989. 1991 a museum was opened on the occasion of the 200th anniversary. 1992 bought the former racing driver Luigi Macaluso as the owner of Sowind Group the company. In June 2008 Kering first took over 23% of the shares in Sowind Group, 2011 then 50.1 %.

Girard -Perregaux supplies other watch brands with calibers, including Audemars Piguet, Gucci and his own daughter company Daniel Jean Richard.

Series

  • Vintage collection
  • Classique collection
  • Laureato
  • GP 7000
  • Richeville
  • Vintage 1945
  • Hawk / Sea Hawk
  • WW.TC Worldtimer
Types of business entity La Chaux-de-Fonds Manufacture d'horlogerie Chronometer watch Chronicle
266253
de