THE LAUREATO THREE GOLD BRIDGES: GIRARD-PERREGAUX'S ANNIVERSARY STATEMENT

Girard-Perregaux marks the 50th anniversary of its Laureato collection with a watch that unites two of the manufacture's most significant design achievements. The Laureato Three Gold Bridges combines the architectural transparency of the Three Bridges, first introduced in 1867, with the octagonal case geometry of the Laureato, launched in 1975. Limited to 50 pieces, this release demonstrates how historical signatures can evolve whilst maintaining their essential character.

A Confluence of Two Design Philosophies

The Three Bridges remains one of watchmaking's oldest continuously produced design signatures. When Constant Girard conceived the arrow-shaped bridge configuration in 1867, he established a principle that distinguished Girard-Perregaux's approach: rather than adapting existing movements for display, the manufacture designed the architecture itself as an integral aesthetic element. This philosophy rejected the convention of concealing mechanical components behind opaque dials, instead celebrating the movement's structure as part of the watch's visual identity.

The Laureato, introduced in 1975, represents another significant milestone in the manufacture's design heritage. Its octagonal bezel, circular ring, and tonneau-shaped case create a geometric interplay that has remained distinctive for five decades. Crucially, the Laureato was developed entirely in-house, from initial concept through final execution, establishing it as a fully integrated expression of Girard-Perregaux's design capabilities.

Technical Architecture

At the heart of this watch sits the new Calibre GP9620, a purpose-built automatic tourbillon movement designed specifically for this application. The movement measures 32mm in diameter and 6.90mm in height, operating at 21,600 vibrations per hour (3Hz) with a minimum power reserve of 55 hours. The calibre comprises 303 components and 33 jewels, with each movement personally signed by the master watchmaker responsible for its assembly.

The three open-worked bridges, manufactured in white gold, define both the visual and structural framework of the movement. The upper bridge secures the mainspring barrel, with the platinum micro-rotor positioned ingeniously beneath it. The central bridge supports the gear train and motion works, whilst the lower bridge anchors the tourbillon cage. This vertical alignment of barrel, gear train, and tourbillon along a single axis represents a notable technical achievement, balancing mechanical efficiency with visual coherence.

The tourbillon cage itself is crafted in titanium using Girard-Perregaux's characteristic lyre-shaped design. This geometry combines structural rigidity with minimal mass, addressing gravitational effects on rate stability. A small seconds hand mounted on the tourbillon carriage enhances both functionality and visual rhythm.

Finishing Standards

The movement finishing reveals 418 hand-polished angles, of which 362 are inward angles. These internal corners represent some of the most demanding work in movement decoration, requiring sustained concentration and precise control to achieve the mirror-polished surfaces that characterise haute horlogerie finishing. The bridges display a combination of sandblasted, circular, and straight satin surfaces, creating textural variation that emphasises the movement's three-dimensional architecture.

The arrow-shaped terminations of the three bridges demonstrate particular finishing refinement. These sharp, mirror-polished edges require hours of meticulous hand work to achieve the crisp definition that catches and reflects light from multiple angles.

Case and Bracelet Evolution

The 41mm case introduces refinements to the Laureato's established geometry. At 10.85mm thick (11.25mm for the diamond-set version), the case maintains wearability despite housing a tourbillon complication. The white gold octagonal bezel features a newly defined polished bevel contrasting with circular satin finishing, creating dynamic light play that unifies the octagon and circle, the two primary geometric elements of the Laureato design.

The integrated steel bracelet flows seamlessly from the case, with domed links adding visual movement and depth. The triple folding clasp incorporates octagonal pushers and includes a tool-free fine-adjustment system allowing up to 4mm of extension, addressing practical wearability without compromising aesthetic continuity.

Dial Configuration

Rather than employing a traditional dial, the watch reveals its complete mechanical architecture. Suspended white gold hour markers float above the movement, treated with luminescent material that emits blue light in low-light conditions. The baton-shaped hands, also in white gold with blue luminescent coating, move across this technical landscape guided by a minute track affixed to the inner case, maintaining legibility without obscuring the skeletonised layout.

A small arrow-shaped plate in white gold, positioned at the movement's base, bears the initials of the master watchmaker responsible for assembly and finishing, acknowledging the individual craftsmanship behind each piece.

Limited to 50

The Laureato Three Gold Bridges reference 99112-58-3576-1CM is limited to 50 pieces, with each example engraved "ONE OF 50". A diamond-set version featuring 32 baguette-cut diamonds (approximately 3.2 carats) set within the white gold bezel is available without limitation.

This watch represents a studied convergence of two design legacies, demonstrating how historical signatures can inform contemporary watchmaking whilst maintaining technical and aesthetic rigour.