Why The Girard Perregaux Laureato is Becoming a “Hyped” watch
Girard-Perregaux is a watch brand that has long been overshadowed by other watch brands. Girard-Perregaux certainly checks the boxes of being a luxury watch brand, even an Haute Horlogerie brand. After all, the company itself states “Swiss Haute Horlogerie since 1791”. It’s a company with a long and rich history, and it is one that put utmost importance on the art of watchmaking and creating fine timepieces.
Still, Girard Perregaux has struggled to break through amongst the general public for the last couple of decades and it is only in the last couple of decades that more and more people have started to discover the amazing watches that Girard-Perregaux has to offer. In this article, we will focus specifically on one Girard-Perregaux model, namely the Laureato.
Because whilst GP is an old brand that has been around for a long time, we can say, in one way, that the big breakthrough of GP, at least amongst the public, has only happened in the last decade. And that is thanks to the Laureato.
Why the Girard-Perregaux Laureato is an important watch
Design-wise, the Laureato shares a lot of similarities in terms of design with the Patek Philippe Nautilus and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak – two of the most iconic and recognized timepieces ever created. Both were designed by the legendary watch designer Gerald Genta.
Because of its similarity with these two models, the Laureato sometimes receives criticism from people that it is a “copy” of these models, or that it is a “wannabee Royal Oak” or “wannabee Nautilus”.
But those who say that don’t know the entire backstory and history of the Laureato. So to understand the Laureato, we need to go back to its beginnings.
History of the Girard-Perregaux Laureato
In 1975, Girard Perregaux released the first Laureato. As such, it became one of the first luxury steel sports watches, at a time when the Swiss watch market was struggling due to the introduction of quartz watches. Some Swiss watch brands moved to quartz, and other brands, like Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and, Girard-Perregaux, moved towards making even more luxurious and distinct timepieces. This was done to further distinguish the Swiss watches from the cheap and mass-produced quartz watches that started to flood the market.
The GP Laureato was named after the 1970s film “Il Laureato”, translated to The Graduate. Upon its release, the Laureato was a huge feat and an important step for GP, just like the Nautilus was for Patek, and the Royal Oak was for AP.
The Laureato followed the exact same ethos which was to be a luxury sports watch, not with an emphasis on functionality or as a tool watch. But rather to have an extremely high level of finish and to represent Haute Horlogerie and the beautiful creations that fine Swiss craftsmanship was capable of. At the time of its release, it was something completely different from what most people had ever seen. People were used to seeing Haute Horlogerie timepieces in the form of elegant dress watches. But the Laureato became at the forefront of reshaping people’s perception of this idea.
Now, the Laureato is sometimes accused of being a copy of the two other iconic luxury sports watches. But to end this perception once and for all, let’s look at the timeline of these three:
- 1971: Audemars Piguet releases the Royal Oak
- 1975: Girard-Perregaux releases the Laureato
- 1976: Patek Philippe releases the Nautilus
As you can see, the Laureato actually came before the iconic Nautilus. So with that in mind, how can it possibly be a copy of it? All of these three watches share similarities in terms of design because they reflect the new way of thinking at the time. They reflect the direction that the Swiss watchmakers felt that they needed to go in to tackle the threat and challenges of the quartz crisis.
So with all of this said, the Girard-Perregaux Laureato actually has a long and rich history. Much longer than most people believe. The people who tend to criticize the Laureato have not grasped the full backstory of the Laureato and just how rich the history of this model is.
Therefore, the GP Laureato certainly doesn’t deserve to be called a “copy”. Nor does it deserve to be called a “poor man’s Nautilus. The Laureato is strong enough to stand on its own legs, and it has the history and prestige to back it up.
Instead, you could actually say that Giard-Perregaux with its Laureato was a forerunner and an inspiration for other luxury Swiss watch brands that followed. And if you see it from that perspective, it certainly gives some context to the historical importance of the model, doesn’t it?
Both the Royal Oak and the Nautilus were designed by the legendary designer Gerald Genta. And considering their similarities, it’s easy to believe that he was responsible for the design of the Laureato as well. However, that is not the case.
The Laureato was actually designed by the Italian architect Adolfo Natalini. Just like the other two timepieces, it was designed, most importantly, with an integrated bracelet. It also needed a distinctive and iconic feature that would make the watch stand out and become instantly recognizable. This came in the form of a raised octagonal bezel that was different from both the Nautilus and the Royal Oak – and from anything else on the market for that matter. The bezel of the Laureato upon its release was unique. Overall, its design was distinctive, and whilst similar to the two others in some ways, it was certainly unique enough to be praised and recognized.
upon its launch in 1975, the GP Laureato became a huge success. Over time, the Laureato would become one of Girard-Perregaux’s most iconic models, synonymous with the brand. An important aspect of a successful watch is a design that is timeless. And considering the fact that it is still in production some 40 years after it was released speaks volumes. Although, the model has been updated and revised many times throughout its history, just like its competitors.
Upon releasing the Laureato, Girard-Perregaux was also able to achieve a great feat, which was to release a Swiss ultra-precise quartz movement with exceptional accuracy and at the same time, remarkable thinness.
Girard-Perregaux is a Haute Horologerie brand
Girard-Perregaux is a brand that is often overshadowed by big industry giants like Patek Philippe, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and others. But it certainly deserves to be recognized as an Haute horology brand that makes amazing timepieces with utmost attention to craftsmanship and finish.
Girard-Perregaux, nor the Laureato are mass-produced. For comparison, let’s look at the total production numbers of the top brands:
- Audemars Piguet: 40.000 timepieces per year
- Patek Philippe: 60.000 timepieces per year
- Girard-Perregaux: 12,0000 timepieces per year
- Vacheron Constantin: 20,000 timepieces per year
As you can see, Girard-Perregaux makes considerably fewer timepieces than any of the top luxury watch brands. As such, they’re technically much more exclusive than all of the others. Then you also need to factor in that the majority of the watches that Girard-Perregaux makes are not Laureato watches, and the same goes for Patek with the Nautilus.
Many watch brands say that they cannot substantially increase production without compromising quality. And that is particularly true for ultra-premium, fine timepieces. Making a Girard-Perregaux watch is not something that you do in just a few minutes. Since Girard-Perregaux focuses on fine watchmaking, many steps of the manufacturing process are done entirely by hand and this is something that would take time to scale up. Moreover, many brands feel that they don’t want to scale up their production to keep the exclusivity of their timepieces.
The Laureato is more affordable than both the Nautilus and the Royal Oak, but once you get an opportunity to study the Laureato in detail, you’ll be able to see that it is by no means a cheap or affordable watch. Every single detail of the Laureato has been carefully thought-out, from the bevels and tapering of the bracelet to the accurate, slim, and beautifully-decorated caliber, to the stunning dial with mesmerizing details. This is an Haute horology watch, and it can be discovered in every single detail of the watch. The level of detail that has gone into the watch clearly speaks for itself.
The relaunch of the Laureato
The Laureato has been an underdog, overshadowed by other luxury sports watches for a long time throughout its history. Despite its quality, finish, and rich history.
But in 2016, Girard-Perregaux took an important step to change that. The company did so by releasing a revised collection of the Laureato series on the 225th anniversary of the company.
Girard-Perregaux released the reference 81000 which was designed with inspiration from the original Laureato, but as a modern interpretation with a larger size of 42mm and a revised design. Moreover, the model was updated with a “Clous de Paris” hobnail pattern. Last but not least, Girard-Perregaux updated the model with a new, redesigned bracelet that combines form and function and blends in perfectly with the watch design, whilst still offering the wearer a great deal of comfort. Last but not least, GP equipped the model with its in-house caliber 3000.
2019 saw the most important upgrade to the Laureato collection and is the single most important point, apart from its release, that would help put the Laureato back on the map. This update was necessary to allow the model to compete with the big industry giant and prove that the Laureato was indeed worthy of being at the top with the others.
The 2019 release was a bolder interpretation of the Laureato which helped make it relevant to the times and appeal to the current market. GP also presented a new in-house caliber, the GP4500 which was improved with a longer power reserve and a longer power reserve. Girard-Perregaux now had a contemporary model that checked all the boxes and was revised enough to be able to compete with all the others.
The importance and history of the Girard-Perregaux Laureato discovered
It seems as if it is only in the last decade or so that more and more people have started to discover the true essence of the GP Laureato, what it is about, and its long and rich history. People are discovering that the Laureato is not just a copy or an imitation of a Royal Oak or a Nautilus. It is its very own model, and a forerunner in the luxury sports watch segment. It is one of the earliest luxury steel sports watches and has been a driving force since its release.
In creating an iconic legend, history will always play an important role. And it’s certainly safe to say that the Laureato ticks all the boxes in doing so. Its history combined with the fact that it is an Haute horology watch with a stunning movement, great finish, and a distinct, iconic design, truly makes it a recipe for success. One could ask themselves how the Laureato didn’t become more popular earlier on.
Why the Laureato is getting more and more recognition
In recent years, the popularity and demand for the Laureato have increased dramatically. There are many factors that come into play here, but ultimately, the single most important factor is that more people have discovered what the Laureato is about. Its rich history, and its true beauty. It’s easy to discard the Laureato as a “copy” upon first look without any context, but if you look closer, both at the watch itself and the rich history behind it, you’ll be able to discover the true beauty of this timepiece. From the fine mechanical movement which is praised by watch enthusiasts around the world to the stunning attention to detail and beautifully finished case and dial.
Another driving factor in the popularity of the Laureato is the great scarcity of the Royal Oak and the Nautilus. Both of these watches have become near impossible to find, with waiting lists that are many years long, and most of the watches being sold are allocated to premium VIP customers. When people can’t get their hands on any of these, they start to look for alternatives. And in doing so, they will likely discover the Laureato. And the more they dig into the history, the story behind it, and the historical importance of this model, the more intrigued they will get.
In recent years, the Laureato has gotten more and more scarce from official retailers as well, and it seems to be going in the same direction as the Royal Oak and Nautilus in terms of availability. From more and more retailers, we are hearing that they now have waiting lists for the most popular Laureato models. And even if they don’t have a waiting list, it’s not certain that they can just order the watch you want and have it immediately ready for you.
Ultimately, this has to do with the low production numbers from Girard-Perregaux. Technically, the Laureato only needs to be about a third as popular and requested as the Nautilus and you will have the same availability issues and scarcity. Girard-Perregaux’s low production ensures that the Laureato remains exclusive and special, which is what any owner would want when they own an Haute horology timepiece. However, this also means that if the popularity and demand for the Laureato continue, we’ll have long waiting lists for this model.
The popularity of the Laureato can be summarized in a few key points:
- The model has a long and rich history
- The Laureato is one of the first luxury sports watches and even came before the Nautilus
- The Laureato has exceptional quality and finish made to an Haute Horology standard
- Girard-Perregaux was founded in 1791 and is, therefore, one of the oldest Swiss watchmakers
- Girard-Perregaux has a low total production, making the Laureato even more rare and special than the Royal Oak and Nautilus
- The Laureato has a versatile yet striking design that appeals to a lot of people
- The Laureato has proven to be a timeless design
- Because the Laureato is an underdog, it is a great alternative for people who want something that is “under the radar” that doesn’t stand out and instantly catches people’s attention as the Nautilus and Royal Oak do.
