SpotlightThe Legacy Lives On: Presenting The Girard-Perregaux Laureato 38mm Copper Diamond Bezel

Born in the 18^th century, Girard-Perregaux are one of the most coveted brands in the Swiss watchmaking industry, known for their timeless designs and precision engineering. Since their inception, the maison have been implementing their haute horlogerie know-how to churn out some outstanding pieces that have become a part of iconic collections such as the Vintage 1945, the Bridges, the 1966 line, or the Laureato—launched in 1975.

Sporty, swanky, timeless, and memorable, the Laureato was launched as a luxury sports timepiece as the segment was witnessing a boom in the horlogerie space. The model featured a raised octagonal bezel and an integrated bracelet—way ahead of its time. Other than these key components, it also had an in-house slim, ultra-precise Swiss quartz movement—in response to the quartz crisis, which had shaken the foundations of the Swiss mechanical watchmaking industry. The name Laureato has an interesting story and according to some theories, the watch got its name at the suggestion of Girard-Perregaux’s Italian distributor, referencing the iconic 1967 film The Graduate starring Dustin Hoffman (known as Il Laureato in Italian). However, the brand has never confirmed or denied this, and today, the Laureato is one of the five signature pillars of the Girard-Perregaux family.

Just like its celebrated ancestors, the Laureato 38mm Copper Diamond Bezel features an octagonal bezel over a circular plinth, albeit with 56 diamonds. They are strategically placed all over the bezel with the larger stones adorning the eight corners and the smaller ones filling the space in between

Over the years, the Laureato collection has undergone several transformations—1984’s mechanical version, crossover with the Three Gold Bridges in the ‘90s, the athleisure pieces of 2017, and the complication models of 2019.  Three years later, the house released the Laureato 38mm Copper with their distinct octagonal bezel, interlinked bracelet, and Clous de Paris motif on the dial. And this year, they have passed on the baton to its successor—the Girard-Perregaux Laureato 38mm Copper Diamond Bezel. Just like its celebrated ancestors, this version features an octagonal bezel over a circular plinth, albeit with 56 diamonds. They are strategically placed all over the bezel with the larger stones adorning the eight corners and the smaller ones filling the space in between. Interestingly, while the precious stones appear colourless at first, they reveal the shades of the electromagnetic spectrum once rotated. The result is a glittering specimen amalgamated with the sophistication of the model’s clean aesthetics.

The copper-hued dial of this mid-size timekeeper is adorned with a Clous de Paris pattern composed of multiple pyramidal structures

Its baton-type hour and minute hands with matching indexes beautifully complement the model. The brand logo is positioned at 12 o’clock, while the date aperture is placed at three o’clock

The copper-hued dial of this mid-size timekeeper is adorned with a Clous de Paris pattern composed of multiple pyramidal structures. Its baton-type hour and minute hands with matching indexes beautifully complement the model. The brand logo is positioned at 12 o’clock, while the date aperture is placed at three o’clock. Furthermore, its 38mm steel case seamlessly blends with the integrated bracelet resulting in a visual treat, while offering a water-resistance of 100m.

It is equipped with the calibre GP03300—a self-winding movement, visible through the caseback. Beating at a frequency of 28,800vph, it boasts a power reserve of at least 46 hours

The 38mm steel case seamlessly blends with the integrated bracelet resulting in a visual treat, while offering a water-resistance of 100m

This iteration is equipped with the calibre GP03300—a self-winding mechanical movement, visible through the exhibition caseback. One can view the main plate with circular graining and other features such as bevelling, mirror-polishing, satin finishing, snailing, sunray finishing, and engraving. The pink-gold oscillating weight is enhanced with circular Cotes de Geneve, while the bridges are adorned with straight Cotes de Geneve decoration. Beating at a frequency of 28,800vph, the watch boasts a power reserve of at least 46 hours, when fully wound.