Girard-Perregaux Laureato Fifty Tourbillon Micro-Rotor 39 mm
The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Fifty Tourbillon Micro-Rotor 39 mm is the latest creation to feature the famous arrow-shaped bridge front of house. The model is offered in a choice of two dial executions: Grand Feu blue enamel or 18K rose gold. The Manufacture GP8410 sits at the heart of this latest Laureato and is the fourth movement to be introduced since Marc Michel-Amadry became Managing Director in February 2025. Angus Davies shares his thoughts on this latest model.
A few years ago, I had a fascinating conversation with a painting conservator working within a museum. In the past, restoration was carried out by craftspeople who were tasked with retouching areas of a canvas. Unfortunately, paint was often applied to undamaged areas of the masterpiece. Termed ‘overpainting’, this remedial work would subsequently discolour and then prove difficult to remove. Today, conservators retouch rare works using fine sable brushes and chemically stable, reversible paints. Most importantly, the retouching is limited just to the areas of damage. Working on such rare and irreplaceable artefacts places a huge responsibility on the conservator. Indeed, when restoring a canvas, the conservator must recognise that they are its temporary custodian.
I would suggest that running a historic watch brand comes with similar responsibilities. A Maison operating within the rarefied heights of Haute Horlogerie can sometimes have a history dating back hundreds of years. Its back catalogue will undoubtedly be extensive and it may have a museum filled with priceless historic pieces enriched with artisanal crafts. Beyond the company’s body of work, including the movements it has made, there are also the patents it holds and the valuable trademarks it owns. Then, there is the matter of human resources – those talented individuals who, having been trained and nurtured over many years, possess rare skills that are difficult to replicate. Finally, there is the cachet of the brand and the desirability of its legendary collections. When leading a prestigious watch company, those entrusted with taking the reins must do so knowing they are the temporary custodian of a highly valuable asset.
Marc Michel-Amadry, Girard-Perregaux
I suspect that when Marc Michel-Amadry was appointed Managing Director of Girard-Perregaux in February 2025, he was fully aware of the responsibilities that came with the position. His job is not just a matter of meeting sales targets or achieving a certain level of profitability – it’s much more than that.
With a rich heritage spanning 235 years, Girard-Perregaux’s history is punctuated with many achievements linked to horological innovation, chronometry, craftsmanship and design. Over the years, the Maison has been led by a series of highly accomplished directors, each successfully maintaining the brand’s notable lustre even when various world events have presented commercial challenges. Since 1791, the Swiss marque has been synonymous with Haute Horlogerie, its patrimony is precious and, once destroyed, would undoubtedly prove impossible to restore.
Since he arrived at Girard-Perregaux, Monsieur Michel-Amadry has overseen the release of several new models along with four new Manufacture movements, primarily centred on two of the brand’s iconic collections, ‘the Bridges’ and the ‘Laureato’.
The Bridges depuis 1867
The story of the Bridges dates back to 1867, when Constant Girard introduced his three arrow-shaped bridges. Once considered merely essential structural components, Monsieur Girard brought the bridges into view, transforming them into architectural elements and thereby heightening aesthetic appeal. The arrow-shaped bridge is considered a signature of the brand, albeit with the passage of time, its profile has evolved.
The Laureato launched in 1975
Girard-Perregaux has always been an innovative brand. For instance, it established an in-house quartz research laboratory in 1966, developing its first quartz movement in 1970. The following year (1971), the Maison unveiled the first watch in the world equipped with a quartz movement. Operating at a frequency of 32,768 Hz, it established a standard that was universally adopted by all manufacturers.
In 1975, having recognised there was a need for an elegant sports watch, Girard-Perregaux released a model with a distinctive octagonal bezel, a Clous de Paris dial and a quartz movement, considered cutting-edge at the time. Initially, the model was called the ‘Quartz Chronometer’, but among the horological cognoscenti it soon acquired an affectionate soubriquet – ‘the Laureato’ – a name inspired by the shape of its distinctive bezel.
Since unveiling the inaugural model, the Laureato has been executed in different materials, presented in an array of sizes and endowed with a variety of complications. Yet, despite the brand releasing numerous variants, all models continue to share the same familial likeness as the first release. A legendary design, beloved by many, the Laureato is a true masterpiece.
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Fifty Tourbillon Micro-Rotor 39 mm – introduction
Earlier this month, Girard-Perregaux released the Laureato Fifty Tourbillon Micro-Rotor 39 mm, a model that, once again, shares a familial likeness with the Quartz Chronometer of 1975. Featuring a tourbillon, this latest Laureato adopts some elements found on members of the Bridges collection. The resultant composition proves wonderfully cohesive and the watch remains, unquestionably, a Laureato. Allow me to elaborate.
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Fifty Tourbillon Micro-Rotor 39 mm – dial
In June 2026, Girard-Perregaux released the Laureato FIFTY, comprising four steel models, including two 39 mm references: an 18K rose gold-toned dial and a ‘deep blue enamel dial over a “Clous de Paris” motif’. Both options are beautiful to behold and were warmly received by industry commentators. With the new Laureato Fifty Tourbillon Micro-Rotor 39 mm, the Manufacture has shrewdly chosen to repeat the same dial executions.
Historically, the Clous de Paris dial has always been one of the defining characteristics of the Laureato. Comprising a surface dressed in small pyramidal structures, it wonderfully toys with light.
The first reference features a dial plate covered in a layer of blue Grand Feu enamel, revealing the Clous de Paris motif beneath. This rare artisanal technique, in this instance practised in-house, involves applying enamel, formed of silica and crushed oxides, to the dial blank. It is then placed in an oven and subjected to temperatures of approximately 800° C. The skill lies in knowing how long to fire the enamel before removing it from the oven. Once it has cooled, the process is repeated several times. The end result is a dial surface that exhibits beautiful depths and a pristine appearance that will never fade with the passage of time.
The second reference is endowed with an 18K solid gold dial and, once again, features a Clous de Paris motif. Unlike the blue enamel option, the 18K solid gold dial is fringed with a brushed minute track.
Beyond the aforementioned differences, the dials share much in common and reveal a level of refinement seldom seen. For instance, the luminescent baton-type hands and indexes are formed of 18K solid gold while, at the base of the dial, the tourbillon is supported with an arrow-shaped bridge formed of white gold (see later). While both dial options are contemporary, they still feature the brand’s historic lyre-shaped cage, a design that first appeared on a pocket watch back in the 19th century.
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Fifty Tourbillon Micro-Rotor 39 mm – case
Measuring 39 mm in diameter with a thickness of 10 mm, the dimensions of the steel case are perfectly aligned with current tastes and will suit the majority of wrists. But the allure of the Laureato extends beyond its size. Indeed, the model has always been a lesson in proportions, different finishes and, most of all, the masterful play with contrasting shapes. The octagonal bezel rests on a circular plinth, set upon a tonneau-shaped case – conferring a distinctive mien that differentiates the model from rival watches – even those with octagonal bezels!
In October 2025, Girard-Perregaux unveiled the inaugural version of the Laureato FIFTY, pairing 3N yellow gold with steel. With this model, several refinements were introduced. These have now been adopted for the Laureato FIFTY Tourbillon Micro-Rotor 39 mm. For instance, the tonneau shape of the case is now more pronounced, everything is more angular and tauter where the watchhead meets the integrated bracelet and the hallowed bezel incorporates new bevels that readily ensnare light. Even the bracelet now includes an ingenious clasp providing up to 4 mm of adjustment to ensure the perfect wrist-fit.
A notable quality of the Laureato has always been the way the watch seductively dances with light. A subtle twist of the wrist and details once asleep in the shadows emerge into the light and sparkle. Girard-Perregaux has achieved this rare quality by juxtaposing contrasting finishes to accentuate angles and lines. For instance, the bezel is circular satin-finished on its upper surfaces, the bevels and plinth are polished, while the upper surface of the case is straight brushed. Each detail is wonderfully considered, painstakingly executed and discrete. Most notably, everything appears cohesive.
Girard-Perregaux Calibre GP8410
As previously stated, Girard-Perregaux has released four new movements in the last 12 months, including the GP4800, the GP9620 (Three Gold Bridges Tourbillon), the GP9530 (Minute Repeater Flying Bridges) and the movement in this new model, the Calibre GP8410.
A Manufacture in the truest sense, Girard-Perregaux has always had the necessary bona fides to create sophisticated calibres. Indeed, to date, it has produced more than 30 in-house calibres and holds more than 80 patents. Held in high esteem by the cognoscenti and recognised for its expertise by many firms within the watch industry, the Manufacture has also supplied movements to several other watch brands over the years.
Concerning the Calibre GP8410, the tourbillon is undoubtedly the headline act. This mechanism, patented in 1801 by Abraham-Louis Breguet, places the escapement and regulating organ within a rotating cage that revolves 360° every 60 seconds. The mechanism counters the adverse influence of gravity on the movement’s rate, thereby enhancing precision. Constant Girard was always fascinated by the tourbillon and, in 1867, he famously presented a pocket watch featuring a tourbillon with three parallel nickel silver bridges at the Paris Universal Exhibition.
The upper tourbillon bridge (dial-side), as stated earlier, is formed of white gold and is presented in the brand’s iconic arrow shape. A close look at this bridge reveals a series of refined finishes, each expertly applied by hand.
To the rear of the watch, a pane of sapphire crystal grants sight of the movement with its two very distinctive, decorative plates adorned with Clous de Paris that repeat the motif gracing the dial.
Girard-Perregaux has also chosen to equip the automatic Calibre GP8410 with a platinum and pink gold micro-rotor. The shape of the pink gold element is inspired by the brand’s signature gold bridge. The benefit of using a micro-rotor is that it sits within a recess, flush with the neighbouring plates, mitigating thickness. Indeed, the Calibre GP8410 has a height of just 6.1 mm, a modest figure considering its complexity.
Closing remarks
This latest model delivers advancement while respecting the iconic, architectural approach of the 1975 classic. Indeed, the signature Laureato elements live on, but have been sensitively refined. For instance, the octagonal bezel incorporates subtle changes, including the addition of bevels and a becoming blend of finishes. The Clous de Paris motif has been retained, but is now executed in either solid gold or presented beneath a layer of lustrous blue enamel. Moreover, the Clous de Paris is no longer restricted to the dial but also adorns the two large plates on the back of the movement.
As if to emphasise the elevated positioning of this model, Girard-Perregaux has chosen to form the hands and indexes from solid gold. Furthermore, the signature gold arrow-shaped bridge, positioned front of house, is imbued with an array of artisanal finishes with no trace of haste, just peerless refinement. The case and bracelet have also been upgraded and now embrace new finishes and incorporate subtle improvements, elevating wearer comfort and augmenting eye-appeal.
Girard-Perregaux is a Manufacture with a long history, punctuated with numerous chronometry prizes, awards and patents, but is also known for its remarkable expertise in creating in-house movements. The new Calibre GP8410 offers the convenience of a regular automatic movement, but courtesy of its micro-rotor, it proves remarkably compact, especially considering its notable complexity.
The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Fifty Tourbillon Micro-Rotor 39 mm dwells in the rarefied heights of Haute Horlogerie where artisanal crafts, mechanical excellence and peerless finishing are the order of the day. The rose gold version is priced at £75,500 and the blue enamel option retails for £79,100 (prices as at 17.9.2026). While these are not inconsequential sums, they represent excellent value when compared with products from rival brands of similar standing.
Since arriving at Girard-Perregaux in February 2025, Marc Michel-Amadry has overseen the creation of some exceptional watches. Based on early impressions, he has shown that he appreciates the value of the brand’s cultural heritage, the talent of its people and the company’s incredible back catalogue. Indeed, Michel-Amadry has proved that he is an able custodian of the brand, a horological treasure that should be preserved for future generations.
Further reading
https://www.girard-perregaux.com/
Technical specification
- Model: Girard-Perregaux Laureato Fifty Tourbillon Micro-Rotor 39 mm
- Case: stainless steel, water resistance 5 ATM (50 metres), sapphire crystal to front, exhibition case back.
- Functions: hours, minutes, central seconds, date (enamel dials don’t have date)
- Movement: Calibre GP8410-2574, self-winding movement, frequency 21,600 vph (3 Hz), 31 jewels, 207 components, power reserve 72 hours
- Strap: steel bracelet fitted with a triple-folding clasp with up to 4 mm of fine adjustment
- Reference & Price: 99116-11-3528-1CM – blue enamel dial – £79,100 (RRP as of 17.9.2026)
- Reference & Price: 99116-11-3615-1CM – 18k rose gold dial – £75,500 (RRP as of 17.9.2026)