
1791 to 1852
The origins of Girard-Perregaux can be traced back to this era, when Jean-François Bautte made his first watches.
The primary objective of any company is innovation. To innovate is to be creative, to have the vision and talent to blaze new trails. By adhering to its vocation as a manufactory, Girard-Perregaux is one of the few Swiss watch companies today to conceive and manufacture its own movements. This means it has to meet the constant challenge of achieving an ever higher level of quality and reliability. It is also the surest way of cultivating the exceptional "savoir-faire" that has made Girard-Perregaux one of the most beautiful jewels in the watch industry's crown.
The origins of Girard-Perregaux can be traced back to this era, when Jean-François Bautte made his first watches.
Constant Girard married Marie Perregaux in 1852. Their Tourbillon Girard-Perregaux with three gold bridges was awarded a Gold Medal at the Universal Exposition in Paris.
Girard-Perregaux extended its business as far as America and Asia, earning an international reputation for its watches.
Girard-Perregaux continued its expansion with the launch of iconic timepieces, including the Vintage 1945.
Girard-Perregaux introduced the first high-frequency movement (36,000 vibrations/hour) in the Gyromatic watch.
Girard-Perregaux was one of the first prestige watchmakers to believe in a revival of the traditional mechanical watch.
Innovations came one after the other, not least a revolutionary constant-force escapement, the Constant Escapement L.M.