Girard Perregaux

Both Girard-Perregaux and Daniel JeanRichard are part of the Sowind Swiss based group of companies.

The original founder of this brand name was the talented watchmaker and goldsmith Jean-Francois Bautte in the year of 1701. This young Swiss man - founded his company at the tender age of 19 - made a name quickly for himself with the ultra thin composition of his watches, which at that time caused a sensation throughout Europe. Even Queen Victoria of England visited his factory in Geneva, and chose a model from Girard-Perregaux. One of the ancestors of the legendary watchmaker, Constant Girard gave after his marriage to Marie Perregaux his name, which the company still carries today. The reputation of the watch company grew and grew, in the years of 1867 and 1889 models from Girard-Perregaux won gold medals at the World Exhibition in Paris; the watches on show in 1901 were not awarded any prizes, because in the eyes of the jury they were just too perfect. At the end of the 19th century Girard Perregaux one of the first manufactures of wristwatches, received an order for the first model of watch from the German Emperor Kaiser Wilhem I for 2,000 watches for his army. Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin also had faith in the measurement of time by Girard-Perregaux, this caught the attention of the German Otto Graef, watchmaker and owner of the brand name MIMO. He acquired the majority of the shares from Girard Perregaux. In 1992 the company was bought by the Italian businessman, architect and onetime racing driver Luigi Macaluso. Under his leadership the company signed a contract for a range of watches with the carmaker Ferrari. A museum was set up in the Villa Marguerite in 1998, which illustrates the moving history of this brand name.

Girard-Perregaux is sponser of the BMW-Oracle Teams at the world's most exclusive sailing regatta, the America's Cup.

Notable and sought after watch models from Girard Perregaux: Haute Horlogerie (Tourbillon, Three Gold Bridges), Vintage 1945, Richeville (Tonneau), Classique Elegance, Sport Classique (Sea Hawk II, Laureato), Collection Lady (Baguette, Cat's Eye), BMW-Oracle Racing.