Girard-Perregaux’s new generation of Laureato watches represents something rare in luxury horology: a brand willing to evolve an icon without erasing it. The Swiss manufacturer is reimagining its Laureato in new sizes and colours, breathing contemporary life into a design that has defined integrated-bracelet sports watches since 1975. This is not a nostalgic reissue. It is a calculated refresh that respects heritage while acknowledging what modern collectors actually want.
Key Takeaways
- Girard-Perregaux is refreshing the Laureato with revised proportions and modern colourways, keeping the 1975 design DNA intact.
- The Laureato FIFTY combines steel and 3N yellow gold in a 39 mm case with a sunray grey dial and Clous de Paris pattern.
- Related limited editions include skeleton and chronograph variants, some using exotic materials like black ceramic and titanium.
- The new generation bridges heritage design with current collector interest through limited production runs and collaborations.
- Pricing for related Laureato variants ranges from approximately £12,200 to £46,200, reflecting the model’s positioning as a luxury sports watch.
Why Girard-Perregaux Chose to Update the Laureato Now
The Laureato has spent nearly five decades as one of watchmaking’s most recognizable integrated-bracelet designs, but recognition alone does not guarantee relevance. Collectors today expect watches that bridge vintage aesthetics with contemporary manufacturing and proportions. Girard-Perregaux’s decision to refresh rather than replace the line suggests confidence in the design’s fundamental appeal while acknowledging that sizing and material choices matter enormously to modern buyers.
The brand is using the new generation of Laureato watches to bridge heritage design and current collector interest, particularly through limited editions and strategic collaborations. This approach avoids the trap of either over-nostalgic retro-ism or radical departure that alienates existing fans. Instead, it positions the Laureato as a living design that can accommodate both purists and those seeking modern refinement.
What the New Generation of Laureato Watches Delivers
The updated lineup shows Girard-Perregaux thinking carefully about material and colour. The Laureato FIFTY, for instance, combines steel and 3N yellow gold in a 39 mm case measuring just 9.8 mm thick, paired with a sunray grey dial featuring a Clous de Paris pattern. The date window sits at 3 o’clock, a double-arrow counterweight adorns the seconds hand, and the bezel alternates satin and polished finishes for visual depth. It is powered by the new Calibre GP4800 automatic movement and limited to 200 pieces.
Beyond the FIFTY, Girard-Perregaux has expanded the Laureato family with variants that push creative boundaries. The Laureato Skeleton Aston Martin Edition uses black ceramic and the GP01800 calibre, limited to 88 pieces. A separate Laureato Chronograph Aston Martin Edition features a 42 mm Grade 5 titanium case with an iridescent green dial created using automotive paint—a process requiring 14 manufacturing steps and 15 ultrathin layers. The Laureato Absolute Aston Martin adds a 44 mm titanium case with 300 m water resistance and a rubber strap, also limited to 88 pieces.
How the New Generation of Laureato Watches Compares to Its Predecessors
The original 1975 Laureato established the integrated-bracelet sports watch template that competitors have chased for decades. What distinguishes the new generation is not a departure from that formula but a refinement of execution. Modern manufacturing tolerances, improved movement finishing, and material innovations like titanium and ceramic allow Girard-Perregaux to deliver proportions and finishes that honour the original without copying it slavishly.
The pricing strategy reveals the brand’s confidence. Related Laureato models range from approximately £12,200 for the Absolute Aston Martin to £46,200 for the Skeleton Aston Martin Edition. These figures position the new generation of Laureato watches firmly in the luxury sports watch category, competing against brands that have built entire collections around integrated-bracelet designs. Yet Girard-Perregaux’s heritage and limited production runs—200 pieces for the FIFTY, 88 pieces for collaboration editions—create scarcity that justifies the positioning.
Should You Pursue the New Generation of Laureato Watches?
If you value design continuity, manufacturing excellence, and the prestige of owning a watch with genuine historical significance, the new generation of Laureato watches merits serious consideration. These are not trend-chasing pieces. They are expressions of a design language that has endured because it works—and because Girard-Perregaux has resisted the urge to reinvent it into irrelevance.
The catch is availability. Limited editions disappear quickly, and the brand’s collaborations with Aston Martin suggest that future releases may follow similar scarcity models. Patience and direct contact with authorized dealers will likely be necessary for collectors seeking specific variants.
What sizes does the new generation of Laureato watches come in?
The Laureato FIFTY features a 39 mm case, while collaboration models vary—the Chronograph Aston Martin Edition is 42 mm, and the Absolute Aston Martin reaches 44 mm. This range acknowledges that modern collectors have diverse wrist preferences, moving away from the one-size-fits-all approach of earlier generations.
Are the new Laureato watches limited edition?
Yes. The Laureato FIFTY is limited to 200 pieces, while Aston Martin collaboration editions are restricted to 88 pieces each. Limited production is central to Girard-Perregaux’s strategy for maintaining desirability and justifying luxury positioning.
What movements power the new generation of Laureato watches?
The Laureato FIFTY uses the new Calibre GP4800 automatic movement. Collaboration editions feature the GP01800 (Skeleton Aston Martin) and GP03300 (Chronograph Aston Martin) calibres. These movements underscore the brand’s commitment to in-house manufacturing and finishing quality.
The new generation of Laureato watches prove that heritage and innovation need not be enemies. By respecting the 1975 design while updating proportions, materials, and finishing, Girard-Perregaux has created a collection that appeals to both purists and those seeking contemporary refinement. For collectors willing to invest in scarcity and craftsmanship, these watches represent a compelling entry point into one of watchmaking’s most storied design lineages.
Where to Buy
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Edited by the All Things Geek team.
Source: T3
