thought I already knew Girard-Perregaux”, Marc-Michel Amaury confided when we met in Geneva. “But what I discovered in the Manufacture exceeded my expectations. I’m not just talking about heritage, but also about the capacity for innovation and expertise in Haute Horlogerie – and I think that’s the feeling we need to share outside our walls.”

After eight years at Richemont, where he notably served as Chief Commercial Officer of IWC, this Fine Watchmaking enthusiast and man of culture (who is also a novelist) took the reins of Girard-Perregaux in February. This is a special year for the Manufacture founded in 1791, as 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of what has become its absolute emblem, riding the wave of sporty-chic watchmaking: the Laureato.

The new Girard-Perregaux Laureato Three Gold Bridges: when the historical Manufacture combines two of its iconic models. Two 41 mm versions are available, a 50-piece limited edition with an octagonal white gold bezel; as well as a non-limited version on which the octagonal bezel is set with 32 baguette-cut diamonds.

The new CEO, himself born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, likes to use one word to describe Girard-Perregaux: “integrity”. Here, he outlines the vision for a brand that appeals to those who are more interested in substance than status.

Europa Star: You took over as CEO of Girard-Perregaux last February. What convinced you to join this Maison?

Marc Michel-Amadry: It’s a project that is deeply meaningful to me. It’s a company born in La Chaux-de-Fonds, imbued with a refinement that has always touched me. I still remember that for my 40th birthday, the only watch I bought myself was a Girard-Perregaux. Today, it is a privilege to be able to contribute to writing a new chapter in its history. It is also a story of personal connection, as I have known Patrick Pruniaux [CEO of Sowind Group] for a long time – and when this opportunity arose, it seemed an obvious choice.

The Laureato Three Gold Bridges is equipped with new in-house Calibre GP9620 featuring sandblasted, circular and straight satin-brushed surfaces, along with no fewer than 418 hand-polished angles, including 362 interior angles.

When you arrived, what did you identify as the brand’s strengths and weaknesses?

Collectors all say the same thing: Girard-Perregaux is one of the great Haute Horlogerie maisons, yet it often remains discreet. I have never met a watch enthusiast who has anything negative to say about it! It’s a brand that inspires exceptional love and goodwill. It has always done things differently, driven by innovation, as well as demonstrating consistency and sincerity.

My role is therefore not to “reposition” Girard-Perregaux, but to reveal its true value, to recall the facts, to express its profound identity with the utmost integrity. A watch’s value does not stem from the sum of marketing budgets, but from the perfect combination of a movement, a design, the uncompromising work of our watchmakers and an authentic message

Calibre GP4800 powering the Laureato FIFTY is a compact movement measuring 25.60 mm (11 ½’’’) in diameter and 4.28 mm thick. It is notably equipped with a silicon escapement, a variable-inertia balance and a stop-second function.

You refer to in-depth work on the brand’s narrative. What does this involve?

Obviously, what we are looking to do is to showcase our history without resorting to any form of artifice. In a way, Girard-Perregaux is laying itself bare: we want to show the richness of our history spanning more than 234 years. When Jean-François Bautte opened his workshop in Geneva in 1791 – before reaching the age of 20 – it marked the start of the “integrated Manufacture” that continues to this day, with more than 30 active calibres and 80 patents in our portfolio. We will indeed soon be opening a new boutique less than 500 metres from where it all began! This geographical continuity is symbolic of the invisible thread that connects us to our origins.

Since 1791, Girard-Perregaux has been creating its own movements and throughout its long history, the Manufacture has also served as a supplier to more than 20 renowned watch brands. Whether for our own use or for others, the “integrated

To mark the 50th anniversary of the iconic Laureato, Girard-Perregaux unveiled the Laureato FIFTY, a 39 mm-diameter 200-piece limited edition powered by new in-house Calibre GP4800.

You mentioned this capital of goodwill, this integrity, which is reflected in the groundwork that has been laid. But isn’t it necessary to be “disruptive”, even to sometimes bang your fist on the table, in order to exist in the world of Fine Watchmaking today?

I don’t believe in disruption for disruption’s sake, just to make noise. Sure, Girard-Perregaux can also be polarising: if you buy a watch for status, this is not the right brand for you. Our customers are connoisseurs, sensitive to finishing and uncompromising Haute Horlogerie expertise. Quiet luxury is exactly our language. Girard-Perregaux is not ostentatious, but self-assured.

What are your strategic priorities for the brand?

To fully embody the codes of very high-end watchmaking and its exacting standards. We have nothing to envy the big names; we belong in that league. Our strategy is to reveal what we are already doing, placing the movement at the heart: the new GP4800 (September) and GP9620 (launched today) calibres. Others will follow, including grand complications next year. This is the start of a journey that puts the movement back at the heart of our identity.

Like a mechanical sculpture, the Laureato Three Gold Bridges is built around three openworked white gold bridges forming its visual and functional backbone. The upper bridge secures the barrel beneath which the platinum micro-rotor is ingeniously positioned; the central bridge supports the gear train and mechanism; while the lower bridge anchors the tourbillon.

How does this translate into recent new releases?

Take the Laureato FIFTY. It is a distillation of everything Girard-Perregaux does best: precision, architecture, aesthetics, integrity. Not forgetting the Laureato Three Gold Bridges in white gold, which embodies our vision of watchmaking architecture focused on the expression of beauty!

Today, it is sometimes difficult to classify Girard-Perregaux: is it one of the great historical maisons or part of the new independent scene?

Both! We are a historical company founded on integrity and expertise, yet with a freedom of expression similar to that of independent brands. I love this tension between heritage and modernity. Our role is to give new meaning to our history. Girard-Perregaux does need to be reinvented, simply to be revealed.