Swiss watchmaking maison Girard-Perregaux ushered in the 50th anniversary of its emblematic Laureato with a Manila unveiling that blended quiet glamor with horological gravitas. The event marked not just the arrival of a commemorative timepiece, but the continuation of a design lineage that has shaped the modern luxury sports watch.

To understand the significance of the Laureato FIFTY, the story returns to 1975, when Girard-Perregaux (GP) launched the original Laureato. At a time when the industry was recalibrating and quartz was transforming watchmaking, GP introduced its first integrated-bracelet sports watch—and equipped it not with mechanical tradition but with its own quartz chronometer.

Arriving before the Patek Philippe Nautilus (1976) and the Vacheron Constantin 222 (1977), the Laureato was ahead of the conversation the industry would soon be having. Its architecture—octagonal bezel on a circular plinth, tonneau case, and integrated bracelet—was the work of GP’s in-house designers, reflecting a restrained, modernist confidence rather than trend-chasing.

That ethos carries into the Laureato FIFTY, a limited run of 200 pieces worldwide and a refined homage to the 1975 original. Sized at 39mm and just 9.8mm thick, it captures the proportions that defined early two-tone Laureato models while introducing sharper lines, updated geometry, and contemporary ergonomics. The pairing of stainless steel and 3N yellow gold recalls the maison’s past, but the execution is distinctly modern—precise bevels, seamless transitions, and flatter sapphire crystals on both sides.

The octagonal bezel is one of the FIFTY’s most striking details, alternating between polished and satin finishes that shift subtly with movement. Its case maintains a robust 150-meter water resistance, allowing the watch to function as a true sports-luxury piece without compromising elegance.

On the dial, Girard-Perregaux maintains classical Laureato codes: a deep sunray grey surface overlaid with Clous de Paris hobnail guilloché, gold-tone hands and indexes, and the signature GP double-arrow counterweight on the seconds hand. A color-matched date disc completes the composition with a quiet cohesiveness appreciated by seasoned collectors.

The integrated bracelet—an essential element of the Laureato identity—features tapered steel-and-gold links refined for fluidity and comfort. Slightly shortened “H” links improve articulation, while the hidden fine-adjustment mechanism offers up to 4mm of on-the-go expansion, a practical detail for varying wrist conditions.

Through the exhibition caseback, the new calibre GP4800 reveals Girard-Perregaux’s latest automatic development. Slim and efficient, the movement incorporates a silicon escapement and variable inertia balance, underscoring the maison’s forward-looking engineering. As the first three-hand-and-date calibre whose architecture draws inspiration from the iconic Three Gold Bridges, it features 10 different finishing techniques across its components—bridging the house’s heritage with its contemporary craftsmanship.

Five decades after its introduction, the Laureato remains one of the rare luxury sports watches to evolve without losing its architectural clarity. With the Laureato FIFTY, Girard-Perregaux presents a modern interpretation rooted in authenticity and precision—an anniversary tribute defined not by nostalgia, but by continuity of design and purpose.