Girard-Perregaux Laureato: 5 Generations Overview

crown comfort · 2017-12-28T02:18:00Z

Explore the 5 generations of the Girard-Perregaux Laureato, from its 1975 quartz origins to modern iterations. Understand its design evolution and unique identity.

crown comfort

WPS member · Girard Perregaux forum

28 replies8816 views9 photos

Crown comfort provides a comprehensive historical overview of the Girard-Perregaux Laureato, tracing its evolution through five distinct generations. This article is invaluable for understanding the Laureato's unique identity and its place in the lineage of luxury sport-chic watches, offering a detailed look at how the design has been reinterpreted over decades.

28 collectors discussing this on the WatchProSite forumJoin the Conversation →

Friends,

I had promised this a while ago to make a post of all Laureato generations. Especially, when we post the current collection Laureato, we often get the response that this is a "bad copy" of a Royal Oak, Overseas or Nautilus.

No arguments, the Royal Oak was the first bracelet sport chic watch in 1972, but the GP Laureato does date back to 1975 and has been in the collection since then with small interruptions.

We can count today 5 distinct generations of Laureatos and here they are in one shot from oldest (left) to the current (right).

So let's start with Generation 1 from 1975.

Released with a Quartz movement which was quite logical if you consider that GP pioneered the modern Swiss Quartz watch in 1972 and it allowed for a thin movement. Generation 1 was time-only with date and came in 3 different sizes. The largest (men's) was 35mm and already had the octagonal bezel shape. I think Generation 1 shows its own character much more and is quite different from the original Royal Oak at that time. Generation 1 also had the Clous de Paris dial pattern.

Generation 2 from the 80s

Generation 2 I do not have in my collection and it is probably the least interesting for me. Most had bicolour cases as it was fashion at the time and they still had Quartz movements (here with a see-through case back). The interesting part of Gen 2 is that they had perpetual calendar models with Zodiac display. The PC was a mechanical module on top of the Quartz movement.

Generation 3 from the early 90s

Generation 3 was a stroke of genius. With the Macaluso family taking over GP, the Laureato was resurrected but very close again to Generation 1, but this time with an in-house automatic very thin caliber (3100). With 36mm only slightly larger then the first generation, but wonderful dials and a very coherent design. Now the integrated bracelet had polished cushion links.

In addition, for the first time, in 1996, GP also released a Limited Edition of Laureato Chronographs under the Olimpico label (the last Olimpico).

Here is my white dial Olimpico 8017, Gen 3 Laureato.

Moving on to Generation 4 dubbed the Evo3.

Hmm, should it not have been called the Evo4? I suspect that Generation 2 was neglected and the Evo3 was seen as the third Laureato iteration while in fact it was the 4th. Evo3 came in many shapes and complications, the most complicated being the 3 bridge sapphire Tourbillon and a Perpetual Calendar Chronograph. Here is my Evo3 Chronograph:

I also really like the large date, moon phase Evo3, one I'm still hunting. Interestingly, Evo3 was not available as a time-only version except for a very limited Anniversary edition with Quartz movement.

Finally, we come to Generation 5 which started with the 225th Anniversary and Limited Edition of 2x 225. Here is a blue version:

Generation 5 went back to closely match Generation 3, with the Clous de Paris dials and the time-only plus date. The integrated bracelet has been rejuvenated and the size grew to 41mm.

Following the success of the Limited Editions, GP released a whole line of Laureatos with many different sizes, metals, complications and I think we will see even more at the upcoming SIHH.

However, the most classic remains the (now) 42mm Clous de Paris blue dial with time only.

Hope you enjoyed the little journey through the Laureato history.

Best,

About the Girard-Perregaux Ref. 8017

The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Olimpico reference 8017 represents a chronograph variant within the Laureato collection, produced around 1996. This reference is distinguished by its integrated bracelet design and the inclusion of chronograph functionality, setting it apart from time-only Laureato models of the era. It was offered in various material and dial configurations, indicating a strategic expansion of the Laureato line to include more complex offerings for collectors. The Olimpico designation often refers to specific limited editions or special production runs.

This particular reference 8017 features a 40 mm case, available in configurations such as steel and rose gold, or full steel. The movement is an automatic chronograph caliber, providing reliable timekeeping and stopwatch functions. The crystal is typically sapphire, ensuring durability and scratch resistance. Dial colors observed include tobacco grey and Yves-Klein blue, each contributing to the distinct aesthetic of the individual variants within this reference.

For collectors, the Laureato Olimpico reference 8017 is notable for its limited production numbers, particularly for certain variants. The steel and rose gold version with a tobacco grey dial, for instance, is noted to have been produced in very small quantities, approximately 10 pieces. The full steel version with an Yves-Klein blue dial saw a slightly larger, though still limited, production run. These factors contribute to its appeal among those seeking less common examples of neo-vintage chronographs from a respected manufacturer.

Specifications

Caliber: GP 2280

Case: Steel, Steel and Rose Gold

Diameter: 40 mm

Dial: Tobacco Grey, Yves-Klein Blue

Water Resist.: 50 m

Crystal: Sapphire

Key Points from the Discussion

The naming of the 4th generation as 'Evo3' likely refers to it being the third evolution of the original 1975 Laureato, rather than the fourth chronological generation, suggesting Generation 2 might be considered an outlier in the design lineage.
The first generation Laureato, despite its quartz movement, is highly appealing to some collectors due to its 35mm case size and distinctive bracelet, which offers a unique vintage charm.
The author highlights a specific Generation 3 Laureato, the Olimpico 8017 chronograph with a white dial, as a personal favorite and a 'king' among Laureatos, acknowledging the sapphire bridge tourbillon as an ultimate, albeit unattainable, piece.
A fellow collector shares a wristshot of their 42mm fifth-generation Laureato, showcasing its modern presence.
For those finding the larger 41mm or 42mm Laureato models too big, the current collection offers a 38mm version, which can provide a better fit depending on wrist proportions.
The author notes that finding a first-generation Laureato in good condition and all-steel is particularly challenging.
The discussion reinforces the value of shared knowledge in the collector community, especially for distinguishing historical facts from commercial narratives regarding watch lineage.

The Discussion

Tifosi99

Dec 28, 2017

Thank you for the original post. Love your Gen 3 white olimpico.. [nt]

crown comfort

Dec 28, 2017

Thanks Tifosi. Yes, the 8017 Olimpico I treasure a lot, too. [nt]

Baron - Mr Red

Dec 28, 2017

Great post...CC.....

.....i love the delineation of the history in the way you have shown it. Always good to see how something has evolved.

crown comfort