It is hard to believe that the Girard-Perregaux Laureato has reached its 50th anniversary. When it first appeared in 1975, the Laureato was not chasing mechanical glory. It was a proud symbol of Swiss precision in the early days of quartz innovation, wrapped in an integrated-bracelet case that made it one of the pioneers of the elegant sports watch genre. Half a century later, the Laureato Fifty limited edition reinterprets that spirit with modern sensibility and mechanical pride.
Only 200 pieces will be made, which feels just right for a watch that honors its own legacy without shouting about it. You could say the Laureato Fifty is both nostalgic and forward-looking—a refined continuation rather than a radical reboot.
The Movement That Redefines the Future
Inside beats the new Calibre GP4800, Girard-Perregaux’s latest in-house automatic movement. It replaces the long-serving GP03300, a caliber that has powered countless GP models and even found homes in watches from other Swiss brands. The GP03300 has aged gracefully, but time moves on, and the GP4800 brings a leap in performance and design.
The GP4800 measures 25.6 mm wide and 4.3 mm thick, which might sound like a technical detail, but it changes everything. It gives the brand more flexibility to build watches in multiple sizes, not just the larger 42mm cases that relied on the GP01800. Despite being more compact, it is full of high-end upgrades: a silicon escapement that resists wear and magnetism, and a variable inertia balance wheel adjusted by four white gold screws for fine-tuned precision.
Operating at 4Hz with 55 hours of power reserve, the movement represents a contemporary balance between performance and practicality. You can admire the skeletonized 18k gold rotor through the sapphire caseback, and if you pay attention, the finishing really does feel more refined than in older Laureato calibers.
A Case That Balances Heritage and Modernity
At 39mm wide and 9.8mm thick, the new Laureato Fifty hits a sweet spot. It wears slightly larger than the numbers suggest, thanks to its angular lugs and integrated bracelet. Even though it looks familiar, every surface has been reworked. The brushing is sharper, the edges more pronounced, and the overall feel on the wrist is distinctly more confident.
The steel and 18k yellow gold combination gives this watch a classic two-tone warmth that recalls the late 1970s Laureato references. Two-tone designs have made a quiet comeback lately, but this one feels especially honest—it does not chase trends but acknowledges its own past with a certain grace. Gold is used sparingly yet meaningfully: on the octagonal bezel, the crown, and the center links of the bracelet. The result is understated sophistication rather than flashiness.
The watch is water-resistant to 150 meters, and the flat sapphire crystal ensures a clean view of the dial while keeping the profile sleek.
A Bracelet Worth Talking About
The bracelet is often the soul of an integrated sports watch, and Girard-Perregaux clearly knew it had to get this part right. The new Laureato bracelet feels more articulate than before, thanks to shorter links that improve the drape and overall comfort. It can now hug the wrist naturally, almost like a piece of fine jewelry rather than a rigid chunk of steel.
Another thoughtful touch: a new butterfly-style deployant clasp that includes a micro-adjustment system. With 2mm incremental adjustments (up to 4mm in total), you can fine-tune the fit on a warm afternoon without reaching for tools. It might seem minor, but if you wear your watches daily, this makes a real difference.
A Dial That Finds Its Balance
Gone is the large “GP” logo that once sat beneath 12 o’clock. Instead, the Laureato Fifty returns to a cleaner double-stick hour marker, restoring symmetry and letting the sunray grey “Clous de Paris” dial take the spotlight. This design choice feels deliberate, a subtle shift toward timelessness rather than branding dominance.
You might be surprised by how different the dial feels compared to previous Laureato models. The finishing is more refined, the contrast between the golden indexes and the grey dial more elegant, and the overall impression more mature. The use of 3N gold-plated pink gold indexes with luminescent inserts adds just the right amount of warmth.
Quartz Roots, Mechanical Confidence
When the first Laureato was launched, it was powered by a chronometer-certified quartz movement—a bold statement at a time when mechanical watches were losing ground to Japanese quartz. The idea was that Switzerland could make high-end quartz watches that were both accurate and beautifully finished. That vision did not quite reshape the market, but it left a unique fingerprint on the Laureato’s DNA.
Fast forward to 2025, and the new Laureato Fifty transforms that same idea of precision into mechanical form. It celebrates craftsmanship rather than convenience, yet you can still sense that quiet pursuit of accuracy that defined the original. After all, history tends to circle back in unexpected ways.
Limited, But Not Just for Collectors
Limited editions can sometimes feel like marketing exercises, but not here. The Laureato Fifty feels like the natural evolution of a model that has always lived between two worlds—the sporty and the elegant, the technical and the emotional. Priced at $28,320 USD, it is not an entry point into the brand, but it sets the tone for what future Laureato models will become.
Girard-Perregaux has said it will gradually phase out the older GP03300-based Laureatos as it ramps up production of the GP4800. That means the Laureato Fifty is not just a commemorative edition; it is a signpost for the next generation.
Final Thoughts: Familiar, Yet Refreshingly New
After spending some time with the Laureato Fifty, it is hard not to admire how well Girard-Perregaux managed the transition. The watch feels instantly recognizable yet tangibly improved. The proportions are better, the bracelet more fluid, the movement more sophisticated.
It does not try to be a Royal Oak rival anymore—it has learned to stand on its own, with quiet confidence and decades of design maturity behind it. And perhaps that is the most fitting way to celebrate a 50th anniversary: not by reinventing yourself, but by becoming more yourself than ever.