Debuting in 1975, Girard-Perregaux’s original Laureato arrived in the decade of the steel sports watch, landing three years after Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak and one year before both Patek Philippe’s Nautilus and IWC’s Ingenieur. A piece of horological trivia: the watch took its name from the Italian translation of The Graduate, Dustin Hoffman’s seminal 1967 coming-of-age film.

In 2016, Girard-Perregaux reintroduced the Laureato in a limited-edition run to celebrate its 225th anniversary. While the original watch housed an industry-leading quartz movement, the modern version was equipped with an in-house mechanical calibre, visible through a sapphire crystal case-back. A year later, the Laureato became a permanent collection, delivered in four sizes (34mm, 38mm, 42mm and 45mm) before being bolstered by a range of chronograph models in 2018.

This year, Girard-Perregaux launched the Laureato Absolute, the most athletic and exciting manifestation of the sporty timepiece yet. The Laureato Absolute introduces a new case size, 44mm, which, thanks to a PVD-treated titanium construction, wears incredibly lightly on the wrist. Three models – a time-and-date, chronograph and world-timer – make up the all-black, electric-blue-dial collection. Water resistance has been upped to 300 metres, pushers made more angular and power reserves maintained at a minimum of 46 hours.

With origins dating back to 1791, Girard-Perregaux is one of the oldest and most revered brands in mechanical watchmaking. Its current name was established in 1856 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, with the marriage of Constant Girard and Marie Perregaux. Discover more about the brand at Wempe’s New Bond Street Boutique now.