They say that one can tell a person's status by the watch he or she wears. One of the most prestigious manufacturers of sophisticated timepieces is the company, Girard Perregaux. They are also one of the most enduring in the field, originally trading from 1791 with the G-P name coming later.

The watchmaker and goldsmith, Jean-Francois Bautte made his first watches as a young man in Geneva. His carefully crafted inventions were revolutionary in design and he was commissioned by courts across Europe. The name of Girard Perregaux came about in 1854 when the watchmaker Constant Girard and Marie Perregaux were married. They took the company forward and became well known for their luxury watches, all very attractive and with the latest mechanisms.

The most famous product was the 'Tourbillon Under Three Gold Bridges', a watch that took the industry by storm in 1889 and received a gold medal at an important exhibition in Paris. It was another personal triumph for Constant Girard, having already introduced the idea of wearing a watch on the wrist eight years earlier.

The company does not like to buy in materials like other companies do and they make most of the mechanisms contained within the timepieces themselves. The reputation for elegant design and pinpoint accuracy at Girard Perregaux continues today. Not content to rest on their laurels, the designers lead the way on product development, catering for the needs of the ultra busy, modern lifestyle. A new watch was placed on the market in 2001 that displayed the time from different locations around the world. It is ideal for the globetrotter or businessperson in contact with clients in other countries.

There are different collections within the company's range, targeting different customers. The watch with general interest for both men and women is found in the Tonneau Collection and all the products in this Gerard Perregaux line are aesthetically pleasing. The Sport Classique is a range for a more casual lifestyle, suited to wearing during leisure activities at the weekends. Collection Lady, as the name suggests, is a more feminine option with watch faces of a delicate blue shade.

In addition to timepieces, the company also produces high quality pens and a choice of prescription glasses and sunglasses. Other watch manufacturers may be more famous but the customers of Girard Perregaux like being part of such an old tradition and the company pointed the way where others merely followed.