The Timeline: News from Glashütte Original & Girard-Perregaux

Two renowned manufacturers from Germany and Switzerland show how traditional watchmaking can take completely different forms. Glashütte Original focuses on an elegant creation with a shimmering green aventurine dial, while Girard-Perregaux puts the mechanics center stage with a spectacular tourbillon and three gold bridges. In this week's Timeline, we take a closer look at two new releases where craftsmanship, materials, and tradition take center stage

Photo: Girard-Perregaux.

Glashütte Original Senator Aventurine Art Nouveau Green

Glashütte Original draws inspiration from Art Nouveau with the new Senator Aventurine Art Nouveau Green, an elegant dress watch where materials and colors take center stage. The model features a rose-gold case measuring 40 millimeters in diameter and just 10.2 millimeters in height. The most striking feature is the deeply green dial in aventurine glass. The material originates from 17th-century Venice and is characterized by small metallic particles that create a shimmering effect when light hits the surface. Because the particles are distributed randomly, each dial has its own unique appearance.

The design is understated, with only hour and minute hands, allowing the green dial to take center stage. The combination of rose-gold, aventurine and a brown strap in nubuck-finished alligator leather gives the watch a classic yet rather unusual look. On the inside, the automatic manufacture Caliber 36-16 works with an impressive power reserve of 100 hours. The movement features, among other things, a silicon hairspring, hand-engraved details and Glashütte's signature three-quarter platinum. Through the sapphire crystal on the back, the extensive decorative work can be studied.

The model is part of the manufacturer's exclusive Atelier program, where each piece is assembled and adjusted by the same watchmaker. The Senator Aventurine Art Nouveau Green is not limited and has a recommended price of 35,800 euros. It is a watch that shows how far one can go with a thoughtful combination of materials and traditional craftsmanship, without needing to fill the dial with complications.

Photo: Glashütte Original. 

Girard-Perregaux Laureato Fifty Three Gold Bridges

Girard-Perregaux takes its classic Laureato to a completely new level with the new Laureato Fifty Three Gold Bridges. Here, the well-known sport watch design is combined with the manufacturer's historic construction featuring three gold bridges, a signature that dates back to 1867. The Laureato was introduced in 1975 and has since evolved into one of Girard-Perregaux's most renowned collections. The new model builds on a limited anniversary edition from 2025, but is now part of the regular range.

The case measures 41 millimeters in diameter and 10.85 millimeters in height. It is made of stainless steel with an octagonal bezel in white gold and an integrated steel strap. Despite the advanced mechanics, the Laureato's relatively slim proportions have been maintained. The truly interesting details are on the dial's side, where the open movement is dominated by three rose-gold bridges. The design creates a symmetrical layout with the mainspring at the top and a tourbillon positioned at six. The many visible components mean that the movement also serves as the watch's primary design element.

Photo: Girard-Perregaux.

The automatic manufacture movement GP09620 consists of 303 components and offers a power reserve of 55 hours. It is wound by a platinum micro-rotor positioned behind the mainspring so as not to obscure the mechanics. The finishing is also impressive, with no fewer than 418 hand-polished angles and 362 internal angles. With a price of 178,000 euros, the Laureato Fifty Three Gold Bridges ranks among the absolute pinnacle of advanced Swiss watchmaking. It is also a model that clearly demonstrates that Girard-Perregaux wants to combine its historic heritage with modern sport watch design.

Photo: Girard-Perregaux.