From cocktails to calibres, this was the perfect way to honour half a century of the Laureato. An intimate celebration filled with stories, laughter, and stunning GP timepieces.
Watchadvice was recently invited down for a very special celebration in Sydney, not only for the launch of the new Girard-Perregaux Laureato FIFTY, but also for the milestone 50th anniversary of the iconic Laureato collection. The setting for the celebration was the stunning Prefecture 48, with the event bringing together media and friends of the brand for an intimate afternoon that brought together high-horology with a uniquely Sydney flavour.
It was the perfect day in Sydney, leaving behind stormy weather in Brisbane for more uplifting sunny weather. The venue itself, Prefecture 48, offered the perfect setting to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Laureato. Prefecture 48 is known for its architectural elegance and refined Japanese-inspired interiors. The space is bright, open, and designed with calm minimalism in mind.
As you walk into Prefecture 48, you are treated to a stunning artistic light display that instantly uplifts the venue with a modern, contemporary vibe. The textured walls, the soft timber tones of the bar, and the sculptural lighting fixtures create an aesthetic that is both stylish and welcoming. It’s the kind of venue where the overall design quietly does the talking, much like the Laureato itself, making this the ideal location for its 50th anniversary celebrations!
Greeting everyone at the entrance was Dana Ganely, the Marketing Manager at The Hour Glass. Dana has a way of making guests feel welcome, which helped set the mood for the intimate afternoon ahead! Also present was Vuong Thong Nguyen, Girard-Perregaux’s Regional Brand Director, who had flown in all the way from Singapore just to be a part of this celebration. I had the pleasure of discussing the importance of the Laureato collection with Nguyen, who spoke passionately about the model’s heritage and why its 50-year milestone is such a defining moment for the brand.
As the guests made their way into the main venue, the lunch setting was arranged with a beautifully curated attention to detail. The backdrop to the setting was the new Laureato FIFTY, setting the stage for a memorable evening. The long, intimate table setup, paired with the soft natural lighting of the Prefecture 48 and the thoughtful table décor, made this event feel more like a private gathering rather than a formal event.
Before we took our seats, we were invited to explore a curated selection of Girard-Perregaux timepieces displayed throughout the venue. While the majority of the models were Laureato’s, there were some special timepieces, including the brand’s Bridges collection. The timepieces were showcased in elegant glass displays, while others were actually casually perched on the bar itself!
Even the cocktails were on theme at this event. The bar team crafted a special GP cocktail, with the ice cubes featuring a stamped Girard-Perregaux logo, adding a playful yet luxurious touch to the drink. Some of the standout timepieces on show include the Laureato 43mm Clous de Paris dial, one of my personal favourites, the Laureato Copper dial, Laureato chronographs, models from the Bridges collection, and of course, the Laureato FIFTY.
Once we sat down, the afternoon took a fun turn with a lighthearted game of “connect-the-dots” drawing. The completed drawing would reveal the skeletonised winding rotor of the new GP4800 calibre movement. It was fun seeing everyone’s drawing of the winding rotor, with some being impressively accurate, while others…took a different artistic direction! Either way, it broke the ice and had the whole table laughing before the first dish even arrived.
As the connect-the-dots game wrapped up, Dana Ganely and Vuong Thong Nguyen took centre stage to deliver a welcome speech to all the guests, while also talking about the importance of this special 50th anniversary celebration. Nguyen stated why the Laureato was such a special piece, first developed during a time when watchmaking was rapidly evolving, and brands were still searching for their defining identity. The Laureato was Girard-Perregaux’s answer, a bold modern design that carried an integrated sports watch design with unique geometry and tasteful elegance.
This is what makes the new Laureato FIFTY so special, as not only does it celebrate the collection’s 50th anniversary, the design goes back to the roots of the original released in 1975. The Laureato FIFTY, in its beautiful two-tone aesthetic, captures the essence of the 1975 Girard-Perregaux Laureato, while modernising it with slimmer case proportions (compared to previous models in the collection), and the brand new GP4800 Calibre movement. A welcome update that improves comfort on the wrist and daily practicality without compromising the Laureato’s signature design.
The first dishes then began to arrive, with the cuisine being a thoughtful fusion of Swiss and Japanese flavours that would perfectly match the luxury setting. Between each serving, the guests had a chance to handle and experience the Laureato FIFTY up close, appreciating the timepiece’s finer details and its link back to the original 1975 Laureato.
As part of the Laureato FIFTY discussions around the table, Dana and Vuong also presented to us the new GP4800 Calibre movement. A few cool facts about this movement first: the result of several years of development, it offers a notably slimmer profile thanks to its modernized architecture. Secondly, the movement has improved precision and stability thanks to the silicon escapement and variable inertia balance. Thirdly, the construction of the movement has been revamped. Inspired by Girard-Perregaux’s Three Bridges logo, the balance wheel bridge has been redesigned to reflect the logo, while the winding rotor is skeletonised with the same aesthetic image. This is a movement that’s engineered not just to look good through the caseback, but to perform consistently for decades.
To wrap up the afternoon, both Dana Ganely and Vuong Thong Nguyen, along with the rest of the team, thanked guests for joining what was truly a memorable celebration of the Laureato’s legacy. The combination of great food, warm hospitality, and the opportunity to go hands-on with both the Laureato FIFTY and its new GP4800 calibre made the event feel special from start to finish. For a collection entering its next half-century, it was the perfect way to honour where the Laureato has come from, and where it’s heading next.
Girard-Perregaux 50th Anniversary Sydney – Image Gallery
