1970-2000: the return to mechanical watches

In the late 1970s, faced with the rise of quartz, the Swiss watchmaking industry was in deep crisis. Girard-Perregaux was one of the first prestigious watch companies to take up the challenge of a return to traditional mechanical timepieces. Girard-Perregaux's master-watchmakers set about remaking twenty of the famous Tourbillon with three gold Bridges pocket watches. number 1 was unveiled in 1981. Ten years later, to celebrate its bicentenary, the Manufacture achieved the feat of producing a version of the Tourbillon with three gold Bridges miniaturised to wrist watch size.

 The Italian entrepreneur, architect and former racing driver Luigi Macaluso took over the reins of Girard-Perregaux in 1992. With a wealth of experience in the watchmaking industry, he knew the Brand well: he had been the Brand's official importer in Italy for many years and joined the Board of Directors in 1989. Under his guidance, Girard-Perregaux became one of the major players in the Haute Horlogerie industry. His co-branding agreement with Ferrari led to a remarkable collection of sport and grande complication models between 1994 and 2004, all stamped with the legendary "Prancing Horse".

 
At a time when many Swiss watchmaking companies were using external suppliers for their finished or semi-finished movements, Girard-Perregaux undertook a massive effort to develop its manufacturing strategy. Major investments followed, particularly in the area of research and development. In 1994, a new family of ultra thin calibres known as the GP3000 and GP3100 was launched.

In 1999, for its entry to the SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie), Girard-Perregaux presented a self-winding version of its famous Tourbillon with three gold Bridges, thanks to an ingenious patented platinum micro rotor system positioned under the barrel. In the same year, it developed a new column wheel chronograph movement 23.30 mm in diameter, fitted in a Small Chronograph model designed for women. The firm's heritage was also given the limelight.

In 1997, the Villa Marguerite, an early 20th century building in La Chaux-de-Fonds, was purchased and refurbished to house the new Girard-Perregaux Museum.