Legendary Swiss Watches Highlight the Timeless Treasures That Can be Found at Tenenbaum

This article is part of a promoted series and not produced by the editorial staff.

When it comes to treasured watches, there is one brand whose reputation reverberates across the entire industry for its excellence and tireless quest for perfection.

Unrivaled, meticulous craftsmanship forged over two centuries, by generations upon generations of talented engineers, bevelers and craftsmen galore, make Girard-Perregaux the unmatched manufacturer that it is.

With a deeply rich horological heritage stretching back to its birth in 1791 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, Gerard-Perregaux brings a holistic approach to watchmaking, from defining and creating to developing and producing both the exterior components of the timepiece and its movement — its very core.

And there is one jewelry store that knows Girard-Perregauxs like few others. Tenenbaum Jewelers, the largest modern, estate and antique fine jewelry store in the southern United States, boasts an expansive, diverse and ever-changing array of watches and fine jewelry. Tenenbaum is the exclusive retailer of Girard-Perregaux in Houston.

Tenenbaum’s dazzling boutique in Houston is full of priceless, gleaming watches. There are treasures everywhere and the expert jewelers at Tenenbaum will help guide you as you explore this bevy of riches.

Tenenbaum’s savvy staff includes some of the country’s foremost jewelry experts with a full-time GIA-accredited Graduate Gemologist, a pair of master jewelers, a historian and multiple career jewelers that have several specializations. You could say Tenenbaum has mastered this art of pairing person and timepiece over 40 miraculous years in the business.

Naturally, Tenenbaum’s collection of Girard-Perregaux watches is unmatched. This is a case where a storied brand and a storied store make for a perfect match.

The Girard-Perregaux Process

From its renowned Tourbillon with Three Gold Bridges to all it has achieved, Haute Horlogerie brand Girard-Perregaux maintains all craft and skills of design and movement of its timepieces in-house, a true rarity.

The authentic Swiss brand’s innovations span patent after patent, leaving a resounding impact on the watch industry as a whole, altering its history forever with its fruitful research and development.

Although there is much to relish, Girard-Perregaux never rests on its laurels.

Instead, it reinvents it icons, constantly bridging the gap between classic and contemporary through a subtle, meaningful intertwining of technical expertise and a cutting-edge approach to style.

Through timeless excellence, constant innovation and a bold manufacturing spirit, Girard-Perregaux creates timeless watches time and time again.

Every piece is a genuine treasure, complete with its own identity, more than a sum of its parts. And while they can all be measured by their elegance, inspiration and refinement, one element stands above all: Quality.

As Girard-Perregaux boasts one of the most all-encompassing movement portfolios in the Haute Horlogerie industry, from self-winding mechanical movements to quartz movements, the brand must always go above and beyond to achieve the highest level of quality and reliability.

The Girard-Perregaux  workshops in La Chaux-de-Fonds merge diverse skillsets and the most finely developed production centers, where every single masterful individual involved in the creation and execution of a timepiece constantly tries to deliver the most exceptional watch possible.

They would never dream of rushing. They take each step at the slow, steady pace required. Every moment is precious, and it can take years to fashion a new model. It is always worth the wait.

For months on end, the engineer concentrates on the design of a movement, the master watchmaker assembles, dismantles and then reassembles more than 100 hundred components many times over, until he has achieved a perfectly balanced mechanism to his satisfaction. The beveler shines delicate, minute metal parts up to five times in succession to ensure a flawless finish on components — an extreme level of care taken, even though they will be hidden within the watch.

Patience, passion and enthusiasm yield only the finest results. After this impeccable manufacturing, engraving, decorating and assembling, all done by hand, the watches are then subjected to stringent quality tests.

Inventing the Future of Time

Inventiveness is in Girard-Perregaux’s DNA. A venerable pioneer, the enterprising brand is responsible for nearly 80 vital patents in the watchmaking industry.

On March 25, 1884, Girard-Perregaux applied to the United States Patent Office for a patent covering the American territory for its ultra-refined Tourbillon under three gold Bridges movement.

In 1966, Girard-Perregaux developed the debut high-frequency movement, operating at no less than 36,000 vibrations per hour.

Then, in the early 1970s, with the first commercial presentations of quartz watches, Girard-Perregaux revealed the world’s first watch to be fitted with a movement containing a quartz crystal vibrating at 32,768 Hertz — a frequency that has since been adopted by the overwhelming majority of watch manufacturers.

The year 2008 brought with it yet another eye-opening unveiling: the “Constant Escapement,” a revolutionary mechanism that enables Haute Horlogerie movements of inimitable accuracy to be produced.

Girard-Perregaux takes a unique approach to design, imparting a thoroughly modern outlook on its traditions, inflecting its centuries-long heritage with the application of state-of-the-art technology.

The elongated ergonomic shape of the lugs allow the watch to snugly follow the contours of the wrist, while the seamless integration of the bracelet in the case creates optimum comfort. Dials are also simple to read, courtesy of various processes including the patented system with a large date and single window at 12 o’clock.

In keeping with its characteristic sophistication, bright colors are employed sparingly, in small flashes such as red, to emphasize the sportiness of the chronograph.

There is no watch manufacturer quite like Girard-Perregaux. And if time has taught us anything, there never will be again. And there likely never will be another place to shop for a Girard-Perregaux quite like Tenenbaum.

As if their selection weren’t already enough to catch your eye, consider Tenenbaum’s sterling reputation in Houston philanthropy. This the preferred jeweler of Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet and the Houston Symphony, not to mention supporters of Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA), The American Cancer Society and more. As much as they give you a chance to shine, Tenenbaum also gives back to the community.

And despite the level of refined expertise, there is no jewelry store intimidation factor at Tenenbaum. Every customer is treated with attention and care so that they can enjoy a truly comfortable shopping experience that keeps them coming back for years.

Tenenbaum is about standing the rest of time. Just like Girard-Perregaux. No wonder why this seems like such a natural pairing.

Scroll through the photo gallery above or below this story for more looks at the stunning Girard-Perregaux watches that can be found at Tenenbaum. Just don’t be surprised when you find one that you just need to have.

For more information, go to TenenbaumJewelers.com or visit the showcase boutique at 4310 Westheimer Road.