Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Marc Ter Stegen spotted wearing Girard Perregaux

Marc Ter Stegen, Barcelona's first-choice goalkeeper and one of European football's most decorated shot-stoppers, was recently spotted wearing the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Skeleton in stainless steel, reference 81015-11-001-11A — a piece that rewards close inspection far more than a passing glance might suggest.

The Laureato reference 81015-11-001-11A is built around GP's in-house caliber GP01800-0004, a manually skeletonized movement whose bridges have been architecturally restructured to echo the watch's defining octagonal bezel. The case measures 42mm in stainless steel with a polished and brushed finish that plays off the open dial's complexity, and the integrated bracelet — itself a Laureato hallmark since 1975 — flows seamlessly from lugs to clasp. Water resistance sits at 100 metres, and the movement delivers approximately 48 hours of power reserve. Sapphire crystals front and back ensure unobstructed views of the work inside.

The Laureato's history is genuinely underappreciated. Designed by Luigi Macaluso and launched in 1975, it predates the Royal Oak era in concept if not quite in market impact. When Girard-Perregaux relaunched the line in 2016 for its 50th anniversary, the skeleton variant became the flagship statement piece — a way of justifying the integrated-bracelet format through movement architecture rather than brand prestige alone. Collectors have noted that the skeletonized bridges, which required custom tooling to maintain structural integrity while forming the octagonal pattern, represent genuine manufacture effort rather than decorative shortcutting.

Ter Stegen has shown consistent interest in serious horology over the years, gravitating toward pieces with technical depth rather than pure status signaling. The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Skeleton ref. 81015-11-001-11A fits that profile precisely — it is recognizable to enthusiasts but won't read as a trophy piece to a casual observer.

At a UK list price of £25,000, the Laureato Skeleton stainless steel sits in a competitive integrated-bracelet bracket. On the grey market, demand has been steady rather than speculative, with pre-owned examples trading at or slightly below retail — making it an accessible entry point into a reference that, on technical merit, deserves more attention than it typically receives.