Luigi Macaluso, who successfully resuscitated the Girard-Perregaux brand, integrating it into a group and making it a major independent player in the haute horlogerie scene, died unexpectedly on the evening of Tuesday October 26th.

A successful rally driver and a degree holder in architecture, Macaluso, took a job with Omega’s new Italian subsidiary in 1975. In 1982, he founded his own company, Tradema, and became a watch wholesaler in Italy for brands as Breitling. One of the brands he sold through Tradema was Girard-Perregaux, and it wasn’t long before he was offered shares in the Swiss company. A few years later he was offered the entire company. He relocated to La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1992 to take the helm at Girard Perregaux. We reported only recently that Girard Perregaux and menswear retailer Ermenegildo Zegna have recently signed a deal for Girard Perregaux to supply watches under the Zegna brand name. (See ‘Is it a Girard Perregaux? No it’s an Ermenegildo Zegna’)

Girard-Perregaux’s four manufactured watch movements were able to forge prestigious strategic alliances with Ferrari and the BMW Oracle and helped to return the brand to prominence.. This was aided by the creation and continuation of historical timepieces such as the Three Golden Bridges Tourbillon and the Laureato line.

Macaluso’s two sons (he is also survived by two daughters) joined his company close to a decade ago. Massimo is currently president of JeanRichard, while Stefano became vice-president of Girard-Perregaux a few years ago.