Brand comparisons usually run on opinion. This one runs on settled transactions: 1,599 recorded sales of Cartier and 187 of Girard-Perregaux, all in US dollars so the figures are directly comparable.
What each one actually costs
The median Cartier result is $6,875. The median Girard-Perregaux result is $6,144. On typical examples, Cartier carries roughly 1.1 times the price of Girard-Perregaux at auction.
Half of all Cartier sales land between $3,250 and $15,360. For Girard-Perregaux the middle half runs $3,125 to $14,375.
Which one surprises the specialists
51% of Cartier lots beat their high estimate, against 42% for Girard-Perregaux. That gap says the trade is more often caught out by Cartier, which is a sign of demand outrunning the published guide.
Breadth of the record
Our archive covers 436 distinct Cartier references and 84 for Girard-Perregaux, with results going back to 2001 and 2004 respectively. The top recorded result is $1,654,276 for Cartier and $193,350 for Girard-Perregaux.
What this does not tell you
A median is not a verdict. These brands overlap heavily at the edges, and a well chosen example of the cheaper one will outrun a poor example of the dearer one. Condition, completeness and model matter more than the badge on the dial.
