Since the announcement of the partnership between Girard-Perregaux and the iconic British luxury car manufacturer Aston Martin in February 2021, the collaboration between the two parties has so far been limited to advertising and sponsorship.
However, in the fifth month of the partnership, Girard-Perregaux unveiled its first commemorative limited edition watch, developed in collaboration with Aston Martin, utilizing the strengths of both brands. Although both companies have proven their ability to showcase the best features in the world at times, perhaps the most defining aspects of Girard-Perregaux and Aston Martin are their stylish, design-oriented ethical approach and the combination of deep heritage with modernist, forward-looking design.
The new limited edition Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges - Aston Martin Edition perfectly reflects this line of thought, with an intricate and sculptural design philosophy, representing a more luxurious and lifestyle-oriented model than the sporty chronographs that usually dominate partnerships with automotive brands.
Although the 44mm black case of the Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges - Aston Martin Edition in Grade 5 titanium with DLC coating may seem simple at first glance, the brand embellishes the design with unique, almost architectural details. The overall profile of the case is elementary, with smoothly curved descending lugs and a flat cylindrical mid-case topped with a small signed crown. What is unique is the bezel - or rather, the lack thereof.
The high sapphire crystal is elongated along the sides of the case, but Girard-Perregaux creates a dial frame using a more unconventional solution. Instead of an external bezel, the brand uses the unique shape of the hour markers to create a visual boundary for the dial, forming tall and angular buttresses against the sapphire crystal backdrop. This visual solution may not appeal to all tastes, but it undoubtedly demonstrates a unique perspective and sense of creativity. The case back is made of sapphire crystal, with serial numbers and reference information engraved on the vertical outer edge. Despite this imaginative solution, its strength suffers: the water resistance is only 30 meters.
The stylized, almost floating skeletonized movement of the Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges - Aston Martin Edition lacks a dial in the traditional sense. Except for the aforementioned hour markers and the futuristic skeletonized hands with notches, everything under the expansive glass is the movement itself.
The trio of sculptural, sleek arrow-shaped bridges that form the basis of the watch's design is a familiar motif for Girard-Perregaux, and the brand contrasts these modernist shapes with black PVD coating with deeply traditional touches. For example, the tourbillon at the “6 o'clock” position, forming one of the dial's focal points, uses a lyre-shaped cage, which has been used in all Girard-Perregaux tourbillon models since the 19th century. Another important visual element of the skeletonized movement is the mainspring barrel at the “12 o'clock” position. While open mainspring barrels are a staple of skeletonized models, allowing a view of the movement's power source and serving as a basic power reserve indicator, Girard-Perregaux has integrated two unique elements into this barrel's design.
The first of these is a nearly invisible white gold micro-rotor, integrated directly under the barrel, providing the benefits of an automatic movement without detracting from the airy, sculptural skeleton design. The second is the fine Aston Martin signature, the only visible element of joint branding on the watch, engraved on the vertical side of the rotor and filled with lume.
In terms of performance, the in-house GP09400-1683 automatic tourbillon movement in the Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges - Aston Martin Edition is not as striking as its appearance, but still solid. The most notable element here is the extremely light tourbillon: the weight of all 79 components, including the cage, is only 0.25 grams. Such minimal weight helps reduce the torque requirements of the movement, improving power reserve performance. The power reserve itself reflects this, offering a respectable 60 hours at a frequency of 21,600 beats per hour.
Girard-Perregaux continues the modernist, design spirit of the Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges - Aston Martin Edition with strap options. The first is a black calf leather strap with a central insert that the brand calls “Rubber Alloy.” Although Girard-Perregaux is sparse on details about how it was created, the insert combines rubber with injection-molded white gold to create a new patented material. Aesthetically, the central stripe in the initial images looks very subdued and textured, but on the wrist, it may prove more lustrous. For more traditionally inclined buyers, the brand also offers a simple matte black alligator leather strap.
The limited edition Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges - Aston Martin Edition, far from the racing-themed chronographs usually created in partnerships between watch and automotive companies, offers a more stylized, design-oriented approach to collaborative watches, perfectly aligning with the overall spirit of both brands.
Only 18 examples of the Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges - Aston Martin Edition will be produced, which are now available at official dealers for $146,000 USD. For more information, visit the brand's website.