Since the announcement of the collaboration between Girard-Perregaux and the renowned British luxury car manufacturer Aston Martin in February 2021, these two brands have emerged as natural partners with a shared focus on heritage, advanced developments, and dramatic, winding design. The first joint endeavor of these two brands, the limited edition Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges - Aston Martin Edition, theatrically demonstrated both brands' commitment to world-class luxury and striking forms.
In contrast, the second collaborative creation by Girard-Perregaux for Aston Martin focuses on a different set of shared values and represents a powerful blend of elegance and sportiness. The new limited edition Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph - Aston Martin Edition goes far beyond simple dial decoration and creates a deep and subtle visual homage to all eras of Aston Martin's racing history, seamlessly blending with the iconic integrated bracelet design of the Swiss brand.
The 42mm stainless steel case of the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph - Aston Martin Edition retains the refined integrated bracelet form of the primary Laureato Chronograph model, maintaining the distinctive visual DNA of the series. Made from lustrous and durable 904L stainless steel, this case appears sportily modern on the wrist while having a balanced and elegant profile with an overall thickness of only 12.1mm. The Laureato Chronograph - Aston Martin Edition case stands out in the finer details, and nowhere is this better demonstrated than in the variety of finishes. Brushing is the foundation of nearly any sports watch case finish, but here Girard-Perregaux has allowed the smooth, even texture to emphasize the overall form of the case. Strong horizontal brushing on the top of the main case and integrated lugs gives the case a broader, more aggressive shape on the wrist, while longitudinal brushing on the sides of the case helps to elongate and refine the case shape when viewed in profile.
The signature multi-layered geometric bezel of the Laureato line is crowned with a contrasting radial matte finish, helping to emphasize the clear shape of the embossed octagonal segment and subtly highlighting it against the rest of the case through dynamic reflections in changing light. Between these contrasting matte layers, Girard-Perregaux highlights deep, shiny polished sections, including a sculptural bevel running from lug to lug, as well as the sides and round lower layer of the complex Laureato bezel. The end result is luxurious but masterfully restrained, with a universal character further emphasized by the intricate polished crown and matching pushers. Girard-Perregaux crowns this beautiful case with the famous winged Aston Martin emblem engraved on the sapphire caseback. Girard-Perregaux supports the sporty character of the watch with solid performance specifications, rating the Laureato Chronograph - Aston Martin Edition at 100 meters of water resistance.
The dial is the true centerpiece of the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph - Aston Martin Edition, but beyond the striking aesthetics, this unique twist on the Laureato formula tells a subtle and skillfully integrated story of Aston Martin's legendary heritage. The first element of this visual narrative is the dial surface itself. British Racing Green is a color with more than a century of sporting heritage, and although this green hue has had many different iterations among various British car manufacturers, Aston Martin has chosen a unique rich and dramatic shade for itself. This deep, luxurious green metallic with blue undertones has adorned race cars from the 1959 Le Mans-winning Aston Martin DBR1 driven by Carroll Shelby to the 2021 Aston Martin AMR21 competing for victory in Formula 1 under the control of Lance Stroll and four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel. This color is associated with both sporting prowess and timeless sophistication, and Girard-Perregaux has lovingly recreated this very green hue with a sunburst finish. Achieving such an effect is no easy task, as Girard-Perregaux applies seven different layers of paint over 21 separate applications to achieve the exact color and finish.
The dial surface, thanks to the engraved cross-hatch texture, further evokes Aston Martin's past and present design. While this rhomboid surface is a unique reference to the textured dial surface common among sports watches with integrated bracelets, it also alludes to the rhomboid pattern of the 1921 Aston Martin logo "AM" and the luxurious quilted seats that make the interiors of modern Aston Martin sports cars so unique. Girard-Perregaux pairs this intricate dial surface with hardware in a sporty modern black color, featuring skeletonized hands, contrasting matte subdial rings, a matching black outer chapter ring, and thin beveled applied indices. The overall effect is a delicate balance between modern and timeless, yet with enough aggressive sporty character to pay homage to Aston Martin's vibrant racing spirit. Girard-Perregaux pays another tribute to the British brand's heritage in the design of the central chronograph seconds hand, which uses a counterweight reminiscent of Aston Martin's signature side strakes, made famous by the 1958 DB4 model.
Girard-Perregaux equips the Laureato Chronograph - Aston Martin Edition with the in-house developed automatic chronograph movement GP03300-0141. The attractive GP03300-0141 movement, decorated with a combination of Côtes de Genève, engraved gold plating, perlage, and blued screws, offers not only an appealing appearance but also capabilities. Girard-Perregaux rates the movement as capable of providing a 46-hour power reserve at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour.
The design character of the Laureato series is largely defined by the integrated bracelet, and Girard-Perregaux retains this in the Laureato Chronograph - Aston Martin Edition with an elegantly tapering bracelet with H-shaped links made of 904L stainless steel. The liquid shine of the polished central links gives this construction an alluring sparkle throughout the wrist, while the smooth transitions of the matte H-shaped links give the entire watch a cohesive, unified look with a light sense of comfort.
Combining the rich heritage and modern sporting prowess of Aston Martin and the Laureato series is no easy feat, but the limited edition Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph - Aston Martin Edition exceeds all expectations, with its design being one of the most beautiful in the brand's history.
Only 188 pieces of the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph - Aston Martin Edition will be produced, and the watch is already available at authorized dealers for USD 18,100. For more information, visit the Girard-Perregaux website.