ReviewPresenting Girard-Perregaux’s Laureato Absolute Chronograph Aston Martin F1 Edition

The link between watches and fast cars has been well-established as both are fuelled by complex machinery that serves as the driving force. In the case of watches, of course the mechanism tends to get more compact, because of the restricted area offered by the ‘chassis’, where watchmakers have to painstakingly use ingenious ways to make the movement thinner, smaller yet more powerful. So, it’s a natural progression for various watch brands and car marques to often join forces because time is certainly of essence when it comes to need for speed. One such association that has petrol heads and horophiles smitten is Girard-Perregaux partnering with luxury British car manufacturer, Aston Martin. This happened last year, when the Swiss haute horlogerie player came on board as the Official Watch Partner of Aston Martin and of their Aramco Cognizant Formula One™ Team (AMF1). Since the organisations began working together, they have collaborated on two watches—the Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges Aston Martin Edition and the Laureato Chronograph Aston Martin Edition. Now, Girard-Perregaux have, for the first time, worked with the AMF1 Team, to create a new timekeeper—the Laureato Absolute Chronograph AM F1 Edition—an ultra-lightweight watch that packs a punch on the wrist and is limited to 306 pieces only.

Performance Driven

Since every second counts on the race track, the timekeeper comes in a cutting-edge, 44mm, titanium-and-carbon case, where the carbon has been extracted from two Formula One race cars used during the 2021 season. This helps in reducing the weight tremendously, thereby helping the car gain speed. Representing a first in the watch industry—the timepiece blends these two materials using a high-tech manufacturing process, where the individual components are brought together and mixed with a tinted resin. The resultant material proffers superior ductility to that of steel. Each watch will have its own visual identity and will look uniquely different from any other timepiece on the market.

The watch comes in a cutting-edge, 44mm, titanium-and-carbon case, where the carbon has been extracted from two F1 race cars used during the 2021 season. The dial comes in sunray ‘Aston Martin Racing Green’ and is adorned with crosshatching—a motif that can be traced back to the Aston Martin ‘AM’ badge of 1921

“From the outset, working with Aston Martin has been a joy. It has not just been a case of putting our name on a Formula One car. On the contrary, we have collaborated on various projects, resulting in the production of two very different watches. Working together has led to some innovative and interesting ideas, culminating in the creation of new exciting products. It has also led to some wonderful friendships forming between both companies’ personnel. With our previous collaborative models, the emphasis was on style and elegance. However, with this latest watch we sought to work closely with the F1 side of the brand, focusing more on the idea of performance,” stated Patrick Pruniaux, CEO, Girard-Perregaux in an official statement.

Grand Prix champion, Sebastian Vettel, also part of the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team is seen here wearing the new GP Laureato Absolute Chronograph AM F1 Edition

Each watch will have its own visual identity and will look uniquely different from any other timepiece since blending titanium with carbon lends a unique gradient to the watch case

And the titanium-and-carbon case is not the only innovation here. The watch manufacture’s inventiveness also extends to this model’s strap. The GP Rubber Alloy, presented in Aston Martin Racing Green, is made of FKM rubber (FKM) and carbon elements taken from two Formula One race cars used during the 2021 season. The process for creating this pioneering composition is highly technical and requires specialised equipment and extensive research into the compatibility of the materials used. The resultant strap proffers superior suppleness and resistance when contrasted with conventional rubber. The buckle, with its micro adjustment system, allows the wearer to fine-tune the union between the strap and their wrist.

The timekeeper is driven by the automatic manufacture movement calibre GP03300-1058, which keeps it ticking for at least 46 hours, and is visible through an exhibition caseback—a first for a Laureato Absolute Chronograph model

The dial comes in sunray ‘Aston Martin Racing Green’ and is adorned with crosshatching—a motif that can be traced back to the Aston Martin ‘AM’ badge of 1921. It also features open-worked hands and sub-dials at three, six and nine o’clock. It is driven by the automatic manufacture movement calibre GP03300-1058, which keeps it ticking for at least 46 hours, and is visible through an exhibition caseback—a first for a Laureato Absolute Chronograph model.