SpotlightGreen Shift: Girard-Perregaux’s Aston Martin Chronograph Changes More Than Time

Watchmakers love to tell us about partnerships with car companies. Most end up as glorified logo-swapping exercises—slap a prancing horse here, a trident there, job done. But occasionally, something genuinely interesting emerges from these corporate marriages. The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph Aston Martin Edition is one such rare offspring.

One glance at that iridescent green dial tells you someone actually put thought into this. It’s not British Racing Green—it’s something altogether more complex. This sixth collaborative piece between the Swiss watchmakers and Aston Martin doesn’t waste time explaining its credentials; the 15 layers of automotive paint that shift between emerald and amber, depending on the light, do all the necessary talking. Limited to 188 pieces, it’s a bit like spotting an Aston on the road—you know exactly what you’re looking at, but you can’t help staring anyway.

Partnership Context

Since becoming Aston Martin’s official watch partner in 2021, Girard-Perregaux have released five timepieces that gradually refined what a car-watch collaboration can be. The series began with rather ambitious projects—a triple-bridge tourbillon with a skeletal dial and a Laureato Chronograph containing actual F1 car components. Last year’s green ceramic Laureato showed a more restrained side to the partnership.

With this sixth edition, there’s a sense that both brands have moved beyond the obvious. Previous models relied heavily on literal design cues: cross-hatching from Aston Martin dashboards, straightforward British Racing Green, or overt logo placement. This titanium Laureato Chronograph feels like the work of collaborators who no longer feel the need to prove their connection.

The Green Canvas

Green has been Aston Martin’s calling card since 1922, when British racing drivers first painted their cars in national colours for international competitions. What started as simple national pride became the brand’s signature—so much so that today Aston Martin offer nine different greens in their standard palette, plus countless custom options through their ‘Q’ service. For Aston Martin, green isn’t just another colour option; it’s fundamental to their identity.

The dial goes through 14 distinct manufacturing steps, including the application of 15 ultra-thin layers of automotive paint

Look at the watch straight on and you see a metallic green. Tilt it slightly and the colour shifts through yellowish tones to a deep golden-orange

Creating this dial required Girard-Perregaux to step outside traditional watchmaking techniques. They borrowed from automotive finishing methods, developing a process that would look more at home in Aston Martin’s Gaydon factory than a Swiss watch workshop. The dial goes through 14 distinct manufacturing steps, including the application of 15 ultra-thin layers of automotive paint. Each layer is dramatically thinner than what you’d find on an actual car. Between applications, the dial undergoes two heating cycles to properly set the finish without damaging the base material.

The end result does something remarkable. Look at the watch straight on and you see a metallic green. Tilt it slightly and the colour shifts through yellowish tones to a deep golden-orange when viewed from extreme angles. Unlike typical sunburst dials that just change intensity, this one performs a complete colour transformation. Even the paint itself required special handling—it’s filtered to remove any microscopic particles that might create imperfections on such a small surface. It’s essentially automotive finishing scaled down to watch proportions, with even tighter tolerances than Aston Martin demand for their cars.

Engineering And Architecture

The choice of grade-5 titanium for both the case and bracelet creates an immediate technical connection to Aston Martin’s Valkyrie hypercar, where the same material features prominently. At 42mm across and 12.16mm thick, the Laureato Chronograph sits in the sweet spot between presence and wearability—substantial enough to notice, yet slim enough to slip under a cuff. Titanium’s lightweight properties mean this chronograph wears smaller than its dimensions suggest, while its 100m water resistance makes it practical as well.

The case architecture follows the Laureato tradition that has defined the model since 1975 with its octagonal bezel sitting atop a circular base. Alternating brushed and polished surfaces catch light differently as the wrist moves. The bracelet continues this interplay of finishing, with its central links polished to contrast with the brushed outer links.

The choice of grade-5 titanium for both the case and bracelet creates an immediate technical connection to Aston Martin's Valkyrie hypercar, where the same material features prominently

Beneath the sapphire caseback—emblazoned with Aston Martin's winged logo—beats the in-house GP03300-2451 automatic chronograph calibre

Beneath the sapphire crystal caseback—emblazoned with Aston Martin’s winged logo—beats the in-house GP03300-2451 automatic chronograph calibre. This 28,800vph movement offers a respectable 46-hour power reserve and receives proper finishing: straight Côtes de Genève on the bridges, bevelled edges, polished screws, and circular graining on the main plate.

The automotive references continue in the details. The partially skeletonised hands mimic the shape of Aston Martin’s signature grille, while the three snailed sub-dials receive a subtle grey PVD treatment that complements the titanium case without competing with the iridescent dial. Limited to 188 pieces worldwide, this Laureato Chronograph follows the philosophy of controlled exclusivity that both brands understand well.

Final Thoughts

This sixth collaboration between Girard-Perregaux and Aston Martin demonstrates genuine maturity. Rather than relying on obvious logos and colour-matched straps, they’ve created something with technical substance that borrows authentically from both worlds. The dial technology alone represents a genuine transfer of automotive finishing techniques to watchmaking—not merely aesthetic inspiration.

What’s particularly refreshing is how the watch works equally well for those who couldn’t care less about cars. Remove the Aston Martin connection and you’d still have a compelling titanium chronograph with a remarkable colour-shifting dial. That’s the hallmark of successful collaboration—when neither party needs to explain why they’re together.