A year after announcing Girard-Perregaux as the Official Watch Partner of the ultra-luxury British performance car manufacturer Aston-Martin and the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula OneTM Team (AMF1), the duo are here with another exciting launch. After the Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges Aston Martin Edition and the Laureato Chronograph Aston Martin Edition, Girard-Perregaux has worked with the AMF1 Team to create a new model – the Laureato Absolute Chronograph AM F1 Edition. This watch brings precision watchmaking inspired by high-end automotive manufacturing and the dynamics of Formula One.
“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.” said Patrick Pruniaux, Girard-Perregaux’s Chief Executive Officer.
F1 cars are known for being fast and lightweight; Girard-Perregaux focuses on the latter by creating a cutting-edge 44mm case. This lightweight case is made from a blend of titanium powder and carbon elements taken from two Aston-Martin F1 race cars used during the 2021 season for this case, along with tinted resin that gives it a ductility of steel – a first in the watch industry. Every watch will have a uniquely different visual with a flecked patination that contrasts the Aston Martin Racing Green watch face.
The timepiece carries numerous nuances and details that devotees of Aston Martin may only spot. The dial on the watch is presented in sunray ‘Aston Martin Racing Green’ and is adorned with cross-hatching, a motif that can be traced back to the Aston Martin ‘AM’ badge of 1921. The open-worked hands throughout imbue the design with a note of sportiness. For the first time on a Laureato Absolute Chronograph, the rear of the watch is fitted with a pane of sapphire crystal that displays the automatic Manufacture movement, the Caliber GP03300-1058.
“As a team, we have the determination to succeed – and that ambition requires us to analyze every element of our performance package. That includes managing the materials we use to build our cars, measuring their weight, their strength, all in a bid to find that critical extra thousandth of a second in lap time. Girard-Perregaux is a valued partner to our organization, and we have worked together to share and combine our knowledge to improve each other’s brands. The new Laureato Absolute Chronograph AMF1 is the first example of this collaboration and a stunning example of the work we can achieve together.”, says Mike Krack, Team Principal of Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula OneTM Team.
Another notable important element of the timepiece and a first in the watchmaking industry is the strap. The GP Rubber Alloy, colored in the iconic Aston Martin Racing Green, is made of FKM rubber (FKM), and carbon elements are taken from two Formula OneTM race cars used during the 2021 season. A result of a highly technical process using specialized equipment, the strap offers superior suppleness and resistance when contrasted with conventional rubber. The appearance is enriched with a fabric-effect façade, and the buckle has a micro-adjustment system that allows optimum snugging of the strap around the wrist.
The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph AM F1 Edition is limited to 306 pieces – the total distance drivers Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel aim to cover on race day (5,891km x 52 laps) at the 2022 British Grand Prix. Priced at £21,500, the limited edition watch is available on Girard-Perregaux.
