ast year, Girard-Perregaux announced its official partnership with British performance car manufacturer Aston Martin and Aston Martin 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 has, for the first time, worked with the AMF1 Team, creating a new model, the Laureato Absolute Chronograph AM F1 Edition, featuring two industry firsts. This ground-breaking watch unites two worlds, namely, micro-mechanics and the extreme performance of Formula One™.

In the competitive world of F1, a mere fraction of a second can mean the difference between success or failure. Besides aerodynamics and engine power, weight is of huge importance, hence teams continuously research new innovative materials that promise to provide precious weight savings. In this instance, the AMF1 Team has brought its incredible understanding of lightweight, materials to the world of Haute Horlogerie.

The new Laureato Absolute Chronograph AM F1 Edition features a cutting-edge 44mm case. Its composition blends titanium powder and carbon elements taken from two F1 race cars used during the 2021 season, representing a first in the watch industry. Using a high-tech manufacturing process, 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.

Patrick Pruniaux, Girard-Perregaux’s Chief Executive Officer, remarked: “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.”

Mike Krack, Team Principal of Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One™ Team, added: “As a team, we have the determination to succeed – and that ambition requires us to analyse 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 organisation, 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.”

The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph AM F1 Edition is housed in a 44mm highly innovative titanium and carbon case, an industry first. However, the Manufacture’s inventiveness also extends to this model’s strap, a further ‘world premiere’. 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. Moreover, making such a technical strap necessitates extensive research into the compatibility of the materials used. The resultant strap proffers superior suppleness and resistance when contrasted with conventional rubber. In this instance, its appearance is enriched with a fabric-effect façade. The buckle, with its micro adjustment system, allows the wearer to fine-tune the union between the strap and their wrist.

Having been born on a racetrack 109 years ago, Aston Martin has always enjoyed a proud association with racing. Over the years, it has participated in various forms of international competition, enjoying much success. However, while performance is a critical part of the marque’s DNA, Aston Martin is acknowledged as an iconic global brand synonymous with style, luxury, and exclusivity.

Aston Martin fuses the latest technology, time honoured craftsmanship and beautiful styling to produce a range of critically acclaimed luxury models including the Vantage, DB11, DBS and DBX and its first hypercar, the Aston Martin Valkyrie. This is celebrated with the new Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph AMF1 Edition which incorporates several design influences from the prestigious ultra-luxury British marque’s products. 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.

Many sports cars feature hollowed-out components that provide structural rigidity while at the same time mitigating mass. Moreover, the openings seen on several Aston Martin cars facilitate cooling. This new watch features open-worked hands throughout to imbue the design with a note of sportiness. A splash of lime is used to identify the chronograph hands to echo the design of the AMF1 car. The counterweight on the central chronograph hand emulates the side strakes widely used on numerous Aston Martin road cars. While the automotive influences are clear to see, some details are very subtle and may only be spotted by devotees of Aston Martin and those in the know.

Despite the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph AM F1 Edition being highly attractive, a reliable powerplant is also a prerequisite for success. For the first time on a Laureato Absolute Chronograph, the rear of the watch is fitted with a pane of sapphire crystal. Now, the wearer can view the automatic Manufacture movement, the Calibre GP03300-1058.

The Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One™ Team is based in Silverstone, England, close to the iconic racetrack. With this in mind, 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. The model is available worldwide in all authorised Girard-Perregaux retailers.