Girard-Perregaux is excited to introduce the Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition, marking the first-ever appearance of a green ceramic case and bracelet in the Laureato collection. This collaboration represents the latest venture between the Swiss Maison and the renowned British marque, both of which have a legacy of crafting enduring products. While some of the materials employed in these new co-branded timepieces are cutting-edge, the foundational spirit of the original Laureato has been upheld. Available in two case sizes (42mm and 38mm), each reference is a limited edition, ensuring its rarity in the watch world.
The Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition embodies a sleek, modern, and remarkably elegant design, drawing inspiration from Aston Martin cars. The watch pays homage to the qualities associated with the British firm’s products: robust engines, graceful contours, and lightweight construction. It is this last characteristic that inspired Girard-Perregaux to equip this new model with skeletonized ‘baton’ style hour and minute hands, ensuring both a light and functional design. The watch’s dial features a cross-hatch pattern, reminiscent of the diamond-like motif found in the vintage ‘AM’ logo (1921-1926) and the quilted seats found in some of the car marque’s high-performance vehicles.
A productive relationship
Among the most exquisite luxury items are meticulously handcrafted by artisans with years of experience, infusing each piece with a unique character and enduring quality. These products are the result of uncompromising craftsmanship, utilizing the finest materials, and inevitably requiring a substantial amount of time to produce. Both Aston Martin and Girard-Perregaux operate within this exclusive realm of excellence, crafting rare creations that possess timeless allure. In 2021, these distinguished brands initiated a multi-year collaboration, leading to the creation of several limited-edition, co-branded products.
British Racing Green
In 1900, an historic race unfolded in France known as the Gordon Bennett Cup, where cars navigated public roads from Paris to Lyon. Initially, cars were assigned colors based on the driver’s nationality, but this practice later evolved, and the hue of a car’s bodywork came to represent the nationality of the racing team. Consequently, French cars donned blue, Italian cars adopted red, Belgian cars embraced yellow, German cars sported white or silver, and British cars proudly wore green. This green shade has since adorned numerous British race cars and is now a signature color seen on modern-day Aston Martin vehicles. It was only natural that a co-branded model should feature this distinctive green, a color synonymous with performance and triumph.
Technical Ceramic: A Modern Attire
Introduced in 1975, the original Laureato featured an octagonal bezel perched atop a circular base, all set upon an angular tonneau-shaped case.
The new Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition honors these timeless design elements while employing cutting-edge ceramic for both the bracelet and case. This lightweight material is composed of zirconium oxide and metallic oxides, the latter imparting the material’s distinct green hue. Girard-Perregaux has selected a zirconium oxide consisting of an exceptionally fine powder, composed of micro-beads, each measuring mere fractions of a micron in diameter (1 micron (µ) = 0.001mm). Utilizing this precise micro-bead grade ensures a uniformly consistent appearance in the structure of the bracelet and case.
This homogeneity allows Girard-Perregaux’s skilled artisans to finish the ceramic components with a blend of polished and satin surfaces, a cherished characteristic shared by all Laureato models.
The green ceramic elements are remarkably robust, up to seven times harder than steel, ensuring remarkable scratch resistance and preserving the watch’s pristine appearance for years to come. Moreover, these green ceramic components are impervious to the effects of aging or fading over time. Ceramic also remains unaffected by fluctuations in ambient temperature, being lightweight, hypoallergenic, and exceptionally smooth. These attributes combine to offer unparalleled wearer comfort.
A Common Philosophy
The enduring design of the Laureato has earned the admiration of both discerning observers and devoted watch enthusiasts. Similarly, Aston Martin has consistently demonstrated its skill in crafting iconic forms that have maintained their timeless allure. Whether it’s a DB4 from the early 60s, a DBS V8 from the 70s, or a contemporary Vantage, all these models embody the same characteristics of elegance, craftsmanship, and high-performance.
atrick Pruniaux, CEO of Girard-Perregaux, remarked “From the outset, the design of the Laureato was distinctive, yet cohesive. Its styling encompassed geometric, clean-cut lines while exhibiting a slightly gentle character. Contrasting polished and satin finished surfaces, an ergonomic integrated bracelet and, of course, as always, an in-house movement… these are the essential ingredients which have made the Laureato a remarkable success. The same ingredients are much in evidence with the new Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition along with the addition of an interesting, highly contemporary material.”
Marek Reichman, Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, Aston Martin Lagonda, added: “Our goal was to conceive an advanced luxury product. Patrick and I spent a lot of time talking about the folklore of the Laureato and the design play between shape and proportion of its iconic bezel. When he shared GP’s exploration into the optical properties of technical ceramics, micro beads and microns, I became quite enchanted by this idea of the past becoming the future. We’re always exploring combinations of technology, colour, and materials in Aston Martin sports cars to enrich performance, functionality and owner enjoyment. Together we’ve fused these ideas and attributes to generate this cool new Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition”.
Exploring the Inner Workings
Both versions of the Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition reside within a slender case. The 42mm model houses the Calibre GP01800, while the 38mm version is equipped with the Calibre GP03300. These in-house movements are automatic and provide a captivating view through a transparent case-back, personalized with the iconic Aston Martin logo.
In line with the Maison’s reputation for crafting exquisite expressions of Haute Horlogerie, each movement is meticulously adorned. Circular graining adorns the main plate, while other components feature intricate details such as beveling, mirror-polishing, satin finishing, snailing, sunray finishing, and various engravings. The bridges are adorned with elegant straight Côtes de Genève, and the oscillating weight is embellished with graceful circular Côtes de Genève. Lastly, these movements offer a power reserve of at least 46 hours (38mm) and 54 hours (42mm), reflecting their impressive technical capabilities.
For more information, please visit Girard-Perregaux.com.