This week, the FIA and Formula 1 revealed each of the 10 liveries that will be racing in the 2025 season, which is set to begin with the first formal practice later this month in Bahrain. While many of the designs take an evolutionary approach (to be charitable), the subtle differences, along with the occasion itself, are enough to elicit new releases from partners, as we saw earlier this week with IWC and Mercedes, and today with Girard-Perregaux and their partner, Aston Martin. This is the new Laureato Chronograph Aston Martin Edition, and like the green ceramic references released in 2023, the watch makes a statement with color.
At a glance, there’s nothing about this watch that directly references Aston Martin. There are no wings on the dial or speedometer like scales to track time. Instead of these overt references, Girard-Perregaux is wisely trying to capture something more elusive, such as an emotion that you might feel when considering the design or color of an Aston Martin. To that end, Girard-Perregaux have produced a rather stunning dial that achieves exactly that.
This Laureato Chronograph features what might be the most dynamic dials to hit the market in recent years (which is saying a lot) thanks to the unique production process. The dial is iridescent green, and is made with 15 ultrathin layers of paint that go through two cooking cycles to achieve the desired effect, which is ever changing in nature. The result is a green that can’t really be pinned down to a specific hue, value, or intensity. It’s also a green that’s meant to evoke some of the classic configurations used by Aston Martin over the years, though it doesn’t directly reference any specific paint code.
The dial is set within a 42mm titanium case, whose warmth accentuates the subtle shifts in tone of the dial. It also keeps the weight in check, but this watch isn’t exactly about being subtle and sporty, it’s about the experience of this dial. In fact, the use of titanium feels just as much an aesthetic choice as it does a practical one. Inside, you’ll find Girard-Perregaux’s automatic caliber GP03300, which is visible through an exhibition window that’s emblazoned with Aston Martin’s logo.
As far as automotive crossover watches are concerned, the thinking seems to have matured in recent years to a considerable degree. We are well removed from the days of slapping the brand’s logo on one side of the dial and calling it a day. Instead, collaborating brands look to find themes that they can build on together, resulting in more interesting designs being executed on both sides. This Girard-Perregaux is emblematic of this trend, and represents an idea that is compelling regardless of your feelings about Aston Martin as a brand.
The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Aston Martin Edition is available now, and is priced at $22,000. Girard-Perregaux
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