Tag Archives: Aston Martin

LAUREATO CHRONOGRAPH ASTON MARTIN EDITION

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Aston Martin and Girard-Perregaux are both synonymous with creations that touch the soul, heighten emotions, and awaken the senses. Now, the British luxury marque and the Swiss Manufacture have designed a watch that will give the owner an experience rich in sensations.

The Laureato Chronograph Aston Martin Edition sports an exclusive feature: an iridescent dial created with automotive paint, inspired by the colours of British sports cars, which adorn Aston Martin’s iconic vehicles. Its creation required a brand-new and highly complex process.

The Laureato Chronograph Aston Martin Edition features a dial executed in an arresting shade of green.

A HISTORY OF ORCHESTRATING EMOTIONS

Enter the cockpit of a modern DB12 and everything is designed to heighten the intensity of the driving experience. Sight, sound, smell and touch; every facet of an Aston Martin is designed to orchestrate human emotionsand deliver an intense, singular ownership experience. Now, with this in mind, Aston Martin and Girard-Perregaux have created a watch designed to arouse emotions and stimulate the human senses.

The new Laureato Chronograph Aston Martin Edition is optimally designed to thrill onlookers. Each facet of the vibrantly hued dial and lightweight multifaceted titanium bodywork engages with light, evincing a variety of shades.

IT’S GREEN BUT WITH A TWIST

The Laureato Chronograph Aston Martin Edition features a dial executed in an arresting shade of green. Created using a rare technology and employing much expertise, the dial is enlivened with an iridescent automotive paint, applied using an intricate process. Its fabrication involves 14 manufacturing steps alone, while the eye-catching hue is achieved by applying 15 ultrathin layers of paint to the dial surface and subjecting it to two cooking cycles to achieve the desired look. The tolerances involved in creating the paint for a watch are much smaller than those employed in the automotive sector and involve a protracted filtration method to eradicate any residual grains that could potentially mar the overall aesthetic.

Green has always been synonymous with British sportscars, adorning iconic Aston Martin cars on road and track over the years and being today the most popular colour choice amongst enthusiasts of the British marque. In this instance, Girard-Perregaux has reimagined an iridescent shade of green favoured by the car marque, creating a distinctive hue all of its own.

Endowed with a dynamic character, the dial subtly plays with light and appears to transition from green to orange when viewed from different angles. The dial’s appearance makes a bold statement, but then again the Laureato has always stood out from the crowd, captivating horophiles since 1975 with its masterful blend of shapes and finishes.

TITANIUM: LOW MASS AND HIGH PERFORMANCE

With a rich history of making high performance cars, Aston Martin clearly understands the importance of mitigating kerb weight. Over the years, it has created models using tubular fabrication methods as well as lightweight materials. The British marque’s know-how has seen it make strong, stiff (essential for handling) and light sports cars capable of delivering breathtaking performance. Likewise, Girard- Perregaux has also created several timepieces made of lightweight materials, including forged carbon. On this occasion, Grade 5 titanium has been selected for the new Laureato Chronograph Aston Martin Edition. The metal is light, strong, stiff, corrosion resistant, non-magnetic and hypoallergenic; all useful attributes for
watchmaking.

Upholding Laureato tradition, the case and bracelet feature brushed and polished surfaces to deliver an alluring contrast. For example, the circular plinth, case facets, chronograph pushers as well as the central links of the bracelet are all presented in gleaming form.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

When sat behind the wheel of a high performance supercar, the driver should ‘feel at one’ with the vehicle. Ergonomics are important; all controls should fall to hand. The handling should inspire confidence and the instruments should be simple to interpret.

Likewise, the dial of the Laureato Chronograph Aston Martin Edition proves intuitive to read. It features skeletonised hands, inspired by the distinctive front grille found on the British marque’s cars, while the indexes and counters have been suffused with grey-toned PVD treatment, echoing the hue of the titanium case.

The hour and minute hands are partially openworked and collaborate with faceted applied batons. Both the hands and indexes are lined with white luminescent material and emit a green glow in dim light. Three snailed counters, namely, a 30-minute chronograph register, a 12- hour chronograph register and a small seconds display, punctuate the dial.

The central chronograph seconds hand features a black tip that reaches out to the minute track positioned on a flange fringing the dial. A date display, located between 4 and 5 o’clock, completes the inventory of functions. The GP name is presented in white text near the top of the dial with the brand’s logo positioned adjacent, presented in relief.

AN IMPRESSIVE POWERPLANT

At the heart of the Laureato Chronograph Aston Martin Edition ticks an in-house Manufacture movement, the GP03300 calibre. Visible via a sapphire caseback, bearing the Aston Martin logo, the movement is crafted at the company’s production facility in La Chaux-de-Fonds and is optimally shaped for the Laureato model.

“A self-winding movement, it features an oscillating weight adorned with circular Côtes de Genève motif.”

Additional movement refinements include straight Côtes de Genève on the bridges, bevelling, mirror-polished screws, circular graining on the main plate and engraved gilded text, all executed to the company’s no- compromise standards.

LAUREATO CHRONOGRAPH ASTON MARTIN EDITION: Reference 81020-21-3398-1CM

THE MOVEMENT

Reference: GP03300-2451
Self-winding mechanical movement
Diameter: 25,95 mm (111/2’’’)
Height: 6.50 mm
Frequency: 28,800 Vib/h – (4 Hz)
Number of components: 419
Number of jewels: 63
Power reserve: min. 46 hours
Functions: Chronograph, hours, minutes, small seconds, date

CASE

Material: titanium, polished and satin finished
Diameter: 42.00 mm
Height: 12.16 mm
Glass: anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Case-back: sapphire crystal with metalized Aston Martin logo
Dial: iridescent green, GP logo and counters with “black-or” treatment, ‘baton’-type indexes with “black or” treatment and luminescent material (green emission)
Hands: skeletonized, ‘baton’ type, grey PVD-treated with luminescent material (green emission)
Water resistance: 100 meters (10 ATM)

BRACELET

Material: titanium, polished and satin finished

Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition by Girard-Perregaux

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Girard-Perregaux unveils the Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition, the first time a Laureato has featured a green ceramic case and bracelet. This is the latest collaboration between the Swiss Maison and the British marque, two companies that have designed products that have stood the test of time. While some of the materials used for these new co-branded watches may be ultra-modern, the essence of the inaugural Laureato has been respected. Offered in a choice of two case sizes (42mm and 38mm), each reference is a limited edition and thereby destined to remain a rare sight.

A productive relationship

Some of the finest luxury products are crafted with time-served hands. These scarce human skills, often amassed over many years, imbue an item with a distinctive character and an enduring quality. Such products are created free of concessions, using the finest components and they inevitably take an inordinate amount of time to make.

Both Aston Martin and Girard-Perregaux operate within this rarefied world of excellence, constructing rare objects that confer lasting appeal. In 2021, these two prestigious marques entered into a multi-year collaboration agreement and have since created a number of limited-edition, co- branded products.

British Racing Green

In 1900, a race took place in France, the Gordon Bennett Cup. Cars would negotiate public roads between Paris and Lyon. Initially, various colours were assigned to cars based on the nationality of the driver, however, this would subsequently change and eventually the hue of the car‘s bodywork was determined by the nationality of the racing team. As a result, French cars were presented in blue, Italian cars were red, Belgian cars were yellow, German cars were white/silver and British cars were dressed in green. This latter hue has since graced many British race cars and is now employed on present-day Aston Martin cars. It therefore seemed logical that a co-branded model should be dressed in green, a colour that evokes thoughts of performance and success.

Technical ceramic, a complex attire

Launched in 1975, the first Laureato featured an octagonal bezel that sat atop a circular plinth which in turn was positioned above an angular tonneau-shaped case. The new Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition respects these timeless elements but employs ultra-modern ceramic for the bracelet and case. This lightweight material comprises zirconium oxide and metallic oxides (the latter imbues the material with its distinctive green hue). The zirconium oxide selected by Girard-Perregaux is composed of an extremely fine powder, made of micro-beads, each measuring mere fractions of a micron in diameter (1 micron ( ) = 0.01mm). By using this specific grade of micro-bead, the structure of the bracelet and case exhibit a notably homogenous appearance. This latter attribute allows the craftspeople at Girard-Perregaux to finish the ceramic components with a combination of polished and satin finished surfaces, an endearing characteristic common to all Laureato models.

The green ceramic components are particularly hard, up to seven times harder than steel, delivering incredible scratch resistance, a quality that will ensure the watch retains its showroom-fresh appearance for years to come. Another attribute of the green ceramic components is that they will never age or fade with the passage of time. Furthermore, ceramic is unaffected by changes in ambient temperature, it’s light, hypoallergenic and proves remarkably smooth, all factors that deliver extraordinary wearer comfort.

A shared philosophy

Sleek, contemporary and notably elegant, the design of the Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition encompasses some elements inspired by Aston Martin cars. Powerful engines, sleek contours and lightweight construction are virtues synonymous with the British firm’s products. It is this latter trait which encouraged Girard-Perregaux to equip this new model with skeletonised ‘baton’ type hour and minute hands, both light and functional. The watch dial is presented in a cross-hatch design, a diamond-like pattern found on the ‘AM’ logo (1921-1926) as well as the quilted seats found in some of the car marque’s high-performance vehicles.

The timeless design of the Laureato has attracted the admiration of enlightened commentators and watch aficionados alike. Likewise, Aston Martin has repeatedly shown its prowess for sculpting iconic shapes that have never lost their eye-appeal. Whether it’s a DB4 of the early 60s, a DBS V8 of the 70s or a modern-day Vantage, all models share the same attributes of elegance, quality and performance.

Patrick 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”.

Behind the green

Both versions of the Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition are housed in a slender case. The 42mm model is fitted with the Calibre GP01800, while the 38mm version is equipped with the Calibre GP03300. Both in-house movements are self-winding and can be admired though a see-through case- back, personalised with the Aston Martin logo.

Consistent with the Maison‘s reputation for making wonderful expressions of Haute Horlogerie, each movement is beautif ully appointed. Circular graining features on the main plate, while other components are endowed with bevelling, mirror-polishing, satin finish, snailing, sunray finish and various engravings. The bridges are decorated with straight Côtes de Genève and the oscillating weight is embellished with circular Côtes de Genève. Lastly, the movements have a power reserve of at least 46 hours (38mm) and 54 hours (42mm).

The Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition (42 mm & 38 mm) will go on sale in June 2023 and will be available worldwide in selected Girard-Perregaux retailers.

Technical specifications

LAUREATO 42 MM Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition

Reference: 81010-32-3081-1CX
Suggested Retail Price*: GBP 19’900 / CHF 24,600 / USD 25’800 / EUR 25’900
Limited edition of 388 pieces, not numbered (one of 388)

Case

Material: green ceramic, polished and satin finished
Diameter: 42.00 mm
Height: 11.08 mm
Glass: anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Case-back: sapphire crystal with white Aston Martin decal
Dial: sunray green with cross-hatching, ‘baton’ type rhodium-plated indexes with luminescent material (green emission)
Hands: skeletonised ‘baton’ type hour and minute hands with luminescent material (white emission), central second hand with white lacquered tip
Water resistance: 100 metres (10 ATM)

Movement

Reference: GPO1800-2165
Self-winding mechanical movement
Diameter: 30.00 mm (13″4″”)
Height: 3.97 mm
Frequency: 28,800 Vib/h – (4Hz)
Number of components: 191
Number of jewels: 28
Power reserve: min 54 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds, date

Bracelet

Material: green ceramic, polished and satin finished

LAUREATO 38 MM Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition

Reference: 81005-32-3080-1CX
Suggested Retail Price*: GBP 19°300 / CHF 23,800 / USD 25’000 / EUR 25’000
Limited edition of 188 pieces, not numbered (one of 188)

Case

Material: green ceramic, polished and satin finished
Diameter: 38.00 mm
Height: 10.27 mm
Glass: anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Case-back: sapphire crystal with white Aston Martin decal
Dial: sunray green with cross-hatching, ‘baton’ type rhodium-plated indexes with luminescent material (green emission)
Hands: skeletonised ‘baton’ type hour and minute hands with luminescent material (white emission), central second hand with white lacquered tip
Water resistance: 100 metres (10 ATM)

Movement

Reference: GP03300-2166
Self-winding mechanical movement
Diameter: 25.95 mm (11″2″”)
Height: 3.36 mm
Frequency: 28,800 Vib/h – (4Hz)
Number of components: 218
Number of jewels: 27
Power reserve: min 46 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds, date

Bracelet

Material: green ceramic, polished and satin finished