After a special edition of the Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges, Girard-Perregaux and Aston Martin Lagonda have introduced a more sporty yet elegant timepiece. The Laureato Chronograph was chosen for this collaboration, which celebrates Aston Martin's heritage on the race track.
Back in the early 1900s, various colours were assigned to racing cars to distinguish the teams' different nationalities. Blue and red, for instance, characterised French and Italian cars, while green was ablaze on British cars.
As a British marque, Aston Martin adopted green as its racing colour with the most famous example of its speedsters being the Aston Martin DBR1 that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1959. From that racer to the modern day Formula 1 car, the emblematic colour has remained green.
The new Laureato Chronograph-Aston Martin Edition boasts a striking dial in the signature green, achieved by painstakingly applying paint 21 times and forming seven distinct layers as a result. The motif recalls a cross-hatching, diamond-like pattern on the "AM" logo and quilted seats of its high-performance sports cars.
The vibrant dial displays two chronograph registers, a small seconds display and a date indicator.
The partially openworked hour and minute hands have been purposely designed to evoke thoughts of racing cars, eschewing extraneous material to deliver superior performance. Likewise, the central chronograph seconds hand features a counterweight that resembles the sides strakes first seen on the 1958 Aston Martin DB4.
Girard-Perregaux launched the Laureato in 1975. The design of the case plays with different shapes, and the raised octagonal bezel was the commanding feature of the first model.
Likewise, the styling of the Laureato Chronograph-Aston Martin Edition plays with shapes, textures and light. The curves, facets and lines, along with satin-finished and polished edges brilliantly catch the light.
The 42mm case is made from 904L stainless steel, which is less common and more pricey than the 316L grade while providing superior corrosion resistance, improved scratch resistance and a much brighter, luxurious appearance. The use of 904L stainless steel extends to the bracelet with a satin brushed finish.
Based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the Swiss brand made this edition of the Laureato Chronograph more revealing by designing it with an open caseback for the first time.
With an Aston Martin logo decal, the sapphire crystal showcases the self-winding mechanical movement with delicate finishes while the eagle emblem indicates that it's an in-house calibre.
This year Girard-Perregaux celebrates its 230th anniversary as its roots trace back to 1791. Aston Martin Lagonda is an independent luxury car group with over 100 years of automotive excellence.
The alliance between the long-established companies has been strengthened by the Laureato Chronograph-Aston Martin Edition, available in 188 pieces.
