INTRODUCING: The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph Aston Martin F1 Edition
D.C. HannayAnyone who knows me, knows I’m a fan of Formula 1 racing. Since the halcyon days of Senna and Schumacher, I’ve been fascinated with those four-wheeled fighter jets and their pilots, pushing the limits of man and machine in their quest for motoring immortality. And I’m especially stoked that the sport has increased the size of their footprint in the US with the inaugural Miami Grand Prix (and another one in Las Vegas next season), no doubt influenced by the popularity of Netflix’s hugely successful Formula 1: Drive To Survive series.
Hand in hand with the teams’ innovative use of advanced materials in the automobiles, you’ll find watch companies following suit with some highly technical pieces of their own. Official team sponsors like Richard Mille, IWC, Hublot, and Bell & Ross are known for their use of non-traditional materials, and you can add Swiss manufacture Girard-Perregaux to that list.
G-P is the official timepiece sponsor of one of the most legendary names in motoring, the F1 team of Britain’s iconic Aston Martin, with four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel and Canadian young gun Lance Stroll as their current pilots. And for the 2022 season, Girard-Perregaux has released their third collaboration with the Aston Martin F1 team, the Laureato Absolute Chronograph Aston Martin F1 Edition. This lightweight, technical timepiece features a forward-leaning design, real horological prowess, and an extremely cool bit of F1/Aston Martin fan service. Bearing in mind the predecessor of this watch is already going for nearly twice its retail price as we reported here, this piece is definitely worth a good look.
The Case
Fans of GP’s Laureato will recognise the eight-sided bezel of their highly-regarded integrated bracelet model, which occupies the same strata as pieces like AP’s Royal Oak, but the similarities to the original Laureato end there. This is a completely different animal, bred for the track, with its 44mm diameter case milled from a unique composite blend of powdered titanium and carbon mixed with tinted resin. The combination of strength and light weight mirrors the use of materials used to fabricate high performance automobiles, but the connection doesn’t end there. The carbon used is actually taken from two of the 2021 season’s Formula 1 cars. That’s quite the souvenir, and because of the unique nature of the material, each piece of the limited-to-306 run is one-of-a-kind.
The sharp case angles reflect the high-tech nature of the entire execution, and the multiple surfaces show off the variegated material, where you can pick up hints of the team’s signature green flecked throughout the greyish black carbon-titanium alloy. There are hints of colour on the rectangular pusher buttons too, with accents of Aston Martin Racing green, and what could best be described as an electric lime. The case height is rather tall at 15.15mm, but understandable due to the chronograph movement inside, and as a whole, it looks proportional given the 44mm diameter. The watch is water resistant to 100 metres, and sapphire protects the dial up front and the movement around back. The caseback (emblazoned with the Aston Martin F1 team logo) is secured with six screws.
The Dial
In addition to the striking looks of the carbon/titanium case, the dial has plenty of visual interest of its own. Rendered in the signature AM green, it features a sunray finish, as well as a diamond-patterned crosshatch surface, another Aston Martin trademark that goes all the way back to their 1921 logo. A white-on-black date window resides discreetly at 4:30. The black skeletonised baton hands feature broad, lume-filled areas toward the ends. The subdials are ringed in black with white hands, numerals, and markings, save for the lime-coloured 30-minute hand. The central chrono hand also features that sprightly jolt of lime, which really jumps off the dial. If you’ve seen the Aston Martin Vantage in this very colour combination, you can attest to its stunning looks. A blacked-out logo and the brand’s wordmark in white rest below 12, along with a graphic representation of one of G-P’s signature bridges. All told, the dial is highly legible, captivating to look at, and wouldn’t be out of place on a hypercar’s dash.
The Movement
The nicely decorated GP03300-1058 in-house movement is based on the autowinding GP03300, with a chrono module added. It has 63 jewels, runs at a frequency of 28,800 Vph, and sports a power reserve of 46 hours. Decoration is understated and tasteful, but expertly done, featuring Côtes de Genève striping, engine turning, gold-filled engraving, and blued screws. All this ocular deliciousness is visible behind the sapphire caseback (a first for a Laureato chronograph), and the on-glass logo, printed in white, doesn’t detract in any meaningful way.
The Strap
The strap, done up in what Girard-Perregaux has dubbed a “rubber alloy” (a cocktail of black FKM rubber and carbon from the aforementioned race car components), is flexible and comfortable. It’s well-integrated into the case, and features an Aston Martin Racing Green fabric effect insert, with green stitching to match. Fitment is via a folding buckle, rendered in black PVD-coated titanium.
The Verdict
If you’re an Aston Martin fan, a Formula 1 nut, or just someone who appreciates an immaculately crafted, race-inspired technical chronograph, Girard-Perregaux has put together an extremely attractive and compelling option among a field of high-end F1-adjacent chronos. The Laureato Absolute Chronograph Aston Martin F1 Edition is simply a damn handsome racing chrono, with a high-tech look that mirrors the bleeding-edge innovation of today’s vehicles. I love the Aston Martin heritage, and the watch definitely does the marque proud. I certainly wouldn’t kick it out of the driver’s seat.
The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph Aston Martin F1 Edition pricing and availability:
The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph Aston Martin F1 Edition is available for $41,000 AUD in a limited edition range of 306 pieces
| Case Material | Titanium/Carbon |
| Case Dimensions | 44mm |
| Water-Resistance | 100M |
| Dial | Sunray Aston Martin Racing Green |
| Straps | Green rubber/carbon alloy, fabric effect, green stitching |
| Movement | GP03300-1058 self-winding mechanical chronograph movement |
| Power Reserve | 46 hours |
| Complications | Chronograph |
| Price | $41,000 AUD, Limited edition of 306 pieces |
The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph Aston Martin F1 Edition pricing and availability: