Girard-Perregaux is no stranger to ceramic watches, having already created a number of references using the material in recent years. But as you may have guessed from its name, the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition is the first time the Swiss brand has created a fully green ceramic watch. The result is an elegant fusion of Girard-Perregaux’s distinctive Laureato styling with British sporting automaker Aston Martin’s particularly deep shade of British racing green. It’s a handsome, modern take on a classic design, and yes, it is very, very green.
Despite a relatively young two-year partnership, it’s been a fruitful one for Girard-Perregaux and Aston Martin, with four special collaboration timepieces between the brands thus far. Their first limited edition watch was released in 2021: the Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon Three Flying Bridges Aston Martin Edition, with its skeletonized triple-bridge tourbillon design and black PVD-coated titanium case, was an exercise in elemental form and luxury. The second collaboration, the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph Aston Martin Edition, debuted mere months later and saw the introduction of British racing green into the lineup. The third offering, the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph Aston Martin F1 Edition, was a unique concept that featured a carbon composite case created with materials reclaimed from the Aston Martin AMR21 Formula One race car. And now, in this fourth and latest collaboration, the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition becomes the very first Laureato to feature a fully green ceramic case and bracelet. In fact, the entire case construction is made of green ceramic, with the exception of the titanium double swing-arm deployant clasp and lug connectors.
The specific type of Aston Martin Racing Green ceramic (as the watch’s material is officially known) is created with a base of extremely fine micro-beaded zirconium oxide powder, which is then mixed with metallic oxides, giving the ceramic its particular deep green hue. This process allows for an extremely uniform application of color, and one that is noticeably matte, especially in indirect light. However, the gentle chamfering and polishing around the octagonal bezel, as well as along the case edge and bracelet (the center links especially), give the watch a subtle sheen as it moves around. This adds just the right amount of pop to what is an otherwise reserved monochromatic palette. At certain angles, the watch feels almost metallic, which is fitting given the automotive partnership here.
On that note, I appreciate that Girard-Perregaux chose not to opt for a chronograph layout with this release. Chronographs often tend to be the de facto format for most watch and car brand collaborations, but the three-hand design here lets the color and case construction do all the talking. The dial certainly feels sleeker for it, and so does the rest of the watch as a result. The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition is available in both 38mm and 42mm-wide versions. I reviewed the 38mm version, and found it to be a near perfect fit for my 6.6-inch wrist. The lugs do have a noticeable flare, but they slope sharply downwards at their ends to help with wearability. That said, I do think I could wear the 42mm just as well, but I would advise that anyone interested in purchasing this watch try it on beforehand (or at least another 42mm Laureato) to see how it wears with them personally.
While color is one thing, dial texture is another completely. This watch carries on with the striking cross-hatched pattern found in Girard-Perregaux’s most recent Aston Martin editions. The diamond-shaped design is meant to evoke the ‘AM’ Aston Martin logo from the early 1920’s, as well as the seat fabric texture found in some of the automaker’s high-performance vehicles. A skeletonized and lumed baton-shaped handset fills out the dial, along with a color-matched date wheel. An in-house Girard-Perregaux caliber GP01800-2165 beats away at 28,800 vph (4Hz) and offers a respectable 54 hours of power reserve, and the handsomely-decorated movement is visible through the sapphire caseback with Aston Martin logo decal.
The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition takes some of the most recognizable elements from each brand – the Laureato and Aston Martin Racing Green, respectively – and distills them into a mature, refined collaborative effort that both watch and auto enthusiasts (and of course, fans of the color green) can enjoy.
The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition is limited to 188 pieces for the 38mm version, and 388 pieces for the 42mm version. Pricing is $25,000 USD and $25,800 USD, respectively. For more information, please visit the Girard-Perregaux website.
