Girard-Perregaux has been working with Aston Martin for quite some time now and while their previous collaborations have been interesting, none of them had marked a first for either brand. That changes with this newest Laureato which is the first fully ceramic model in the line.
These time-only Laureato’s come in two sizes: 38mm and 42mm. It must be said that these are sexier than their previous collaboration, the Laureato chronograph, even if you do lose that racing spirit of the chronograph.
For those unaware, it’s incredibly difficult to create coloured ceramic on both a case and bracelet. Harder still is the ability to achieve a finish on par with a metallic case and bracelet like Girard-Perregaux have done here. Here you’ll find rich horizontal brushing on most of the surfaces, but glossy polish around the outer perimeters of the case and bezel. There are numerous advantages to having ceramic on your watch rather than metal for example, these Laureato’s boast a scratch resistance about seven times better than stainless-steel.
While the case and bracelet are what’s new, there’s still present the familiar, in this case the dial. It’s the same face we saw on each Laureato Chronograph made with Aston Martin, but it’s safe to assume in this scenario that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. It’s just a great design whose aesthetic is tied to Aston Martin’s history taking inspiration from the “AM” logo from 1921-26. Girard-Perregaux have even moved from tradition by moving away from the white on black date discs with a completely dial-matching disc.
Each size is powered by a different movement, but ultimately, they achieve the same result. Powering the 42mm is the in-house automatic calibre GP01800-2165, a 4Hz movement with a 54-hour power reserve. The 38mm is powered by the GP03300-2166 which has a 46-hour power reserve. Other than the power reserve, the only difference you will notice through the exhibition casebacks is the surface area of the bridges with the 38mm’s movement being wider.
These are only available in Australia from The Hour Glass and are priced at $25,800 USD for the 42mm and $25,000 USD for the 38mm.
At a Glance
Reference: 81010-32-3081-1CX, 81005-32-3080-1CX
Diameter: 42mm, 38mm
Thickness: 11.08mm, 10.27mm
Caseback: Sapphire crystal
Water Resistance: 100m
Strap: Ceramic
Case: Ceramic
Movement: GP01800, GP03300
Power Reserve: 54 hours, 46 hours
Price: $25,800 and $25,000
