The Laureato Absolute Chronograph Aston Martin F1 Edition

There's no shortage of watchmaker sponsors in Formula 1 and other motorsports. These watchmakers often release a watch to commemorate their partnership with their selected racing teams. In many cases, these watches are limited edition versions from an existing collection with unique properties to cement the affiliation with their racing team partners.

A great example is the Laureato Absolute Chronograph Aston Martin F1 Edition from Girard-Perregaux (no prizes for guessing which Formula 1 team affiliation the watch commemorates). Girard-Perregaux may not be as well known as Audemars Piguet or Piaget, but the company has a rich history in Swiss watchmaking and produces some outstanding timepieces. Popular collections from Girard-Pereguax include the Laureato and the Bridges collection, which is perhaps synonymous with the brand.

The Laureato collection includes fine timepieces with a variety of designs and finishes. What these watches have in common is the octagonal bezel which makes it easy to associate the watch with the collection. The Laureato Absolute Chronograph Aston Martin F1 Edition belongs to the Laureato collection. A single look at this watch will quickly reveal its motorsport connections.

The case is built from titanium and carbon with a striking look that's likely to catch the attention of any hardcore racing fan. Further emphasizing the watch's Aston Martin affiliation is the green strap, which is made of FKM rubber and carbon elements. To add to the intrigue, the carbon was extracted from 2021 Formula 1 race cars used by the Aston Martin F1 team. The watchmaker states that these materials give each watch in the set a unique look and make it stand out from any other watch with a similar styling.

It's worth noting that the carbon bezel isn't unique to the Aston Martin F1 Edition in the Laureato collection. You'll also find this styling on the Absolute Wired and the Absolute Infrared. However, none of these other watches can claim to have parts extracted from an F1 car.

The watch has a diameter of 44mm and thickness of 15.15mm. Being a chronograph, the watch comes with three subdials, two chronograph registers, and one seconds display. The dial is finished in "Aston Martin Racing Green" with cross-hatching. That finishing went through a process that involved twenty-one applications of paint. The resulting motif is linked to the Aston Martin 'AM' badge from 1921.

Turning the watch on its back, you'll find a sapphire crystal case-back with Aston Martin Formula One Team decal in white. The watch is also water resistant to a depth of 100m, so jumping into a pool after the Monaco Grand Prix isn't likely to compromise your timepiece. However, no guarantees on your expensive loafers.

The internals of the watch are always interesting so let's explore that. This version of the Laureato Absolute comes with the Calibre GP033300-1058 movement, which according to Girard-Perregaux, guarantees accurate timekeeping, a generous power reserve, and push mechanisms for the buttons that offer smooth activation.

The rear comes with a panel of sapphire crystal which provides a great view for observing the movement. That's something that is always appreciated by watch lovers eager to observe the intricate details of the motion of a watch's internals. However, in this case, the F1 team branding obscures the view a little, which is unfortunate.

While the Aston Martin team has had its struggles in F1 during the 2022 season, there's little doubt that their car makes green look absolutely fabulous. The Absolute Chronograph Aston Martin F1 Edition is a perfect complement to the car as the green dial and strap take on the captivating green color of the Formula 1 car. The fact that carbon from an F1 car was used to make the case just cements why F1 fans (even those who don't particularly care for the Aston Martin F1 team) should want one. Who knew that green could look so good?