Aston Martin x Girard-Perregaux

The Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges – Aston Martin Edition is the first collaboration from the two and, limited to just 18 units worldwide, is an unquestionably collectable triumph of design and craftsmanship.

The exquisite timepiece unites the watchmaking expertise of Girard-Perregaux with Aston Martin’s unique knowledge of luxury and performance.

Both brands demonstrate a passion for refined craftsmanship and have been working together, sharing their understanding of design, materials and technology. This latest model celebrates the signature Three Bridges pocket watch from the 19th century in a decidedly contemporary way, down to the smallest details, including the strap. The latter is a world premiere, presented in black calf leather and featuring Rubber Alloy, an innovative rubber insert injected with white gold.

The 44 millimetre case of the Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges – Aston Martin Edition is formed of Grade 5 titanium and is suffused with black DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon), bestowing the watch a stealthy appearance.

A sapphire crystal ‘box’ is positioned front of house, as well as to the rear, coaxes light to illuminate the case interior, while the movement seemingly floats in mid air, sitting between both panes of sapphire crystal.

The cage of the tourbillon, positioned in the lower portion of the dial, is ‘lyre-shaped’, a characteristic found on all the company’s tourbillons dating back to the 19th century. A blued hand affixed to the cage imparts the running seconds. The tourbillon cage is composed of 79 components which collectively weigh only 0.25 grams. It truly is a feat of precise engineering and beauty.

Aston Martin’s name is engraved on the vertical flank of the micro-rotor and is filled with a white luminescent treatment which appears blue in certain light. Likewise, the indexes and hands are also treated with white luminescent treatment and, once again, emit a blue glow in dim light.

Patrick Pruniaux, CEO of Girard-Perregaux, said of the timepiece ”Rarely do we work with others to reinterpret the Three Bridges, however, on this occasion, we have made an exception, mindful of Aston Martin’s prowess for design.”

Marek Reichman, Aston Martin Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer adds: "The greatest of the challenges we faced with the design of this new timepiece were those of scale, as you can imagine. We had to consider lines and proportion on a far smaller scale than we are used to in the realm of automotive design. That said, good design is good design, whether it is a watch or a car, the principles remain the same. I’m delighted with the finished watch and congratulate everyone who worked on this project as this collaboration has produced a timepiece of great beauty."

The Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges - Aston Martin Edition, a limited edition of 18 pieces, is immediately available worldwide in all authorised Girard-Perregaux retailers.