How do you describe a feeling? The feeling you get when everything around you breaks passion and excellence into moments of pure joy? Imagine Sunday morning: a relaxed breakfast with your significant other, another coffee, but there is something... An urge for exploration and adventure. And the near future is clear. You take one of your favourite casual attire, put the watch on the wrist and take the "emotional control unit" for your DB9 (or DBS), to the latest key fob for the latest Aston Martin models. And here you go... Regardless of the howling of the sport mode or the sweet purr of the GT mode, the feeling you get from this machine is enriched only by the view of your wrist companion.
Exalting feelings: Girard-Perregaux Neo Bridges Aston Martin Edition
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Girard-Perregaux and Aston Martin continue building their relationship and partnership with a new spectacular piece – Girard-Perregaux Neo Bridges Aston Martin Edition. Based on elements specific to both industry giants, the new wristwatch features one of the oldest mechanical signatures in watchmaking, the GP bridge, in an interpretation related to Aston Martin’s next generation of sportscars. The fans will recognise colour schemes and sculpted shapes specific to the latest DB12 and the Neo Bridges.
Girard-Perregaux Neo Bridges Aston Martin Edition
When Girard-Perregaux announced their partnership with Aston Martin, in 2021, I could not hide my joy. I have to admit that I have missed the fantastic creations that AM pulled together with Jaeger-LeCoultre (I was sad when that era was over). But the new partnership brought in the same mixer two very distinct flavours that I enjoy. Both feature a fantastic history and heritage well put into the modern perspective.
Dark and light
The Girard-Perregaux Neo Bridges Aston Martin Edition comes in a 45 mm grade 5 black DLC titanium. Although the dimensions are pretty large, the case wears smaller as expected due to some construction tricks – the sides of the intricately formed case taper inwards, both towards the box sapphire crystal and near the caseback and the lugs, which curve sharply downwards. The thickness of only 12.18 mm helps this mirage. The case is adorned with a matt brush that extends all over it. The caseback is engraved with the brand’s name, serial number, movement number, and the “One of 250”, and it suffered the same brushing treatment. The crown has a robust construction, allowing a facile set and winding. The crown is decorated with the embossed GP logo on a slight bombe surrounding.
Familiar shapes and colours
Girard-Perregaux Neo Bridges Aston Martin Edition is a new interpretation of known elements. The watch features colours and shapes we have seen in previous collaborations. The most important would be the Neo Bridges – one the most recognisable Girard-Perregaux elements – and one of the oldest horological signatures in watchmaking and the green shades present on the open dial.
Two Neo Bridges are present on the top, a sign of the inverted movement that brings the main characters to the visible side. The biggest one holds the central stem and the gear train in place, while the smaller one holds the balance wheel, also visible. A matt finish in beautiful crude green is interrupted by the polished edges – an expertise GP is rightfully proud of. The time is displayed with skeletonised hands incorporating luminescent material, which bestows a green emission in low light conditions, a colour that will forever be associated with Aston Martin. The outer ring bears the GP-logo at 12 o’clock position and applied volumetric hour indexes with green emitting luminescent material. The circular brushed chapter ring also bears green transfer-printed indexes. The legibility is fantastic in any light condition, although the darkness reveals the richness of green luminescence.
Since the movement is inverted, the other main elements are visible. The skeletonised design with sand-blasted surfaces and polished edges reveals all the beautiful but technical Calibre’s GP0840000-2164 elements. The main barrel can be noticed between 1 and 2 o’clock, while the micro-rotor (with “Designed by Aston Martin” white ink-filled engraving) can be studied in detail at the region between 10 and 11 o’clock. The design inspiration comes from the brakes revealed behind the Aston Martin DB12’s spoked wheels.
The back of the watch reveals what normally would be the watchmaker’s side – the under-the-dial side of the movement. The huge smiling and winking face reveals the back of the barrel, the bridge holding the micro-rotor stem’s jewel and two arched plates bearing the movement’s name and the number of jewels printed in white. The elements are finished with the GP-bridge-specific ending. A generous-sized Aston Martin logo is printed on the case-back’s sapphire crystal.
Conclusion
Boosting elements of power and elements of the modern age of Girard-Perregaux and Aston Martin, the Neo Bridges collaboration fits perfectly into the images of both houses. As a fan of both names, I find my needs well satisfied from both directions. Integrating elements specific to the latest Aston Martin DB12 into the Neo Bridges design from Girard-Perregaux is seamlessly realised. A comfortable piece, relatively neutral for such a strong union, the Girard-Perregaux Neo Bridges Aston Martin Edition offers the lightness of a daily piece with a message of power.
Girard-Perregaux Neo Bridges Aston Martin Edition Technical Specifications
Reference 84000-21-3236-5CX – CHF 36’000 / USD 37’700 / GBP 32’100 / EUR 39’800, Limited edition of 250 pieces, not numbered (One of 250)
Case-back: sapphire crystal with white Aston Martin logo decal
Dial: ring displaying suspended indexes with luminescent material (green emission)
Hands: skeletonized, ‘baton’ type with luminescent material (green emission)
Bracelet
Material: black rubber strap with fabric effect and green stitches
Buckle: titanium DLC triple folding buckle
About Aston Martin Aston Martin’s vision is to be the world’s most desirable, ultra-luxury British brand, creating the most exquisitely addictive performance cars. Founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford, Aston Martin is acknowledged as an iconic global brand synonymous with style, luxury, performance, and exclusivity. Aston Martin fuses the latest technology, time honoured craftsmanship and beautiful styling to produce a range of critically acclaimed luxury models including the Vantage, DB11, DBS, DBX and its first hypercar, the Aston Martin Valkyrie. Based in Gaydon, England, Aston Martin Lagonda designs, creates and exports cars which are sold in 56 countries around the world. Its sports cars are manufactured in Gaydon with its luxury DBX SUV range proudly manufactured in St Athan, Wales. Lagonda was founded in 1899 and Aston Martin in 1913. The two brands came together in 1947 when both were purchased by the late Sir David Brown, and the company is now listed on the London Stock Exchange as Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc. 2020 saw Lawrence Stroll become the company’s Executive Chairman, alongside significant new investment, a move that led to Aston Martin’s return to the pinnacle of motorsport with the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One™ Team and commenced new era for the iconic British marque.
About Girard-Perregaux Since 1791, Girard-Perregaux has been embracing the rhythm of ever-elusive time. Cradled in the Jura mountains in the heart of La Chaux-de-Fonds, it is a pioneer in the world of Haute Horlogerie: an independent Manufacture which has retained this status for over two centuries, successfully keeping all production in-house and passing down exceptional horological skills throughout the generations. The preservation of this savoir-faire, along with a sincere passion for beauty and for the art itself, has remained the key to Girard-Perregaux’s ability to continuously innovate. Always seeking the perfect balance of beauty and functionality, fans of fine watchmaking will instantly recognise the house signatures, such as the iconic octagonal bezel of the Laureato and the legendary Tourbillon with ‘Three Gold Bridges’. From seeking to create industry references in timepieces to making the invisible visible through the art of precision engineering, Girard-Perregaux never ceases to change the course of time via pieces that are the first of their kind. This place at the vanguard of horological innovation is solidified by over one hundred recorded patents for original designs, like the movement of three arrow-shaped bridges, registered in 1884, as well as prizes like the ’Aiguille d’Or’ in 2013 and distinctions like the Gold Medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1889. Rooted in its heritage, Girard-Perregaux is driven by the instinct to always look ahead, embracing new technologies, utilising state-of-the-art materials, and finding inventive ways to bring joy by reimagining iconic shapes. To this end, Girard-Perregaux has remained a human-sized Manufacture, and in 2022, became part of an independent collective of Haute Horlogerie Manufactures alongside sister Maison Ulysse Nardin.
