Cars & watches, Aston Martin + Girard-Perregaux

Text: Britta Rossander

Cars and watches often feel like a given combination. And today a press release came about yet another collaboration. Now it is finally official that Girard-Perregaux steps in as official timekeeper and partner for Aston Martin Lagonda and Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team. Eqotime’s Britta Rossander tells us more.

This is car collaboration number two that we have seen from GP’s side. The earlier one was with Ferrari and lasted ten years. (1994 – 2004). Both Aston Martin and Girard-Perregaux were founded by passionate visionaries, though during different centuries. Aston Martin was started in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford but Girard-Perregaux can actually trace its origins to 1791. That was when Jean-François Bautte, only 19 years old, made his first watch. But it was not until the love story between Constant Girard (who bought the company in 1906) and Marie Perregaux led to marriage that the name the company uses today was registered.

Beauty and technology in two ways unite

The legendary Aston Martin DBR1 (1956) is a car made for competition racing. It was drawn by the in-house designer Frank Feeley and is considered one of the most beautiful and most graceful car models ever made. The side air vent, which appeared for the first time on this very car, is an important and clearly visible detail for Aston Martin's sports cars to this day.

When Girard-Perregaux released its today classic and famous Tourbillon ’With Three Gold Bridges’ in 1867 they made visible design of three important details that had previously been hidden. Back then it was on a pocket watch but today we can see the beautiful golden bridges on wristwatches as well.

Tobias Moers, CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda says:

– The beauty of our partnership is that we share core values but we also have a lot to learn from each other. Girard-Perregaux are innovators in the use of new materials and new technology. We both create beautifully designed products that deliver performance and flawless execution.

Otmar Szafnauer, CEO of Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team, says:

– We are proud of the partnership with Girard-Perregaux. Both we and Girard-Perregaux have a rich history, a fantastic heritage and a dedication where we strive for the highest quality combined with high technology.

Patrick Pruniaux, CEO of Girard-Perregaux, adds:

– 2021 is an important year for and both. We have our 230-year anniversary and Aston Martin makes its entry into Formula 1 as a team again, it was 60 years since last time.

GP’s logo will now sit on the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team cars from the start of the F1 season in Bahrain. And the first watch will come a little later. We promise to come back with a report here on Eqotime as soon as it is ready to be shown.