Girard-Perregaux is one of the oldest maisons in the watchmaking world and is known for its unique timepieces. The collaboration with Aston Martin will see the two brands involved in the creation of the next collection of limited edition watches. Aston Martin was founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford, while Girard-Perregaux's origins date back to 1791, when Jean-François Bautte, aged just 19, made his first watch. The legendary Aston Martin DBR1 (1956), a car made for competitive racing, anticipated some of the brand's best-known historic 'DB' road models. Designed in-house by Frank Feeley, it represents what can be described as its 'finest hour' - the shape of the DBR1 remains one of the most beautiful and graceful ever. Furthermore, the design incorporates a key functional element - the side air vent - which, first adopted on this car, remains to this day a key functional and visual feature of Aston Martin's road-going sports cars. This element has become an aesthetic detail that permeates the brand's models with its unmistakable personality. In the same vein, when Girard-Perregaux launched the now famous Tourbillon 'With Three Golden Bridges' in 1867, it transformed three functional components, often hidden from the eye, into fascinating aesthetic elements. Tobias Moers, CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda, emphasised: "The real beauty of a collaboration like this is that, although we share many fundamental values, we can both learn so much from each other's experiences. Girard-Perregaux is a brand that has brought forward so many innovations in terms of materials and new technologies. We both create highly sought-after luxury products with fascinating designs, solid performance and impeccable workmanship'. Otmar Szafnauer, CEO of Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team and Team Principal, said: "We are thrilled to be able to announce a collaboration with Girard-Perregaux today. Aston Martin and Girard-Perregaux have so much in common: a long history behind them, a commendable legacy and a relentless passion for the pursuit of quality excellence combined with high technology. Even on the track, time is of the essence. Formula One and the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team in particular will prove to be respectively an extraordinary platform and an exceptional partner for Girard-Perregaux, whose watches stand out for their quality and sophistication." Patrick Pruniaux, CEO of Girard-Perregaux, added: "2021 is an important year for both Girard-Perregaux and Aston Martin. We celebrate the extraordinary milestone of 230 years of history in the world of watchmaking, while Aston Martin celebrates its return to Formula 1 as a 'works team' for the first time in over 60 years. We have so much to celebrate, so bringing our two worlds together to create something special is the perfect way to recognise and pay tribute to these milestones. Girard-Perregaux branding will appear on the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team's single-seaters from the start of the 2021 F1 season in Bahrain, while later this year the first watch to be born from this collaboration between the two houses will be revealed.
