I’ve been intrigued with automotive engineering since I was a young boy, and then I discovered watchmaking in my early adulthood. I was hooked. Working for both Patek Philippe and McLaren at the manufacturer level only fueled my passion for mechanical magic and fine craftsmanship. Now, I’m excited to offer my take on the latest horological work by Girard-Perregaux inspired by Aston Martin. This union is a true collaboration with undeniable synergy between these two legendary marques. 

Fundamentally, watch partnerships fuel motorsport while motorsport inspires watch design. That’s the yin and yang behind these ventures. One of the significant challenges is representing the character of the automaker. Nailing it requires a spirited effort from both parties beyond simply stamping the badge on the dial. So far, they have succeeded at every turn, making it the hottest connection between these two disciplines. 

This represents the sixth co-designed model since these two brands teamed up in 2021, and it celebrates the world’s first super tourer, the Aston Martin DB12. Let’s take a lap around a few noteworthy points of this 250-piece limited-edition Neo Bridges for Aston Martin timepiece. 

What It Is: A time-only display wristwatch

When you first look at the Neo Bridges for Aston Martin, it looks like something multi-functional. You expect it to have a chronograph, calendar, or some other feature. But it doesn’t. It displays the hours and minutes only. However, what this ticker lacks in function, it makes up for in form – starting with those beaming green components looking at you – called bridges. Not only are they a premiere element of this watch but a cornerstone of the Girard-Perregaux brand. It’s easily spotted from a mile away, separating them in a room of other watches. 

The Girard-Perregaux Bridgework

In mechanical watchmaking, bridges are metal plates or components strategically positioned to support and hold various watch movement parts. They provide rigidity and structural integrity to the movement. They also serve another critical role. In haute horology, bridges are the playground where artisanal flare runs freely and sometimes wildly. They are intricately decorated, engraved, or skeletonized to showcase the craftsmanship and artistry of the maker. This is where Girard-Perregaux broke from tradition and cemented its bridgework as a hallmark feature.

As with automotive engineering, carve away material, and you reduce weight – the same rule applies in watchmaking. Skeletonized bridges are lightweight and allow the wearer to admire the internals more easily. It’s a trail this storied manufacturer first blazed in the 1860s with a stunning Tourbillon bearing three gold bridges. It was sensational. Relocating these parts from the rear to the front of the dial released a shockwave industrywide. From that moment, the bridge, a mostly hidden structural element, became a prominent signature of the brand that endures to this day. Established over a century and a half ago, it’s no surprise they’ve been called upon to honor the DB12. 

Girard-Perregaux has chosen this centerpiece to represent the fusion of both marques’ iconic heritage. In doing so, they unleash a spark of electricity in British Racing Green, matching the dynamically charged experience of the DB12. Their slender form, highly polished angles, and shapely contours add spectacular dimension amidst the blackened componentry, elevating the visual appeal of this timepiece to another level. 

The Body Style

For its exterior, the team has tastefully chosen Titanium DLC. While titanium’s popularity has increased recently, it remains an exotic material in high-end luxury watchmaking. Its lightweight characteristic and high tensile properties make it much harder than its steel counterpart. A superb choice to represent the enhanced torsional stiffness of the world’s first super tourer. 

I’ve got to mention one point of its exterior silhouette.  

The smooth, rounded case and traditional styled lugs mean keeping the visual focus where it matters – on the display. After all, there’s plenty for the eye to feast on here, and the best part is that it makes it a daily driver for the wrist, which is essential to both of these superstar marques. My only wish here is for a smaller case option.

Closing Thoughts

Unlike the most recently issued special editions, the Swiss-British tag team once again turned up the volume with this latest creation. Producing a killer haute horology wristwatch that delivers an architecturally bold expression befitting of an Aston Martin machine that does the same. 

The openwork dial, an array of geometric angles and forms, is impressively readable thanks to its silvery hands. Undoubtedly, this is a standout achievement. Even the stamping of each marque (Girard-Perregaux on the barrel at 1:30 and Aston Martin on the micro-rotor at 10:30) is done to perfection. Overall, these executions often go over the edge, taking all legibility with it and leaving the wearer unable to read the time (how frustrating!). However, the GP artisans demonstrated skillful restraint and awareness in avoiding that trap here. 

I appreciate that this may not appeal to everyone’s taste buds, but this manifestation of functional form expresses a symbiotic partnership. This level of detailing inspired me to launch The Thoughtful Collector, a platform dedicated to bringing these fine nuances and skills to light across the luxury watchmaking industry. The Neo Bridges Aston Martin Edition lives up to its claim of being a DB12 for the wrist. Well done.