It’s not just IWC that has been making the most of their Formula 1 connections recently, as Girard-Perregaux also unveiled a grand prix-inspired watch at the Dubai Watch Week: the Aston Martin Neo Bridges.
Neo Bridges Aston Martin Edition - Credit Girard-Perregaux
Aston Martin has enjoyed something of a resurgence in Formula 1 this year, having secured the services of former world champion Fernando Alonso, and Girard-Perregaux is making the most of its partnership with the British team – which dates back to an agreement signed in 2021.
The Neo Bridges is an impressive piece of engineering, and it draws its name from the two very visible bridges that arc across the skeletonised dial, in the same shade of British Racing Green as the Aston Martin Formula 1 car. That same green is reprised both on the minute track and rubber strap stitching, contrasting nicely with the otherwise stealth look of the black DLC titanium case.
Neo Bridges Aston Martin Edition - Credit Girard-Perregaux
It's quite hard to be subtle with a watch that measures in at 45mm, although the subdued tones minimise the size. The styling is also inspired by Aston Martin’s DB12 road car, which the company calls the “world’s first super tourer”.
Just like the car, this new watch is all about the technical details. Alongside Girard-Perregaux’s own logo, the Aston Martin logo is also visible on top of the barrels – which are inspired by the contours of the car’s brakes – as well as on the display caseback.
Neo Bridges Aston Martin Edition - Credit Girard-Perregaux
The way that the curves on the bridges have been designed is additionally meant to echo some of the shapes on the DB12, but this takes a bit more imagination to visualise. Underneath, you’ll find the proprietary Girard-Perregaux GP084000-2164 automatic movement, which delivers a power reserve of 48 hours. Don't take it underwater though, as you only get 30 metres of resistance. I guess that’s what you’d call water under the bridge…
Moving on swiftly: Girard-Perregaux’s partnership with Aston Martin previously resulted in the 42mm British Racing Green Laureato, released earlier this year. That watch was very much influenced by the familiar integrated case shapes of the 1970s, but the Neo Bridges is a very different beast that seems much more overtly horological. Or in other words, according to the official press release: “driven by the passion of both parties to push the performance envelope in terms of design and watchmaking expertise.”
Neo Bridges Aston Martin Edition - Credit Girard-Perregaux
It certainly does things differently: the inverted movement’s configuration relocates components usually found at the rear of the case to the front. So this is a genuinely interesting watch on many different levels, although I still can’t help thinking that ‘Neo Bridges’ sounds a bit like a new-age folk singer.
It’s also a rare beast as only 250 are being made, coming in at just over £32,000. The fact that the top speed of the DB12 is 325kph (or a shade over 200mph) is almost certainly a numeric coincidence: but those impressive figures prove that both the watch and the car are equally serious pieces of kit.
