The "Three Flying Bridges Tourbillon Aston Martin Edition," the first watch born from the partnership between Girard-Perregaux and Aston Martin, has been released. Within a lightweight Grade 5 titanium case selected by Aston Martin, the movement, devoid of a mainplate, is sandwiched between two sapphire crystals, achieving a light, seemingly floating "flying bridge." This special timepiece is a rare model, limited to just 18 pieces.

The "Three Flying Bridges Tourbillon Aston Martin Edition," the first watch to emerge from the partnership between Girard-Perregaux and Aston Martin announced in early 2021, has been unveiled. This piece is a watch that fuses Girard-Perregaux's watchmaking expertise with Aston Martin's unique knowledge of luxury and performance.

This model, inheriting the traditions of Girard-Perregaux, features skillfully crafted proportions and shapes. The 44mm diameter case is made from Grade 5 titanium, a hypoallergenic, lightweight, and durable alloy chosen by Aston Martin. It has undergone a black DLC treatment, giving it a sporty appearance. Interestingly, titanium ore was discovered in 1791, the same year Girard-Perregaux was founded, in Britain, Aston Martin's homeland, by the British clergyman William Gregor.

Meanwhile, sapphire crystal "boxes" are used on the front and back, enhancing the legibility of the dial. The movement is devoid of a mainplate and, sandwiched between two sapphire crystals, appears to float in mid-air. The iconic Three Bridges of Girard-Perregaux, spanning the entire dial, are made of titanium with a black PVD treatment and feature polished bevels.

This design imparts a sense of lightness and allows for viewing the beautiful movement components that are normally hidden from view. Furthermore, as the mainplate appears to disappear, it creates the illusion that the movement is floating within the case, and this unique characteristic gives it the name "Flying Bridges."

The tourbillon cage, located at the lower part of the dial, is shaped like the distinctive "lyre" found in all Girard-Perregaux tourbillons dating back to the 19th century. The blue hand attached to the cage indicates the seconds. The tourbillon cage is only 10 millimeters in diameter and, despite consisting of 79 parts, weighs a mere 0.25 grams. This remarkable lightness contributes to reduced energy consumption.

The barrel at the 12 o'clock position is skeletonized, allowing a view of part of the mainspring. A white gold micro-rotor mounted below the barrel powers the mainspring, and unlike many automatic watches, it does not obstruct the view of the movement. The vertical sides of the micro-rotor are engraved with the Aston Martin name, and white luminescent paint glows blue in the dark. Similarly, the indices and hands are coated with white luminescent paint, also emitting a blue glow in the dark.

The strap combines black calfskin with an innovative rubber insert, the first time white gold has been used in such a combination. This design is intended to evoke the racing cars of Aston Martin's past.

Patrick Pruniaux, CEO of Girard-Perregaux, stated, "We are delighted to be able to present a novel perspective on haute horlogerie while dedicating one of our most iconic timepieces to the Aston Martin team, with whom we are partnering. Normally, we rarely add new interpretations to the Three Bridges through collaboration with others. However, given Aston Martin's exceptional capabilities in design, we made an exception this time. When you look at the design of an Aston Martin car, you notice the distinctive grille, which first appeared on the DB Mark III in the late 1950s. Similarly, the scoops and side strakes found on modern Aston Martin models are functional elements to improve aerodynamics, but they also enrich the overall appearance of the car. Girard-Perregaux shares a similar philosophy. For example, when Girard-Perregaux unveiled the now legendary Three Gold Bridges Tourbillon in 1867, it transformed these three functional components into attractive, beautiful features. We continue to adopt this approach today. Finally, this latest partnership adds a new, captivating chapter to Girard-Perregaux's 230-year history."

Marek Reichman, Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer of Aston Martin, commented, "As imagined, one of the biggest challenges we faced with this new creation was its scale, as we had to refine lines and proportions on a miniature scale, far beyond the concepts we usually handle in automotive design. However, whether it's a watch or a car, great design is great design, and the fundamental principles remain the same. I am delighted with the finished product and would like to congratulate everyone involved in this project, as a truly beautiful watch has been created from this collaboration."