Hands-On The Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm Williams Edition

Sporting the azure blue that has graced some of the fastest race cars in F1 history, the Laureato Williams Editions consummate the newly forged relationship between the watchmaker and the racing outfit. You can read about all the basics of the first official collaboration between Girard-Perregaux and Williams in our Introducing article, but for those keen on a closer look, we've recently had the chance to spend some time with the time-only Laureato 42mm reference in the metal.

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of handling a 42mm Laureato, this all-new Girard-Perregaux Laureato 42mm Williams Edition is similar, but with dial details tightened just so. For quite a few years now, the Laureato has existed in both 38mm and 42mm variants, the latter a remnant of the mid-2000s preferences for larger, more imposing proportions. The Laureato 42mm is both of those things - large and fairly flat across the wrist with its 10.68mm thickness, accentuating its width thanks to the polished bracelet mid-link that integrates into the case without much articulation. 

As is fitting for a sports watch, the stainless steel is mostly brushed, with alternating directions between the octagonal bezel and front of the case, but because this isn’t just a sports watch - it’s a luxury, integrated bracelet one, too - the multitude of polished surfaces don’t feel out of place. Unlike so many watches in its category, the Laureato doesn’t go for the classic ultra-sharp facets, and while the transitions between surfaces are still plenty sharp, the chamfers are all slightly rounded. This softer edge is most obvious at the corners of the bezel, and together with the circular, fully polished step below, makes for a gentler visual impression.

The calibre GP01800 housed within the Laureato 42mm is largely responsible for the relative slimness of the watch, and despite being a full-rotor automatic, its profile measures in at just 3.97mm (for reference, the ubiquitous ETA 2824 is 4.6mm thick). At 30mm in diameter, it’s also a fairly large calibre, which, along with the neatly finished surfaces, makes it a neat sight within the wide open caseback aperture. It features a 54-hour power reserve, 4Hz beat rate, and, curiously, what GP calls a “heavy metal” oscillating weight. Rock on.

Everything I just mentioned is left unchanged from the previous iterations of the Laureato 42mm, but what has changed significantly is the dial. The large GP logo that served as the 12 o’clock marker is gone in favour of a double arrow index that’s much sleeker. This elevated look is further emphasised by the removal of most of the dial text, bar the “Girard-Perregaux” script at 12 o’clock, sitting above the brand’s bridge badge. Specific to the Williams collaboration is the bright blue dial matching the F1 constructor’s colour scheme, with a further, subtle nod just above that new 12 o’clock index in the form of the W logomark.

What catches the eye most in respect to the dial is the specific shade of blue that’s been selected. Yes, it’s in line with Williams’ current livery, but the way it interacts with the light - predominantly thanks to the quintessential Clous de Paris pattern stamped into the dial blank - is a sight to behold. Depending on the quality and direction of the light, it can shift several shades from a deep azure to royal and almost cornflower blues as the light gets brighter.

All considered, the Williams Edition adds something genuinely different to the Laureato line-up, with that shape-shifting blue dial the clear star. As a debut effort between Girard-Perregaux and Williams, it’s a solid one, and where too many first collaborations lean on an oversized logo and a waterfall of team colour, here the partnership has been handled with the kind of restraint collectors actually want. Plus, if this is the opening salvo, the coming years of Girard-Perregaux and Williams working together look genuinely promising, and I’ll be keen to see where it goes - on track and on the wrist. And while it isn’t a Fifty, that’s arguably the charm of this watch (while also leaving plenty of canvas for the future), because through tightening the dial and paring back the clutter, Girard-Perregaux has given us one of the cleanest expressions of the current-generation Laureato we’ve seen in years.

Brand: Girard-Perregaux
Model: Laureato 42mm Williams Edition
Reference: 81010-11-3680-1GM
Diameter: 42mm
Thickness: 10.68mm
Lug-To-Lug: N/A
Case Material: Stainless steel
Dial Colour: Light blue with stamped Clous de Paris pattern
Crystal: Sapphire front and back
Lume: Yes, hands and batons
Water Resistance: 100 metres
Strap: Integrated, stainless steel H-link bracelet with butterfly clasp

Calibre: GP01800-2892
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Power Reserve: 54 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 4 Hz
Diameter: 30mm (13 ¼ lignes)
Thickness: 3.97mm
Jewels: 28 jewels
Chronometer Certified: No

Price: A$26,400 (42mm)
Availability: Now
Limited Edition: No

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