Girard-Perregaux unveils two Williams F1 Laureato watches

Girard-Perregaux has revealed the first watches created through its partnership with Atlassian Williams F1 Team, bringing the British racing team’s colours to one of Switzerland’s most recognisable integrated-bracelet designs.

The collaboration comprises two 42mm steel watches: the time-and-date Laureato Williams Edition and the more technical Laureato Chronograph Williams Edition.

Both retain the familiar architecture of the Laureato, including its octagonal bezel, integrated bracelet and mix of polished and satin-finished surfaces. The influence of Williams is comparatively restrained, appearing through colour, discreet branding and details inspired by the team’s current Formula 1 car.

It is a welcome departure from the oversized logos and literal automotive references that can characterise motorsport watches.

The Williams FW48 inspires the dial

The centrepiece of both models is a blue Clous de Paris dial informed by the livery of the Williams FW48, the car being campaigned by the team during the 2026 Formula 1 season.

A small Williams “W” replaces the conventional marker at 12 o’clock, while the team emblem appears on the sapphire crystal caseback. Red accents echo the keyline used on the FW48 without overwhelming the established Laureato design.

The three-hand model offers the quieter interpretation. Baton-shaped, rhodium-plated hands and hour markers are filled with white-emitting luminescent material, while a date window sits at three o’clock.

The chronograph creates a more obvious connection with motorsport. Three subdials are framed by rhodium-plated rings, with red appearing on the small-seconds hand and the tip of the central chronograph seconds hand.

Both watches measure 42mm across and are water resistant to 100 metres. The standard Laureato has a case thickness of 10.68mm, while the additional mechanics of the chronograph increase its profile to 12.16mm.

Two in-house automatic movements

The Laureato Williams Edition is powered by Girard-Perregaux’s self-winding GP01800 calibre. The movement provides hours, minutes, central seconds and the date, with a minimum power reserve of 54 hours.

The Laureato Chronograph Williams Edition uses the automatic GP03300 calibre, which combines its chronograph functions with a date display and offers a minimum power reserve of 46 hours.

Both movements operate at 28,800 vibrations per hour and can be viewed through their sapphire crystal casebacks.

Their decoration provides a more traditional counterpoint to the Formula 1 association. Finishing techniques include Côtes de Genève, circular graining, bevelling, mirror polishing, satin finishing, engraving and snailing.

The result is less about reproducing the appearance of a racing car than identifying the common ground between two mechanical disciplines: precision, incremental development and the considerable work hidden beneath the finished product.

Parallel histories

The timing of the partnership draws attention to the remarkably similar ages of its two protagonists.

Girard-Perregaux introduced the original Laureato in 1975, establishing an integrated-bracelet sports watch with a distinctive octagonal bezel. Williams entered Formula 1 two years later in 1977.

Both have evolved continuously across the five decades since. The Laureato has moved through different sizes, materials and complications, while retaining its central design language. Williams, meanwhile, has remained one of Formula 1’s most historically significant teams.

That gives the collaboration greater credibility than a simple licensing exercise. Girard-Perregaux and Williams are not being connected solely through the familiar language of speed. Their stronger link is a shared dependence on engineering, testing and the accumulation of specialist knowledge.

The watches are described as the beginning of a longer collaboration, suggesting further Williams editions may follow.

Girard-Perregaux’s international website lists the Laureato Williams Edition at US$16,200 and the Laureato Chronograph Williams Edition at US$20,900. Australian pricing has not been announced.

Specifications

Girard-Perregaux Laureato Williams Edition 42mm

Reference: 81010-11-3680-1GM
Case: Steel
Diameter: 42mm
Thickness: 10.68mm
Crystal: Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Dial: Blue Clous de Paris pattern
Movement: Automatic GP01800
Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds and date
Power reserve: Minimum 54 hours
Water resistance: 100 metres
Bracelet: Integrated steel bracelet with triple-folding clasp
International price: US$16,200

Girard-Perregaux Laureato Chronograph Williams Edition 42mm

Reference: 81020-11-3681-1GM
Case: 904L steel
Diameter: 42mm
Thickness: 12.16mm
Crystal: Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Dial: Blue Clous de Paris pattern with three chronograph counters
Movement: Automatic GP03300
Functions: Chronograph, hours, minutes, small seconds and date
Power reserve: Minimum 46 hours
Water resistance: 100 metres
Bracelet: Integrated 904L steel bracelet with triple-folding clasp
International price: US$20,900

Australia could be on the cusp of a new wave of branded residential development as wealthy buyers accumulate more homes and place greater value on convenience, service and lifestyle.

Knight Frank’s The Residence Report 2026 found that the global branded residences market has almost tripled in size over the past decade. The number of developments increased from 354 in 2015 to 903 by the end of 2025 and is expected to surpass 1,000 during 2026.

By 2031, the sector is forecast to approach 1,800 developments encompassing more than 300,000 residences.

The research covered almost 1,800 operational and proposed schemes from more than 200 brands across 90 countries. Although Australia possesses many of the attributes sought by affluent buyers, its branded residential market remains comparatively immature.

That could be about to change.

Knight Frank and its Australian residential partner, McGrath Estate Agents, expect developers to pursue opportunities in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, where demand for premium, low-maintenance homes is being supported by domestic wealth, interstate migration and international buyers.

About 60 per cent of Australia’s identified branded residence developments are earmarked for Queensland.

Wealthy buyers are building global property portfolios

Growth in branded residences is closely connected to the mobility of the world’s wealthiest people.

Ultra-high-net-worth individuals now own an average of 3.8 homes, compared with 2.9 less than a decade ago. International flight volumes are forecast to reach 13.2 million in 2026, approximately 19 per cent higher than in 2023.

As wealthy buyers establish multiple residential bases, they are favouring homes that can be occupied immediately and managed from a distance.

Security, concierge services, wellness facilities and reliable property management are becoming increasingly important, particularly for owners who divide their time between several cities or countries.

McGrath national head of research Michelle Ciesielski said Australia’s stability, lifestyle and long-term growth prospects made it a logical addition to these international property portfolios.

Demand is not limited to overseas buyers. Affluent Australians are also seeking turnkey homes that combine privacy and security with the service standards traditionally associated with luxury hotels.

Lifestyle destinations are challenging global cities

Branded residences were once concentrated in gateway cities, but the market is rapidly moving towards coastal, island, mountain and resort locations.

In 2016, about 38 per cent of branded residence developments were situated outside major cities. More than half are now in non-urban locations, with that proportion forecast to reach 57 per cent by 2028.

The changing geography reflects a willingness among wealthy buyers to pay city-level prices in destinations offering a distinctive lifestyle.

Marbella’s highest residential values now broadly match those recorded in Madrid, while Phuket Island has more operational and proposed branded residence schemes than London.

The Australian market is well placed to benefit from this shift. Sydney offers international recognition and a deeply established prestige market, while South East Queensland combines migration, population growth and a strong leisure proposition.

Brisbane’s luxury market comes of age

Brisbane is emerging as one of the Asia-Pacific region’s fastest-rising luxury residential markets.

Investment associated with the 2032 Olympic Games is adding to the city’s momentum. The Queensland Government has committed $7.1 billion to venue infrastructure and a further $3.4 billion for new and upgraded facilities across the state.

Brisbane’s prime residential values increased by 2.6 per cent in the year to the second quarter of 2026. The Gold Coast recorded growth of 2.4 per cent, while values declined by 2.8 per cent in Sydney and 2 per cent in Melbourne over the same period.

New luxury apartments in Brisbane now average approximately $29,100 per square metre. The Gold Coast averages about $24,700 per square metre, compared with $33,200 in Melbourne. Sydney remains in a separate category at an average of $74,500 per square metre.

Developers are responding with increasingly ambitious projects.

Sanctuary by Aria in South Brisbane is planned as part of a three-tower precinct containing almost 600 homes. Its shared amenities are set to include a rooftop club, wellness centre, concierge service, golf simulators, bathhouse-style pools and a multi-sport court.

Luxury hotel group Capella is also redeveloping the historic Shafston House estate at Kangaroo Point. Scheduled for completion in 2029, the development is expected to include 50 branded homes, with apartments starting at $8 million.

Adam Ross, head of international and private clients at McGrath, expects another three branded residential projects to be announced across Australia over the coming 12 months.

Sydney demonstrates the depth of demand

At the top end of the market, Sydney continues to demonstrate the depth of Australia’s luxury buyer pool.

Lendlease’s 58-storey One Circular Quay development, positioned between the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, contains 158 residences and was reported to be more than 90 per cent sold.

Four-bedroom residences have been priced between $60 million and $70 million, while one full-floor sub-penthouse was created in collaboration with Armani.

The project’s performance suggests buyers will pay a substantial premium for exceptional architecture, hotel-style service, extensive amenities and an irreplaceable location.

Melbourne’s pipeline includes GURNER Group’s $3.75 billion redevelopment of the Jam Factory in South Yarra. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the precinct is planned to include about 800 residences and two hotel brands that have not yet been announced.

A broader definition of branding

Hotel operators still dominate the branded residence market, with Marriott International, Accor, Hilton, Four Seasons, Banyan Group and IHG collectively accounting for more than 40 per cent of global supply.

However, branding is moving well beyond hotels.

Around 70 per cent of existing developments are affiliated with hotel operators, but this falls to 60 per cent when the development pipeline is included. Non-hotel brands are forecast to increase their share of the market from approximately 30 per cent in 2025 to almost 40 per cent by 2028.

Fashion, automotive and lifestyle businesses are entering the category as developers look for new ways to differentiate their projects.

At the same time, the meaning of luxury is changing. The latest concepts include longevity clinics, cryotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen treatment, sound-healing studios and private lifts capable of transporting residents’ cars to elevated garages.

But as these facilities become more common, the long-term value of a project may depend less on its amenity list and more on elements that cannot be replicated: location, architecture, provenance and a genuine sense of community.

For Australian developers, the opportunity is therefore larger than placing a luxury name above the entrance. The strongest projects will be those in which the brand, services and location combine to create a residential experience buyers cannot find elsewhere.

Ross believes branded residences will ultimately become a defining force in Australian luxury development.

With wealthy buyers owning more homes, Queensland’s prestige market gaining momentum and Sydney continuing to attract substantial capital, the next phase may already be taking shape.

Girard-Perregaux brings Williams F1 blue to the Laureato

The Swiss watchmaker’s first collaboration with Atlassian Williams F1 Team produces two sporting Laureato models inspired by the team’s 2026 racing car.