Drive time: The 10 most iconic watches of the motoring world
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CNA Lifestyle
Bulldoze time: The 10 most iconic watches of the motoring earth
Even if you lot are not an F1 driver or supercar owner, you can still wearable a racing car on your wrist. CNA Lifestyle looks at the most venerated timepieces associated with motorsports.
The Daytona International Speedway in Florida has hosted the Daytona 500 since 1959. (Photo: Rolex)
11 Sep 2022 06:30AM (Updated: 04 Jul 2022 09:31PM)
Carmakers and lookout man marques have been closely intertwined ever since the commencement stopwatches were designed for automobile dashboards in the 1930s. When major-league motor racing took off in the 1950s, watchmakers followed closely, developing tool watches to help race drivers guess their speed, altitude and lap times.
These days, almost every tool watch manufacturer has a relationship with an auto firm, race driver or racing squad. Typically for both sides – horology and automotive – the goals are aligned. Both strive for high build quality, high functioning, precision and reliability.
Then, of course, in that location is the undeniable wealth, glamour and global reach that is mutually beneficially. With the F1 coming up this weekend, CNA Lifestyle rounds up 10 iconic timepieces that are virtually closely associated with motoring and motorsports.
i. ROLEX COSMOGRAPH DAYTONA
The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona takes its proper name from the Daytona International Speedway race track in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Produced in 1963 every bit a tool watch for motor racing enthusiasts – its three chronograph counters are meant to record lap times – the Daytona gained cult status thank you to actor and racecar driver Paul Newman. In Oct 2017, Newman'south own Daytona sold for a record price at sale.
This year, Rolex revived the Rainbow Daytona in Everose – the brand'southward proprietary formula for rose gold. Produced in extremely limited quantities, the distinctive lookout man, with its 36 baguette-cut sapphires bundled in a rainbow spectrum around the bezel, was initially available but in yellow or white gold.
2. BREITLING FOR BENTLEY
What began as a one-off venture between Swiss watchmaker Breitling and British automaker Bentley in 2002 has evolved into a partnership that survives to this mean solar day.
The drove of co-branded timepieces each sport pattern motifs inspired by Bentley dashboard or interior elements. These features are evident in the latest timekeeper: 2017'south Bentley GT "Dark Sapphire" Edition, fabricated for the tertiary generation of the Continental GT.
Notice the diamond knurling on the bezel, a grip-enhancing feature constitute on the automobile's rotary controls. The diamond motif is also nowadays on the dial and safety strap. The watchcase'south deep blueish hue, reminiscent of Bentley's Dark Sapphire livery, comes courtesy of Breitlight, a proprietary high-tech cloth.
3. CHOPARD MILLE MIGLIA
Chopard became the partner and official timekeeper of the Mille Miglia race in 1988, producing a limited collection of timepieces for each edition.
This year'due south ingather sees two chronographs, known as the Mille Miglia 2022 Race Edition, housed in a steel- or steel-and-18k-rose-gold case. Both characteristic finely finished dials and movements equally well as calfskin straps with rubber linings inspired by 1960s Dunlop racing tyre treads.
This being the 30th anniversary of its alliance with the Mille Miglia, Chopard also unveiled 5 special edition chronographs with brightly coloured dials. The colours are inspired past the different marques and national identities that competed in the rally between 1927 and 1940: Red (Italia), green (the UK), silver (Frg), yellowish (Belgium) and blue (France).
four. HUBLOT Large Blindside FERRARI MAGIC Gold
Hublot is the official watch of the Scuderia Ferrari and Ferrari's official timekeeper. This year, information technology re-released the Big Bang Ferrari Magic Gold (circa 2012), albeit in a re-styled instance and dial.
Magic Gold is a proprietary material that Hublot claims is the hardest golden in the world, thanks to the addition of boron carbide in the manufacturing process. It has a resistance of virtually ane,000 Vickers, more than twice that of regular 18k gilded.
The new case sports more curves than the original. The dial, though unlike from the 2022 version, still references Ferrari in many ways. The minute counter at 3 o'clock resembles a tachymeter counter, while the engagement window recalls a gear selector. A second counter at ix o'clock recalls an air extractor, while the prancing horse motif is prominently positioned at 6 o'clock.
5. IWC INGENIEUR
In 2004, IWC signed a long-term bargain with AMG, the operation brand of Mercedes-Benz. When AMG celebrated its 50th ceremony in 2017, a commemorative timepiece was in order. Enter the Ingenieur Chronograph Sport Edition "50th Anniversary of Mercedes-AMG", a watch that took its pattern cues from vintage Ingenieur archetypes.
To showcase its kinship with motorsports, the lookout has a tachymeter scale that, when used together with the chronograph hand, allows wearers to calculate the average speed over a ane-kilometre distance.
In improver, the protection confronting magnetic fields on the instance back is inspired by the carbon brake discs that characteristic on Mercedes-AMG cars. The Ingenieur was developed in the 1950s, and was i of the showtime wristwatches to avowal antimagnetic properties.
vi. OMEGA SPEEDMASTER
Although the Omega Speedmaster has the reputation of being the first timepiece worn on the moon, it was originally designed as a racing spotter. The commencement Speedmaster in 1957 was the first chronograph wristwatch to feature a tachymeter scale on its bezel rather than on its dial, which fabricated it handy for racecar drivers to time their laps.
A 1968 version of the Speedmaster came with a Racing Punch, showcasing orange and cerise minute markers, orangish chronograph hands, and an orangish logo. This particular model inspired many other Speedmasters throughout the years, the well-nigh recent example being the 2022 Speedmaster Automatic.
The orangish markings on the minute track reprise their part, simply the original three-counter configuration has given way to a ii-counter layout. The movement has been upgraded to a contemporary, high-precision engine.
7. PARMIGIANI FLEURIER BUGATTI Type 390
Parmigiani Fleurier has been a partner of Bugatti since 2004. In 2016, Parmigiani Fleurier unveiled a concept watch, the Bugatti Type 390, to coincide with the release of the Bugatti Chiron, the world's fastest production auto with a top speed of 420 kmh.
The Bugatti Type 390 has a movement built on the transverse axis, like a car engine cake, and was housed in a distinctively shaped case. It was launched as a working model in October 2017, after more than than a twelvemonth of testing and refinement.
Customers can specify the external appearance of the watch, but like how they tin customise the look of their cars. They likewise do non demand to exist a Bugatti possessor to purchase the watch. Conversely, Bugatti owners do not receive special privileges if they want to purchase the watch.
8. RICHARD MILLE RM11-03
The link with F1 started when Richard Mille partnered (then-Sauber) driver Felipe Massa in 2004. The company developed several watches for the driver to wear during races, to test their real earth performance. Collaborations with other drivers soon followed, as well as racing teams such as Lotus F1 and McLaren-Honda, the latter having signed a x-year partnership starting time in 2016.
The latest venture in the Richard Mille-McLaren-Honda alliance: The RM xi-03 McLaren Automatic Flyback Chronograph, a timepiece that allows wearers to apace restart the stopwatch role to time the side by side lap.
Blueprint-wise, the titanium push-buttons on the case echo the distinctive headlights of the McLaren 720S, while the crown is shaped like a wheel. Titanium inserts on the bezel, adorned with the McLaren logo, call back the racecar's air-intake snorkel.
ix. TAG HEUER CARRERA
TAG Heuer's involvement in motorsports is extensive, ranging from existence the official watch of Cherry Bull Racing to the official timekeeper of the IndyCar Serial in the United states of america.
The visitor can trace its racing roots to the Heuer brand of dashboard stopwatches congenital in the 1930s. Simply information technology was the Carrera chronograph wristwatch of 1963 that helped Heuer reach widespread acclaim, thank you to the pantheon of racing legends on whose wrists it saturday. Niki Lauda, Bruce McLaren and Ayrton Senna were among these.
The Carrera currently forms the flagship drove in TAG Heuer's lineup. Ii vintage-inspired pieces were unveiled this yr, the 55th anniversary of the Carrera's launch: A black version with a black leather strap and a blueish version with a steel bracelet. Both are three-counter chronographs powered by automatic Calibre 16 movements.
10. TUDOR HERITAGE CHRONO Blue
Rolex might take the Daytona, only younger sibling Tudor has the Oysterdate Chronograph Ref. 7169 "Montecarlo". This two-counter chronograph from 1973 achieved cult status considering of its bold, orange-and-bluish, Mediterranean-inspired colourway.
The watch'due south nickname stemmed from the resemblance of its chronograph counters to roulette wheels. And while there is no tape of the Montecarlo being used at the Monaco Grand Prix, it did not stop enthusiasts from associating it with the glamour of the GP and the jet fix spirit of the era.
Tudor revived this model in 2013, the Montecarlo's 40th anniversary, calling it the Heritage Chrono Blue. The contemporary version followed the original design closely, with subtle changes to the case architecture, an updated movement and new bracelet options.
Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/lifestyle/f1-grand-prix-iconic-motoring-motorsports-watches-238301
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