As you may have noticed, many of us at ONEWATCH not only have a passion for watches and everything related to the watch industry, but we are also fans of cars and motorsport. And when it comes to blending these two worlds, we often step forward. There is something natural about the connection between sports cars and watches, something almost identical in these somewhat outdated, fairly irrelevant items that go against 21st-century concerns and habits. Both are often seen as toys for boys, both are mechanical, engineered, and the object of much passion. Furthermore, time and racing are two inseparable elements. So as long as motorsport has existed, so have watches. And this trend is certainly not weakening, as evidenced by the new watches that share a common feature - being tied to one side of the automotive industry. Modern or vintage, technical or elegant, track or rally... Whatever you're looking for, you'll be in the know.
Bell & Ross BR V3-94 Alpine F1 Team A521
Bell & Ross is primarily known for its pilot watches. But in 2016, the French brand decided to equip another type of pilots - the drivers of the equally French F1 team Renault, now known as Alpine. Each year, the brand releases a series of watches inspired by the colors and functions of Formula 1 cars, and with Renault, they were almost always black and yellow. But in the 2021 season, Renault became Alpine, and the colors are now black and blue, leading to the emergence of a new series of models - the Alpine F1 Team A521 Collection. In addition to the signature square models, the brand also offers these slightly more classic round watches with a rotating countdown bezel, the BR V3-94 Alpine F1, an automatic chronograph that received a new color scheme and new skeleton subdials, giving it an even more racing look. A carbon fiber strap is meant to reinforce this spirit.
Quick Facts: 43mm stainless steel case - bi-directional countdown bezel - water resistance 100m - chronograph caliber BR-CAL.301 (ETA 2894), automatic, 4 Hz, 42-hour power reserve - leather strap or stainless steel bracelet - limited to 500 pieces - available July 2021 - €3,990 on leather strap - available online at bellross.com
Chopard Mille Miglia 2021 Race Edition
Chopard's Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele has never hidden his passion for vintage racing cars and historical rallies. In addition to being a refined watch and wine connoisseur, he owns a stunning collection of vintage racing cars, most of which participate in the world's finest classic car competitions. And unsurprisingly, since 1988, Chopard has been the official timekeeper and partner of the classic 1000 Miglia race, releasing new models each year to honor their partnership. For 2021, Chopard releases two versions of the Mille Miglia 2021 Race Edition chronograph with a chronometer certificate: a limited series of 1,000 pieces in stainless steel and 250 pieces in two-tone steel and ethical rose gold. Both models have numerous nods to the world of vintage cars, such as the chronograph function, tachymeter scale, and a rubber-lined strap in the shape of a vintage tire. The 2021 release features a well-executed circular, off-center matte pattern on the dial.
Quick Facts: 44mm stainless steel case - fixed steel or gold bezel with tachymeter insert - water resistance 100m - Valjoux 7750 chronograph, automatic, COSC certified, 4 Hz, 48-hour power reserve - black perforated calfskin leather with red stitching, rubber lining - limited to 1,000 pieces in steel - €7,570 - available here at chopard.com
Frederique Constant Vintage Rally Healey Automatic Small Seconds
Sharing the same inspiration as Chopard but in a British style and at a more accessible price, Frederique Constant has been collaborating with the car brand Austin-Healey since 2004. Like last year's models, the new 2021 series pays homage to one of the most important Healey cars - the NOJ 393 ex-Works 1953-55 Austin-Healey Special Test Car/100S. For the new collection, Frederique Constant updated the display and now offers three watch models with a new small seconds indication combined with the date at the 3 o'clock position. Among them is this steel version with a dark green dial and a perforated tan leather strap... it just doesn't get more "classic British car" than that. These relatively simple yet beautifully executed watches measure 40mm and are powered by an automatic movement based on Sellita. The watches are released in a quantity of 888 pieces in this color and feature a special engraving on the case back.
Quick Facts: 40mm stainless steel case - 2-piece polished case, water resistance 50m - caliber FC-345 (based on Sellita SW-200), automatic, 4 Hz, 38-hour power reserve - perforated "rally" calfskin leather strap with white stitching - limited to 888 pieces (also available with gray or blue dial) - €1,595 - available here at frederiqueconstant.com
Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges Aston Martin
At first, one might question GP's legitimacy in this specific area of car-inspired watches. However, if you look at the brand's history, you could say it "produced pocket watches for Shell in the 1930s. This is arguably one of the earliest connections to the automotive industry," explained GP's CEO. But now we're in 2021, and Girard-Perregaux recently announced a global partnership with car manufacturer Aston Martin, covering both road cars and Formula 1. The first watch presented in this context is as luxurious and technical as the British cars themselves and represents an architectural embodiment of the brand's Tourbillon with Three Flying Bridges concept. Airy, almost floating, the watch features subtle references to Aston Martin and doesn't shout about its partnership - the car brand's name is engraved on the case back and highlighted with Super-Luminova. All that remains is the modern yet high-class movement, finished in GP's typical style.
Quick Facts: 44mm titanium Grade 5 case with DLC coating - water resistance 30m - caliber GP09400-1683, in-house automatic tourbillon with micro-rotor, 3 Hz, 60-hour power reserve - black alligator leather strap with rubber effect - limited to 18 pieces - €146,000 - more information here: www.girard-perregaux.com
IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition AMG
Another brand with extensive experience in pilot watches (i.e., aviation watches) decided to engage with another type of pilots. The partnership between Mercedes-AMG and IWC has existed since 2004, and the brand has repeatedly appeared on the wrist of star pilot Lewis Hamilton. This year, as part of this long-term partnership, IWC releases new Pilot’s Watch Chronograph watches that take advantage of automotive engineering materials to create a discreet, ultra-modern appearance. Based on the classic fighter jet chronograph, this AMG version features a lightweight titanium case with a matte finish and a dark carbon fiber dial with silvery sub-dials. To give a final motorsport touch, the strap has the same texture as the dial, and the case back, which allows a view of the internal mechanism, features the AMG logo.
Quick Facts: 43mm titanium Grade 5 case and woven carbon fiber dial - water resistance 60m - IWC 69385 chronograph, in-house column-wheel caliber, 4 Hz, 46-hour power reserve - black textured calfskin leather strap - special non-limited edition - €9,900 - available here at iwc.com
Porsche Design Chronograph 911 GT3 with Touring Package
What could be a better connection between cars and watches... Porsche Design, the studio where the 911 car was created in the early 1960s, has been creating watches with the same "form follows function" spirit since the early 1970s. And with such a name, what else but a chronograph inspired by motorsport and sports cars could be created by the brand. But in reality, it goes much deeper: Porsche Design has created an online configurator where 911 owners can create a watch that perfectly matches their car: exterior color, leather for the strap, and rotor shape reminiscent of real wheels. The latest in this series of customizable models is the Porsche Design Chronograph "911 GT3 With Touring Package," released in coincidence with the car of the same name. And rest assured, these watches are not just a design gimmick but true mechanical watches with a COSC-certified movement and flyback chronograph function.
Quick Facts: 42mm titanium case with glass bead blasting - fixed bezel with tachymeter - water resistance 50m - flyback chronograph Porsche Design Caliber WERK 01.200, in-house developed, COSC certified, 4 Hz, 48-hour power reserve - black GT3-embossed natural Porsche leather strap - exclusive for Porsche 911 GT3 with Touring package owners - €7,750 - more details in the configurator on Porsche-Design
TAG Heuer Carrera Porsche Chronograph
It doesn't take long to realize that the brand most likely associated with the automotive world and motorsport is undoubtedly TAG Heuer. The TAG Heuer and Porsche alliance is the culmination of a fascinating and intertwined history marked by an obsession with speed and motorsport. Conceived as a collaboration - from competitions to product development - the partnership of two powerful companies was first marked by the 44mm TAG Heuer Carrera Porsche chronograph. Everything in these watches reminds of racing cars: the tachymeter scale with the Porsche emblem, the chronograph function (of course), and the dial inspired by asphalt texture. Under the hood is the in-house caliber Heuer 02, and the watch is worn on a strap reminiscent of sporty leather seats.
Quick Facts: 44mm stainless steel case - fixed black ceramic bezel with tachymeter - water resistance 100m - Calibre Heuer 02 chronograph, in-house, 4 Hz, 80-hour power reserve - black calfskin leather strap with hand stitching - special non-limited edition - €5,550 - more details and orders here at tagheuer.com