« Watches for Motorsport Fans »
Motorsport is all about thousandths of a second at high speeds – and therefore about exceptionally precise timekeeping. At times, fractions of a second decide who wins a race. Against this backdrop, sponsorship in motorsport remains highly important for many luxury watch manufacturers, even though official timing is now almost exclusively electronic. At the start of 2017, several well-known Swiss brands such as Chopard, Omega, Oris, Rolex and Tag Heuer unveiled new motorsport watches that are sure to make watch lovers' hearts beat faster.
Chopard Commemorates the Birth of the Mille Miglia
Chopard has been involved for almost 30 years with the modern revival of the Mille Miglia, once one of the most famous motor races in the world. Today the event is more of a classic car rally, focused not on top speed but on reliability and consistent driving, and it features historic vehicles that – at least in similar form – competed in the original Mille Miglia races between 1927 and 1957.
As official timekeeper and partner of the "modern" Mille Miglia, Chopard has issued a new special edition every year for many years. It was only natural, then, to honor the 90th anniversary of the first "Thousand Mile Race" in 1927 with a very special creation from the house of Chopard.
The sporty Chopard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph, first presented to a wider trade and industry audience at Baselworld 2017, is worn on the famous rubber strap whose design is modeled on the tread of a 1960s Dunlop racing tire.
The new Chopard Mille Miglia is particularly appealing for couples who love motorsport: in addition to the men's version, the Geneva-based brand also offers a women's model in white, with a slightly smaller 39 mm case instead of 42 mm and an elegant diamond setting.
Although Chopard has given its new Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph a sporty retro look – fitting for the occasion of this special edition – the technology inside these watches is anything but nostalgic.
The modern ETA 2894-2 automatic movement impresses with COSC-certified precision and can be seen at work through the exhibition caseback.
The dial design was inspired by the dashboards of 1920s racing cars, and naturally the famous red arrow-shaped Mille Miglia logo in "Rosso Corsa" appears both on the dial and around the edge of the caseback.
Omega Speedmaster: Two New Versions of a Classic
Within Omega's lineup, it is above all the legendary Speedmaster that counts as a motorsport watch, even though the famous chronograph earned its fame and glory primarily through its use in space exploration.
At Baselworld, the Swiss manufacture unveiled two new Omega Speedmaster models, catering equally to nostalgics and innovation-minded watch lovers. The former are likely to be most interested in the Omega 1957 Trilogy Limited Editions – more specifically, the Speedmaster version among these three new limited-edition retro watches. Its design follows the "Broad Arrow," the first Speedmaster from 1957, and it features, for example, the original tachymeter scale on its bezel. It is powered by a Caliber 1861 movement.
If you prefer something less nostalgic, take a look at the new Speedmaster Racing Master Chronometer instead. It naturally stays true to the world-famous basic design of the Speedmaster line as well, but draws above all on its motorsport heritage.
The minute track typical of these models is their most distinctive feature, somewhat reminiscent of the black-and-white checkered flags used in motor racing. The latest version adds striking orange accents on the hands and indices. Here, maximum timekeeping precision is ensured by a Master Co-Axial 9900/9901 caliber.
Tag Heuer: New Motorsport Watches in the Red Bull Racing Special Edition
Tag Heuer, another brand with strong traditional ties to motorsport, recently expanded the range of motorsport watches with the new Red Bull Racing Special Edition of its sporty Carrera automatic chronographs.
A blue dial, generous amounts of white Super-LumiNova and three red-lacquered hands give this watch its memorable "face." The technology inside the sporty case reflects proven Tag Heuer quality. The HEUER01 caliber features automatic winding, a quick-set date and a power reserve of up to 50 hours.
The 45 mm stainless steel case is water-resistant to 10 bar, or 100 meters, so there's no need to take the watch off for swimming or showering.
New Motorsport Watches from Oris
Oris also presented a whole series of new models at Baselworld 2017, including one dedicated specifically to Williams, the watch brand's longtime Formula 1 partner. While Omega and Chopard opted for comparatively traditional or even nostalgic designs, the designers here chose a decidedly more contemporary approach.
Especially noteworthy is the Oris Motor Sport Williams Engine Date, which aims to make a glimpse at its movement as captivating as a look under the hood of a Formula 1 car. While this watch has no stopwatch function, the Motor Sport Williams collection – as you would expect from a line with an explicit motorsport connection – also includes several chronographs.
Rolex Unveils the Latest Cosmograph Daytona
A look at the latest motorsport watches would not be complete, however, without the newest version of the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona. After all, the Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona is not only one of Rolex's quintessential icons, but also "the" racing driver's watch of the 1960s.
When a classic like this has held its place at the top of the luxury watch segment for years, there is hardly anything fundamental left to improve. Nevertheless, the renowned manufacture once again succeeded in incorporating the latest technological advances into the new Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, combining cutting-edge technology with the brand's signature sporty-elegant aesthetic.
The new model features an innovative Oysterflex bracelet made of elastomer and a monobloc Cerachrom bezel in black ceramic. It recalls the black Plexiglas insert used in its place on the 1965 predecessor.
As is now standard for all new Rolex wristwatches, the movement of the new Daytona is certified to the "Superlative Chronometer" precision standard redefined by Rolex in 2015, offering the utmost accuracy and reliability.
