Stunning Concepts
Racing watches are mostly associated with motorsports, but the race watch concept is dated back six decades ago during the invention of motors. But what most are left wondering is what racing watches, how they vary from other luxury watches, and what are the best ones inspired by racing. Here’s everything you need to know.
Racing Watch
Race inspired watches are built purposely to measure racing time whether a motorbike, car, or horse races. Most racing watches are currently synonymous with chronograph timepieces, and while current racing timepieces are chronographs, all chronographs are not race inspired watches.
Their technical ability, chiseled physique define racing watches, and unique looks represent expert skills in race car production and speed-hungry aesthetic. The racing watch’s style isn’t bound to uniformity or restrains as their adrenaline-infused make and exotic colors give the wearer flexibility to reveal the wrist’s character. Some of the features included in a racing watch include but are not limited to:
- Chronograph
- High-contrast dial
- Metal bracelets
- Tachymeter scale
TOP 5 LUXURY RACING WATCHES
1. Rolex Cosmograph Daytona
The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona was first launched in 1963, named after Florida’s renowned Daytona speed. The watch is one of the most famous racing watches in the world and has significantly evolved over the past fifty years of Rolex history.
Rolex unveiled its latest edition of Rolex Cosmograph Daytona during its 50th anniversary in 2013, which derives its name from the prestigious edition, a famous racetrack of the watch. The first Daytona model had a platinum case and was priced at $75000. Rolex Daytona’s tachymeter bezel is a Cerachrom material. The watch wearer can use the chronograph and the tachymeter scale to measure their average speed up to 400 miles per hour.
2. Omega Speedmaster Racing
The racing watch’s key features include a BI-Compax dial layout, chronograph functionality, and an external tachymeter scale bezel. Omega Speedmaster was launched in 1957, and before it became the moonwatch, it was one of Omega’s racing watches. The initial clock had the tachymeter scale engraved on the bezel, unlike the new model with the tachymeter scale on the dial for more excellent legibility.
The Omega Speedmaster exists in stainless steel and has cases of 44.25mm. The watch is defined better by its racing dial described by the checkered-flag minute race: the dials house two sub-dials and tachymeter scales furnished on the ceramic scale. The Omega Speedmaster racing watches have leather straps and metal bracelets as part of Omega’s customary.
3. Tag Heuer Monaco
The key features of Tag Heuer Monaco are chronograph functionality, a bi-complex dial layout, and a square-shaped case. Tag Heuer is one of the racing watches with the most extended history with models like Monaco, Autavia, and Carrera.
The racing watch was launched in 1969 when Hamilton-Buren, Dubois Depraz, and Breitling launched their joint-made automatic chronograph movement, named after the Grand Prix of Monaco.
When the watch was launched, it was the world’s first racing watch with a square case and a water-resistant chronograph. The watch gained popularity, becoming one of the iconic racing watches ever to exist, thanks to the association of Steve McQueen and Monaco during the Le Mans, the 1971 film.
Early vintage Monaco watches signature design was the winding crown placement on the square case’s left side and its chronograph pushers duo on the right side.
4. Cartier Roadster Chronograph
Roadster is one of the unique watches in Cartier’s collection because of its distinctive silhouette and is a favorite timepiece among watch lovers. The timepiece was launched in the 2000s and was inspired by the 1950 and 1960s sports cars. The key features of the Roadster include a tri-Compax dial layout, chronograph functionality, and a tonneau-shaped case.
It also has a windshield-like magnification lens over the date, a fashioned winding crown, and dials with a speedometer style. Cartier was precise about the type of Roadster model he wanted to produce by drawing design hints from automobiles. As a watch enthusiast, you won’t miss headlight-shaped nooks that house pull screws.
5. Bentley Breitling
Breitling, the watchmaker, and Bentley, the automaker, started working together in 2002 after Breitling got a request to develop a Bentley Continental GT onboard clock. After a year, Breitling released Bentley Le Mans, a special edition watch in honor of the first and second place racing teams that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2003.
Bentley and Breitling have since then been working together in producing the Breitling for Bentley watches. The luxury timepieces involve a collection of unique chronograph models inspired by racing, cars, and top-notch watchmaking. Even though Breitling for Bentley has produced numerous timepieces over the years, their watch bezels always feature the honeycomb grille patterns of cars, variable tachometer, and chronograph movements that are COSC-certified and circular slide rules.
Wrapping Up
Racing watches are essential in any racing as they help you keep track of your distance and speed as a driver. There is a comprehensive collection of racing watches with unique tachymeter features and an easy chronograph design. The five luxury racing watches are ideal if you are ready to break your bank. They have amazing features to match any of your race and wrist flexibility.