What is it about motor racing and luxury watches that go together so seamlessly? For starters, racing requires split second decisions and with watches, timing is everything.
Recently, Italian motorcycle giant Ducati announced its partnership with watchmaker Tudor. The two paired up to introduce The Fastrider Chronograph, a 42mm watch featuring Ducati’s trademark red and black colors; self-winding chronograph movement with a 46-hour power reserve; chronograph pushers inspired by engine pistons; 30-minute, 12-hour and small-seconds sub-dials; and a tachymetric scale engraved on the stainless-steel bezel.
Luxury watchmaker Armin Strom has gotten in the race, too, teaming up with Marussia Virgin Racing—fittingly around the time the Monaco Grand Prix took place this May in Monte Carlo—to unveil a special racing collection of timekeepers. The watches, which reflect the Marussia Virgin Racing team’s style with black, red and white in the dials, are made from high-grade materials, some with actual moving components from Marussia’s cars, something that isn’t all that easy.
“We could have simply put a logo on our watches. But that would have been too easy for us,” explains Claude Greisler, product development manager and design engineer with Armin Strom. “A Formula 1 engine lasts about 40 hours, and then it’s
had it. A watch movement when properly serviced will last forever. We wanted to illustrate and demonstrate this extreme contrast,” he adds.
The key to successfully incorporating machine parts into the watches lies in the correct processing of high-end scrap engine metals that are melted into aluminum alloys. “Because we have to machine cut the parts afterwards, it is of vital importance, that there be no air bubbles whatsoever. These would have looked terrible on the finished articles afterwards and would also have caused us production problems”, Greisler says. With the application of various decoration elements, the finished special parts take on a highly technical appearance, giving the watches an unmistakable Formula 1-worthy look.
From Race Track to Luxury Watchmaker
It’s not just racing teams that are dabbling in the timekeeping business. Stefan Johansson made a name for himself as a top driver on the world’s international motorsports circuit, winning both the 12 hours of the Sebring twice with a Porsche and a Ferrari, and the 24 hours of Le Mans in his Porsche. Being a racecar driver gave Johansson the opportunity to perform for some of the world’s most impressive manufacturers, including McLaren and Mercedes, and while he’s still active in racing, Johansson has taken on a new passion: luxury watchmaking.
The Mark VIII F 658, which Johansson designed exclusively for fine spirits maker Patron, commemorated the fine spirits maker’s entry into the American Lemans Series as a sponsor of the Highcroft Acura Team. The first race Patron sponsored back in 2007 was the 12-hour race at Sebring; thus, Johansson wanted to craft a timepiece that would run on just 12 pieces.
The limited edition watch, individually engraved with the chassis number on the back, features a massive 47mm three-piece case, in Black PVD coated stainless steel or stainless steel with fine brushed finish and mechanical self-winding movement. It is a water-resistant to depths of up to 3 ATM.
According to Johansson’s website, he tests his watches under rigorous conditions, such as during a car race. “The environment in a modern racing car is quite violent, the driver experiences an enormous amount vibrations, shocks and sudden altitude changes in addition to the extreme heat sometimes experienced especially in a closed roof racing car,” he says.
While the traditional COSC (“Controle Officiel Suisse des Chronometres”) tests movement in certain positions, those tests don’t “even come close to the demands we put on our watches when worn during these extreme racing conditions,” Johansson notes.
Johansson adds that movement is just one component in watch testing. According to him, the fit of the watch strap, the buckles and the legibility of the dials are integral to sound watch design. For more information on Stefan Johansson Växjö watches, visit www.sjwatch.net.
By Laura Starczewski
Imagery courtesy of Armin Strom
