Borna Boschunjak
Lace and watches – give a name to a better duo. If the sport is very closely dependent on precise timing, and if a thousandths of people often separate competitors, it’s not surprising to see them inherently related to sponsorship watches. However, for those who love lace and watches, the connections are deeper than surface-level advertising. It is a connection shared through the need for absolute accuracy, whether it is engineering or driving type. The pinnacles of both motor racing and watchmaking are also undeniable status symbols. Whether it’s the vintage Woir Autovia tied to the wrists of singer Porsche enthusiasts wearing a cardigan, they’re tied up by Hollywood celebrities who appear on the grid walk wearing the latest carbon composite Richard Mill. The watches on this list represent both bits, with many racing thoroughbreds and up-and-coming or unexpected candidates.
Yema Rallygraf Meca-Quartz Reverse Panda
If you have a limited budget but don’t want to sacrifice your inheritance, Yema RallyGraf Meca-Quartz ReversePanda is a great solution. Yema Larry was famously worn by Mario Andretti when he won the Indy 500 in 1969. This latest version is a relatively faithful reissue of that watch with some tweaks, but of course it completes the checker flags crossed to the dial. The Mechaquartz movement, despite being equipped with a battery, offers a wide range of middle-second hands and retains a portion of the old-world user experience at a modern affordable price. Also, if you don’t want to go down the very common vintage worship route between racing watches, you can also use a variety of punchy colors. Price: 369 USD
Autodromo Group B
For the years of the 1980s, some of the most ferociously quick rally cars were built for this spec, but there is nothing more adoration and fear in the heart of retro racing fans than the word group B. Even in its pathological and dark history, Group B was a golden age for many fans of the rally. Autodromo Group B Celebrate the design language of those boxy turbo monsters with titanium cases that reflect the lightweight sentiment of Rally Engineering. The deep green color and the simplicity of its dial and case design will be very appealing, but it requires a combination of other colors and complexity. Price: 975 US$
Balto Titrico Pax
The Baltic may not have the lace pedigree of several other works, but Etienne Marek is doing his damn thing to try and make it an issue. And it’s working. Apart from being an incredibly measured bit of 1970s design, Trichopax of the Baltic Sea has been the official Tour Auto watch for the second year in a row. This is another example of the historic gatherings being revived, and appears in iconic cars with excuses for gasoline heads like the people of the Baltic Sea. If you’re not ready to baby a vintage chronograph, but want the same look with assurance that it was created by a true motor racing enthusiast, then the Trichopax with the Serrata is worth seeing. Price: 1,645 euros (~US$1,730), available from The Tide+Tide Shop
Tags Heuer Monaco Caliber 11
One of the three horse race contestants, the first pursuit of the automatic chronograph, was the very exercise with the first Heuer Monaco. The joint venture between Heuer-Léonidas, Breitling, Hamilton-Büren, and Dépraz & Co, has brought chronomatic, or caliber 11, as is known for the tag Heuer’s language. Dépraz built a chronograph, while Büren provided a modified micro-rotor caliber on the base. This is a feature that unfortunately no longer exists in the latest iterations. But what does this all have to do with race? We’ll have to wait several years for Monaco to be solidified in racing history. This is Reference 1133b, which appears on Steve McQueen’s wrist for the film Le Mans, and is inspired by then-Hier Ambassador Joe Schiffert. The rest is history, as they say. Try going to Monaco with caliber 11 for the peak nostalgia of the opposing crown and pusher. Price: 8,100 US$
Chopard Milmiria
Motor racing often has shoe holes in just a few categories, and the interesting thing is that same with watches. With the brand’s recent focus on Alpine Eagle and Luc models, Chopard’s Mille Miglia probably doesn’t get the love they deserve. Named after the iconic Open Road Endurance race, Chopard has been a revival sponsor since 1988, with Karl Friedrich Schuferle regularly appearing, and most recently driving a Mercedes 300 SL along with Formula 1 legend Jackie Ick. There is a special edition released with each race run, but the standard edition Lucent Steel model is more versatile thanks to its 40.5mm case and regular availability, thanks to its COSC certified ETA A322-11. Price: USD 9,140
Omega Speedmaster Super Race
No matter what shape you like, it’s a stopwatch that determines the winner. Timing is most important, as even those who pass the checker flag first can overturn if they receive a time penalty. The Omega Speedmaster is one of the most famous racing watches of the past. Even if you remember more about the moon missions, it’s the recent Speedmaster Super Race that actually puts the pedals on metal. I’m not saying that watches work fast, but it’s one of the most accurate watches produced by Omega Thanks to the spirit system that guarantees accuracy within -0/+2 seconds per day. The watch itself accepts high-tech angles with a black honeycomb dial and yellow highlights, and the micromarker checker pattern is recalled Old Speedmaster Racing Model. Price: USD 11,600
Rolex Daytona Le Mans
I knew that Rolex Daytona would make a list. For a while, it makes sense to include something that allows for the most hyped Daytona release. Le Mans is special for two reasons. It has been revealed that it will celebrate 100 years of historic race, but it is also a callback to Daytona’s original name. Before the clock dug into the name of the Florida city, it was advertised as Le Mans. Even before 1965, when the Daytona name first appeared on the dial, the watch was a well-known item in the racing world, but its popularity has skyrocketed over the past decade or so. Daytona Le Mans combines the desired “exotic” or Paul Newman dial, the latest white gold Daytona case, which has become a flagship star in recent watch auctions. On display, the Calibre 4131 features a rare sub-dialtotalizer for up to 24 hours, making it easy to spend the entire duration of the race. The watch is now second generation, with white gold being replaced by a yellow gold variant, but the hype generated by Daytonalman has earned a spot on the list. Price: USD 51,400
Laurent Ferrier Grand Sport Tourbillon Pursuit
Another non-clenograph on the list of the best racing watches? Blasphemy – especially considering that race pedigree will be zero. Or is that possible? Those familiar with Laurent Ferrier (if not, welcome) and motor racing may remember that while working at Patek Philippe, the watchmaker took part in Le Mans, achieving class victory in the Group 6 Chevron B36 in 1978, and third overall in 1979. Especially considering the ’79 podium shared with co-founder François Selvanin, a man’s day? With an integrated bracelet that matches the Grade 5 titanium case, the pink gradient dial is colored to reflect the sunrise above the Marsanne straight. Meanwhile, the opposite is dark, decorated with a bridge of flesh and a double-balanced Spring Tour Billon Caliber. Price: CHF 175,000 (`US $196,000)
T+T Timeless Pick: Omega Speedmaster Racing and Universal Geneva Compaq Nina Lind
This timeless pick will give you a special 2-on-1 deal.
The Omega Speedmaster can be claimed to be the most iconic watch ever made. Whether you agree not to change the facts that emotions may be on so many “best” lists, it’s not interesting. On the list of the best racing watches, it’s another quick variant that makes a cut for me. Omega Speedmaster Race, more specifically, two Michael Schumacher variations of 1996, embody the spirit of racing, as well as the watch can.
The watch was delivered in a Formula 1 wheel-shaped box and fired on a cart truck where young Schumacher cuts his teeth. This was the time when Omega was all-in in Formula 1, and the Speedmaster variations also adorn the wrists of Michael’s brother Ralph. The Speedmaster Racing movement was shared with Speedy Reduction and was equipped with the base ETA 2892 with the Chrono module from Dubois Dépraz, the Omega 1141. Price: ~3,000 US Dollar (Secondhand Market)
If you’ve read the blurb about Tricompax in the Baltic Sea and thought, “No, I want something older, more unusual, more expensive, but obviously iconic,” Universal’s Zeneve Nina Lind is your only option. This particular UG Compax was acquired by its most famous wearer, Nina Rindt, who sported a white chronograph with a large band strap. It doesn’t matter if she actually used it to use her husband’s rap on time. It is a well-known fact that the best watches have the best nicknames, and the watch, named after the supermodel and the iconic F1 pit lane, should be decent. Price: ~25,000 US Dollar (Secondhand Market)
