Breitling and Bentley’s partnership may have been the longest between an auto and a timepiece brand, but it is by no least the only creative and wildly successful one out there. Other auto brands like Lamborghini, Ferrari and Bugatti have had successful extended partnerships with other timepiece brands, and every day, new partnerships are born.
If you’re crazy about autos or are thinking of getting the perfect gift for an auto enthusiast (that is not an automobile of course), here are 7 timepieces made in collaboration with auto brands to consider.
Jacob & Co x Bugatti
You can always trust Jacob & Co to make the most complex and extravagant timepieces, and, with this piece for Bugatti, it did not fail to deliver.
Actually, the partnership between both brands officially began in 2019 with the Epic X and Twin Turbo Furious Bugatti kicking off the action. The latest is the Bugatti Chiron Blue Sapphire Crystal Tourbillon timepiece that boasts a racing-inspired blue sapphire case and a 578-part manual wind movement whose engine replicates the Bugatti W16 engine.
Just like a vehicle, its movement is suspended in the case with shock absorbers, and on-demand 16 pistons power up and down on the crankshaft like the hyper car’s engine. If the Bugatti Chiron Blue Sapphire Crystal Tourbillon timepiece is your choice, it will set you back a cool $1.5 million.
Roger Dubuis x Lamborghini
In the last 5 years, Roger Dubuis has worked closely with Lamborghini to create timepieces whose designs and colours, high-tech materials and visionary aesthetics mime the brand’s best cars.
The newest creation is this Excalibur Spider Countach developed for the launch of the new Countach supercar. Made from Roger Dubuis’ “exclusive high-technology Mineral Composite Fibre (MCF) material”, the timepiece boasts a complex 295-part hand-finished and assembled movement that was developed entirely in-house with double flying tourbillons at a 90-degree angle.
The Excalibur Spider Countach is a boutique exclusive priced at $815,000. With only 8pieces scheduled to be produced, it may be hard to get your hands on this one.
Bovet 1822 x Pininfarina
Like the others, both brands have been in partnership for some years now. The latest fruit of this union is the Battista Tourbillon which honours the Pininfarina Battista Hyper GT electric auto.
The Battista Tourbillon timepiece features an all-new movement with a two-sided 60-second Flying Tourbillon and a patented spherical rewinding system. The tourbillon cage is reminiscent of the Battista Impulso wheels, and, emulating the Battista E-Heart charging logo, the piece features an E-Heart-shaped aperture to showcase the date on the front and the winding mechanism on the back.
Thankfully, this is not a limited-edition piece and you can get it for $330,000.
Porsche Design x Porsche
The most unsurprising collaboration, timepieces by Porsche Design are perhaps the only ones not inspired by a specific marque.
Take for example the Chronograph 1-911 Edition timepiece. It was made to celebrate 50 years of Porsche Design and honours the first chronograph made by the brand. The motorsport-inspired timepiece comes with chronograph functions, day and date indication, and a tachymeter chapter ring for measuring speed.
Perhaps the only direct relationship it has with a specific auto model is the fact that it is only available to owners of the 750 Porsche 911 Targa GTS Porsche Design 50th Anniversary Edition sports auto. Both are sold together and cost $195,850 (excluding delivery, processing, and handling fees).
Not exactly what you may be looking for, since it’s a 2-in-1 deal. But it is definitely worth considering
Richard Mille x Mclaren
Already five years into its partnership with McLaren Automotive, Richard Mille continues to push horological limits. The RM 40-01 Automatic Tourbillon McLaren Speedtail is a grand example of the futuristic styling and performance of both brands.
Honouring the fastest exotic car built to date by McLaren, the RM 40-01 boasts a new 69-part titanium and Carbon TPT® case that took 18 months to make. The all-new engine inside consists of a whopping 672 parts and was more than 8,000 hours in the R&D phases.
Priced at $1,023,000, only 106 pieces will be made to match the number of McLaren Speedtail autos that will be manufactured.
Girard-Perregaux x Aston Martin
One year and 3 timepieces after, Girard-Perregaux and Aston Martin want to paint your wrist green with the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Chronograph Aston Martin F1 Edition.
This model is limited to 306 pieces in reference to the total distance in kilometres of the 2022 British Grand Prix at Silverstone and its case is made from a blend of titanium powder and pieces of carbon fibre, materials gotten from two Formula One autos from the 2021 season. The straps also feature these materials alongside synthetic rubber and have been rendered in the same Aston Martin Racing Green.
What makes this ‘auto timepiece’ even more unique is that, for the first time, a Laureato Absolute Chronograph has on its rear a sapphire crystal that allows for viewing the hand-finished movement. It is priced at $27,800.
Ducati x Bulgari
Ok, so this may not be an auto brand, but since motorbikes are categorised as vehicles, well…
The newest collaborators on this list, Ducati and Bulgari’s first baby is the Bulgari Aluminum Ducati Special Edition Chronograph. The 40mm timepiece is fitted with Bulgari’s B130 automatic-winding mechanical movement that holds an impressive 42-hour power reserve. The deep-red dial is the signature colour of both brands, while the black-covered back case highlights the new partnership between Bulgari and Ducati with commemorative engravings of each brand’s logo.
Priced at $5000, the Bulgari Aluminum Ducati Special Edition Chronograph is limited to only 1000 pieces. So, if this appeals to you, you would have to make a move fast before it sells out.
Source: DuPont Registry