3 Racing-Inspired Watches for Gearheads

Today’s cars and watches illustrate just how far we’ve come in terms of technology, engineering, and design.

Cars and watches also tastefully (usually) indicate the material wealth that someone possesses and their sense of style.

Naturally, cars and watches go together.

Watchmakers seem to think so, too – there are many watches that have been influenced by cars, and vice versa. These days, it seems almost impossible to watch a motorsport event without seeing advertisements for luxury watch brands.

So why not lean into it?

These are three of our favorite racing-inspired watches that represent automotive culture and watchmaking excellence.

Formula 1 Chronograph | TAG HEUER

Racing would likely be in a vastly different place today without TAG Heuer’s long-lasting influence on the sport. The company’s identity is almost permanently intertwined with the automotive industry, from its lineup of motorsport-inspired watches to its association with car enthusiast celebrities like Steve McQueen.

TAG Heuer embraces its legacy as one of the most iconic brands in motorsport, currently partnered with the Monaco Grand Prix, Red Bull Racing’s Formula 1 team, the Carrera Panamericana, and the Indianapolis 500 (and so much more!)

The Formula 1 Chronograph is a quintessential motoring watch from bracelet to bezel. The royal blue dial features a three-dial chronograph: 1/10 second, seconds, and 30-minute counters. It is surrounded by a color-matched fixed bezel that makes this watch stand out even further. A silver-toned case and bracelet complete the piece, which is powered by a quartz movement and equally suits elegant and high-performance environments.

There are several Formula 1 watches in TAG Heuer’s lineup, but this specific model evokes such a sensation of ‘raciness’ that it was an easy choice for this list – one we consider well worth the $2,000 retail price.

Heritage 1973 | TISSOT

There’s so much to love about a Tissot watch that it’s difficult to know where to begin. The company’s unofficial connection to motorsport dates back to 1958, when driver Harry Zweifel sent Tissot a signed photograph with the caption ‘“Meine Tissot ist an jedem Rennen dabei” (“My Tissot is by my side at every race”)’ (Tissot).

From that point on, Tissot and car racing competitions have been inextricably linked. The company has produced several motorsport-inspired timepieces and partnered with race teams for decades, including Brabham and Porsche.

When it comes to this Heritage 1973, Tissot hit the nail on the head and never looked back. The piece features a tachymeter-equipped “panda” dial with two new declinations in blue and black. The leather strap hearkens racing equipment from classic racing - its composition, perforation, and color are similar to authentic driving gloves.

A Swiss automatic movement with a ~60-hour power reserve powers the Heritage 1973, which offers three chronograph sub-dials, including 30-minute, 60-second, and 12-hour counters. Silver-toned details complete the piece – elegant, sophisticated, and sporty for just $2,275.

Cosmograph Daytona | ROLEX

Rolex is arguably one of the most well-known partners of classic and modern motorsports – a legacy the company plans to continue well into the future. The watchmaker currently serves as the Official Timepiece for the Formula 1 circuit, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and the entire FIA World Endurance Championship.

As Rolex put it: “…these events, racing circuits, and institutions express the quintessence of the qualities that drive motorsport: the mastery of mechanical power and a passion for innovation, precision movement, and risk management in the quest for the ideal trajectory.”

The Cosmograph Daytona pays homage to that long racing heritage, featuring a 40mm platinum Oyster case that holds an ice blue dial with three chestnut brown-lined chronograph sub-dials. The same chestnut brown appears on the bezel as well, which provides a molded tachymetric scale for measuring average speeds of up to 400 miles or kilometers per hour.

Currently priced at ~$77,800, this piece is definitely a reach purchase for many car and watch enthusiasts (that’s roughly equivalent to a brand-new BMW M4!), but if you do have the means to acquire it, you’ll own one of Rolex’s most iconic pieces and have the opportunity to put your passion on display.

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