One of the reasons watches are so inextricably linked to the motorsport industry is the need for high-precision timing on the track. Manufacturers such as Rolex and Omega continue to maintain their long-term commitment to provide the racing world with reliable precision watches that record laps and other important track data.
Watch connoisseurs who collect racing watches are still in the market for a timepiece that delivers the same performance whether worn for driving purposes or not. After motoring fans and actor, Paul Newman sported the replica Rolex Cosmograph Daytona upon his wrist, because it gained an almost cult-like status, spawning a dedicated fan base of motor-sport enthusiasts, businessmen, and style-conscious individuals alike.
The history of the racing watch also consists of the pivotal role Omega played with the launch of their well-knownSpeedmaster. Before the Omega Speedmaster became the first watch worn on the surface of the moon, forever cementing its role in space and aviation industries, it was a racing chronograph developed for professional race car drivers to use at the track.
Adding leverage to the company’s position as the official timekeeper for the Olympic Games, the first Speedmaster was created in 1957 as a racing and sports chronograph with a visually impressive and easy to read dial. The original fake Omega Speedmaster, the CK2915 was created by Claude Baillod and featured a tri-complex chronograph layout with high-contrast index markers. Moreover, it made the pioneering determination to have its tachymeter scale moved to its bezel instead of printed on its dial for increased legibility.
Although the choices range from conservative to extremely bold, and a large number of racing watch straps are now available, all luxury racing watches are bundled by the same core values for their indivisible precision driving and technical excellence.