The history of cars and watches
Mechanical watchmaking shares many similarities with the automotive world, being closely linked to the wheels by means of teeth. So, when did the deep relationship between watches and cars begin?
During the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, steam locomotives revolutionized the way we travel and communicate. It is during this dynamic era that many vehicles are starting to hit the streets. Like railways, they have become an inexhaustible source of watch design.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Europe and the United States saw the birth of the first Grand Prix, and there was a huge interest in road sports. Both racers and timekeepers measure performance with the help of a pocket chronograph pocket watch with a tachymeter scale.
Aside from chronographs, timepieces designed for driving are rare. The watchmaking industry's contribution to the automotive industry is mainly reflected in on-board watches, which are usually fixed on the dashboard, steering wheel or central rear-view mirror.
IWC Pilot Collection "Mercedes AMG Petronas Team" Special Edition
In 1918, Georges Schren, a young watchmaker from Biel, opened a store with a completely new concept. After the First World War, the return of Bugatti, Lancia and Draghi gave him the idea of replicating the recognizable racing radiator shape to the watch. The idea was an immediate success, and Georges Schren started a new trend under the Mido brand. To meet the needs of a new generation of drivers, other manufacturers have followed suit.
Hublot Ferrari Big Bang Gold Watch
For this purpose, the watch is equipped with a rotating crown or a domed case for easy reading. Some are even designed to be worn on the side of the wrist, allowing the driver to view the watch without taking their hands off the steering wheel.
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Aston Martin Special Edition Chronograph
However, it wasn't until the 1940s that the connection between the watch and the car was really further enhanced with the boom in wristwatches with chronograph functions. Racers can finally measure their results with a chronograph with unprecedented precision. Some brands are also following the trend, linking their names to racing cars in various forms.
Today, many watchmaking brands have established partnerships with the automotive world – Bovet and Rolls-Royce, Breitling and Bentley, Girard-Perregaux and Aston Martin, Hublot and Ferrari, IWC and Mercedes-AMG, Jacob & Co. and Bugatti, Richard Mille and McLaren, Roger Dubuis and Lamborghini, TAG Heuer and Porsche, and more - whether it's the entire brand, or some more C.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Porsche Special Edition
With the advent of the era of electric vehicles, I believe that the watchmaking industry will bring us new surprises, and the close connection between watches and cars will also glow with stronger vitality.
