Watches

McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

By Edward Jones – October 27, 2017

Rolex "Paul Newman" Daytona Now Most Expensive Watch Ever...

The famous Rolex "Paul Newman" Daytona watch owned by Paul Newman himself has sold for the highest amount ever recorded in an auction for a timepiece.Bidding for the watch, hosted by Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, started at a staggering $10 million. With more than 700 people in the room watching the auction take place, competing phone bidders went back and forth until the hammer price of $17.8 million was settled on by the winner. Total length of time spent bidding was 12 minutes.HYT: Another Step Forward into Motorsports with Panis-Barthez Compétition and the H4 Watch "It was an absolute privilege for Phillips to offer Paul Newman's own "Paul Newman" Daytona – arguably the most iconic collector's wristwatch of the 20th century," said Aurel Bacs, Senior Consultant, and Paul Boutros, Head of Watches, Americas. "This record result is a testament to the historic importance and continued legacy of this Rolex, which is responsible for creating an entirely new market and inspiring a new generation of collectors."https://vimeo.com/239889473

By Edward Jones – September 22, 2017

Lamborghini x Roger Dubuis: Excalibur Aventador S

Roger Dubuis and Lamborghini have teamed up for a collaboration that spans from your wrist to the race track. Announced yesterday was the new Huracan Super Trofeo Evo and the fact that Roger Dubuis will be one of the main sponsors for the Super Trofeo series. As for your wrist, Roger Dubuis has unveiled the new Excalibur Aventador S timepiece.There will be two different models of this timepiece, one using multi-layered carbon and the other using C-SMC (same technology used in Lamborghini cars). As for the latter model, it will come in Arancio Argos (orange) and will be limited to only 8 pieces, with the other being limited to 88 pieces in Giallo Orion (yellow). RD103 duotor calibre

By Andrew Nabors – September 19, 2017

Breitling Unveils the Bentley GT Dark Sapphire Edition

All good things come to those who wait, and Bentley is not in the business of beating the clock. Attention to detail is needed to build such luxurious automobiles. As such, an all-new Continental GT has been in the works for years. What began in 2003 has evolved with subtle revisions. But the new 3rd generation will arrive as the most anticipated luxury coupe in years. So Breitling has decided to celebrate the occasion with a new timepiece. Limited to 500 examples, the Bentley GT Dark Sapphire Edition was unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Taking inspiration from the new car, the dial mirrors the same "diamond in diamond" pattern of Bentley leather. It is also the introduction of Breitlight, their new composite material. Resistant to scratches and corrosion, it is hypo-allergenic and non-magnetic. Movement is provided by their B06 Calibre which is chronometer-certified for accuracy. The 48mm case contains 47 jewels, 70 hours of reserve power, and a Bentley GT rubber strap. Expect to see Breitling and Bentley's latest achievements in our 2017 Watch Guide. Stay with us for all your timekeeping updates.

By Edward Jones – August 24, 2017

ICON 4x4 Reveals Their First Watch: The Duesey

ICON 4x4 is known for their capable renditions of classic vehicles like the Bronco, but not they have entered the world of fine timepieces. Introducing, The Duesey by ICON Watches.I'll start off by saying that this new watch is not a rehash of a watch that already exists. No, this is an entirely new watch that was designed and modeled entirely by Jonathan Ward, the main man behind ICON 4x4. It features a "Jump Hour display with wandering minutes" that perfectly matches the styling you'd find inside one of ICON 4x4's custom vehicles. The watch itself is Swiss manufactured and is extremely limited to only 50 examples. As for the movement, it features the Swiss Dubois-Depraz Automatic 14400 module.Check Out - Floyd Mayweather Says He Just Bought Two LaFerrarisBut, this isn't the only watch ICON Watches will create. They note that they will "move well beyond the traditional automotive design themed watches we have all seen, by drawing from a much deeper well of knowledge and inspiration, free of the constraints of tradition and big brand bureaucracy." I can easily say I'm excited for what they make next!Buy NowFerraris For Sale

By Edward Jones – July 13, 2017

Lux-Tech: Louis Vuitton Tambour Horizon Smartwatch

Many fashion designers have been creating their own smartwatches, and the latest to do so is none other than Louis Vuitton. Just recently, the fashion designer unveiled their Tambour Horizon smartwatch, a timepiece unlike any other that LV has created.Its 1.2-inch AMOLED screen will display all of the information that Android Wear 2.0 can offer. Along with the apps available through the app store, there are a handful of apps that are exclusive to Louis Vuitton, as well as watchfaces. This includes the City Guides app that can guide you into the direction of the finest locations where ever you are. The other is My Flight, which will display up-to-date flight information.Louis Vuitton is currently offering the watch at $2,450. It will work with both Android and iOS devices, and can utilize both Bluetooth and WiFi.Buy Now

By Edward Jones – June 09, 2017

Singer Debuts Their $40,000 Track 1 Watch

The automotive world is very educated about the masterpieces that are known as Singer Vehicle Design Porsches. Each of the customized 911s that Singer creates are customized to be more impeccable in every way than the original. With retro-styling and style that cannot be matched, these $500k+ automobiles are admired across the world.With such a pedigree, Singer decided to take their expertise into another market: the watch market. To do this, they created Singer Reimagined, which will be the company creating their watches.The new Singer Track 1 is an exceptional chronograph that is the first of its kind. Track 1 is the result of a collaboration between Rob Dickinson, founder of Singer, and Marco Borraccino, the designer of the watch with a idea for a new type of chronograph.Instead of creating a typical chronograph with separate small subdials, he wanted to create one that was easier to read. This is why the Track 1 tells time via two rotating dials on the outside and the chronograph features displayed on the face by three hands mounted in the center. Such a face is unlike any other in the watch market, surely making it a watch that will be sought after for years to come.According to A Blog to Watch, each of the Track 1 Launch Editions will cost $40,000 and will be limited to just 50 pieces.

By Edward Jones – May 16, 2017

Gold Rolex "Paul Newman" Sells for $3.7 Million, Most Exp...

At Phillips' recent Geneva Watch Auction, a rare Rolex Daytona known as "The Legend" went up for auction and ended up selling for a record price. The 18k yellow gold Rolex Oyster watch with a "Paul Newman" dial ended up selling for $3.7 million, making it the most expensive Daytona ever sold. This is what Hodinkee.com had to say about the winner of the watch: "The eventual winner even decided to get up and walk out of the auction room before Aurel Bacs finally dropped his gavel. He turned around just in time to hear confirmation of his winning bid, but he was the first person out of the auction room. Perhaps he was just keen on getting his hands on his new watch." That's a pretty epic exit. Most Expensive Sports Cars in the World According to the watch's listing on Phillips.com, it is the three known and correct example of its kind to ever appear in public. They also noted that for decades, a yellow gold Paul Newman wristwatch, like this one with screw down pushers, has been the subject of mystery for collectors and scholars. This was because the existence of such a watch was unknown. Well, now we know that they do exist and they cost a pretty penny.

By Edward Jones – January 06, 2017

Time and Speed: A Look at Cars and Watches

You can’t bring your car into the boardroom, but with an auto-inspired timepiece, you can make the statement anyway.Today’s finest watchmakers are inspired by the auto-racing world. From design to high-tech materials and ultra precision, the synergies between these two mechanical arenas are uncanny.Both were born at just about the same time in the early 1900’s and grew up together right from the start. Early 20th century watches were the driver’s best accompaniment, especially when they began offering chronographs and tachymeter scales.Publishers Pick: Luxury Living in Tampa BayToday, both premier car builders and luxury watchmakers are driven by the quest to track time to the tiniest fraction of a second. Both regularly strive for mechanical perfection – building part upon part, adding complexity after complexity --to achieve the ultimate mechanical machine.Many watchmakers even borrow high-tech lightweight yet rugged materials from the auto industry, including titanium, carbon fiber and aluminium, to help make their watches more durable and more automobile inspired.Additionally, some watch brands partner with car brands to build watches in their name, while others partner with races as official timekeepers, or as sponsors of a team or a driver. Year after year, the partnerships abound, all with the concept of offering today’s discerning customer an auto-inspired timepiece that roars his passion for mechanics and cars right from the wrist. Baume & Mercier Capeland Shelby(R) Cobra 1963 ChronographJust about two years ago, Baume & Mercier partnered with Shelby American to create an all new timepiece inspired by the man behind the legendary Cobra, as well as the cars and the drivers in the golden age of 1960’s racing. This Baume & Mercier Capeland Shelby(R) Cobra 1963 Chronograph is one of two limited edition “Spirit of Competition” watches unveiled this year to celebrate the Cobra 289 victory in 1963 at 12 Hours of Sebring. It is powered by a mechanical self-winding movement and offers chronograph functions, tachymeter scale and date indication. The 44mm case is crafted in steel and the back is engraved with “Shelby® Cobra Edition” “One out of 1963.” Retail: $4,450., www.baume-et-mercier.com TAG Heuer MonzaThis year, TAG Heuer celebrates 40 years of Monza with a numbered special edition watch. The 42mm Monza automatic chronograph is crafted in brushed and polished titanium with a black carbide coated case and bezel. The black dial features chronograph central seconds hand in red and subdials with red accents. Luminescent markers and hands make for easy reading, and the outer flange of the dial features printed tachymeter and pulosometer scales. The watch, powered by the TAG Heuer Caliber 17, features a vintage Heuer logo and “Monza” lettering on the dial. Retail: $5,200., us.tagheuer.com Graham Silverstone RS Racing BlueGraham is involved in races around the world, and its auto-inspired timepieces go the distance. This Graham Silverstone RS Racing watch offers chronograph functions (seconds, 30 minutes, 12 hour counters), as well as a day/date indication, in addition to hours, minutes and seconds. The Caliber G1749 automatic chronograph movement with Incabloc shock absorber powers it. The 46mm stainless steel case sports a blue composite bezel with a white tachymeter scale on it. The sapphire caseback enables viewing of the movement, which offers 48 hours of power reserve. Retail: $5,780., www.graham1695.com Zenith El Primero Range RoverSwiss watch brand, Zenith, has just announced a multi-year partnership with British Land Rover. To inaugurate the relationship, the brand has unveiled the El Primero Range Rover limited edition timepiece. Offered with either a blue or an ivory perforated calfskin strap (backed by rubber), the watch is powered by the 326-part El Primero 400B automatic watch with column-wheel chronograph. The matte gray dial features both the Zenith and Range Rover names and the rotor, visible via a sapphire caseback, is inscribed with both brands’ logos. Retail: $7,700., www.zenith-watches.com Breitling Bentley Mulliner TourbillonFor nearly 15 years, Breitling and Bentley have worked together to create timepieces worthy of both brands when it comes to power, precision and mechanics. Both with winged B signature logos, their partnership seemed destined. The Breitling for Bentley watches house high-performance COSC-certified chronometer movements and a refined aesthetic. This 18-karat rose gold Breitling for Bentley Mulliner Tourbillon chronograph timepiece is a COSC-certified chronometer. It is powered by the brand’s hand-wound Caliber 18B. The dial, with tachymeter bezel, is created in shades taken from the Bentley bodywork options. Retail: $155,000., www.breitling.com Rolex Oyster Perpetual DaytonaRolex has long been intimately involved in the world of auto racing, and its association with Daytona dates back more than half a century, and the brand’s Daytona watch is easily one of the most iconic watches in history. This Oyster Perpetual Rolex Daytona (Ref. 116515LN) is a 40mm Oyster case in the brand’s proprietary Everose gold. The black monobloc Cerachrom bezel is crafted in ceramic and engraved with a tachymeter scale. The Rolex self-winding Caliber 4130 offers perpetual mechanical chronograph and is a Superlative Chronometer (COSC + Rolex certified after casing). Retail: $28,800., www.rolex.com Chopard Superfast Chrono Porsche 919Chopard has entered into a collaboration with Porsche Motorsport as the Official Timing Partner. This Superfast Chrono Porsche 919 Edition, dedicated to the new Porsche 919 hybrid, is a COSCcertified chronometer. Its flyback chronograph allows for timing of multiple events at once. Built in a limited edition of 919 pieces, the 45mm stainless steel watch is powered by the Chopard 03.05-M self-winding mechanical caliber with 60 hours of power reserve. Water resistant to 100 meters, it features a tachymeter scale and has a sapphire caseback engraved with “Official Timing Partner Porsche Motorsport.” Retail: $12,890., www.chopard.com Parmigiani Fleurier Type 390Parmigiani Fleurier works with the famed Bugatti brand to create intriguing three-dimensional watches inspired by the exceptional details of its cars and engines. This all-new Parmigiani Fleurier Bugatti Type 390 Concept Watch represents the newest generation of super car and super watch. The watch is conceived of as a motor bloc on the wrist, with tubular movement and concentric shape. Two barrels ensure constant energy. The watch is equipped with a 60-seconds flying tourbillon for mesmerizing appeal. It is so new that it has not yet been priced, but expect it to retail for approximately $350,000., www.parmigiani.ch Hublot MP-05 LaFerrari SapphireHublot takes its relationship with LaFerrari to new heights with the MP-05 LaFerrari Sapphire – a totally transparent sapphire cased watch that pays tribute to the 1200HP hybrid supercar, FXX K. The incredible engine-inspired case is made from seven blocks of sapphire and it takes more than 600 hours of work to produce a single ultra-light case. The historic 3D movement, (HUB9005.H1.PN.1) of this watch is also made of ultra lightweight carbon compounds. The 637-part movement has 11 barrels and offers an unprecedented 50 hours of power reserve. Retail: $575,000., www.hublot.com

By Nicole Slaughter-Graham – September 14, 2016

Hublot's LaFerrari Sapphire Watch Pays Tribute to the Fer...

The incredible speed, power, agility and performance of the Ferrari FXX K serves as the inspiration for the all new, first ever Hublot animated film, which also features the brand's technologically advanced MP-05 LaFerrari Sapphire timepiece. With the fusion of Swiss movement and exotic materials, the LaFerrari Sapphire is definitely out of this world, as is the film. Hublot gathered 50 of its most prestigious clients, gave them first-class seats in iconic Ferrari models in front of a drive-in style movie screen for the debut.With insane special effects and graphics, Hublot shows the world why it is a leader in innovation in the watchmaking world. The Ferrari FXX K looks better than ever, twisting and turning through rugged, out-of-this-world terrain. Even though superior animation and technology saturate the film, the driving experience feels all too real, and for good reason. As stated in a Hublot piece about the debut of the video and the watch:The whole FXX K environment has been reconstituted with special computer effects. All the images have been animated by a real-life driver at the steering wheel, and the technical features of the car have been configured to provide the most realistic driving experience possible.Both graphics and sound effects are of the highest, most realistic quality, giving viewers the full experience of what it's like to drive the iconic hyper car.Ferrari For SaleCheck out the full video and more information about the Hublot LaFerrari Sapphire in the video below.

By Edward Jones – June 06, 2016

Tutima M2: Nothing Can Rattle

Good legibility, reliable functionality, high comfort level and water resistance, a large sweep minute counter, pressure-resistant for use to 15,000 meters above sea level, and shock proofed for blows, vibrations, and acceleration up to 7 g in all directions: these are the enormous prerequisites that the procurement office and forces alike put upon the Tutima NATO chronograph in 1984.Tutima's re-edition, the M2, even surpasses these prerequisites. In the classic from 1984, Swiss caliber Lemania 5100 kept the time. Since this is no longer in production, they have integrated their own caliber Tutima 521 into the M2. It is protected by a pure titanium case pressure-proofed to 30atm including a strong sapphire crystal coated with anti-reflective treatment on both sides and an additional casing of mu-metal. This nickel-iron alloy binds magnetic field streams so that they do not even reach the movement. The integrated push buttons are furnished with grooved neoprene inlays.The hour counter has its own scale. The less often consulted display of running seconds and 24 hours modestly step out of the limelight. The time and chronograph hands, as well as the hour markers are coated with luminous Super-LumiNova. This ensures good legibility, even under adverse lighting conditions. The Pioneer model variation additionally contains a nonslip rotating bezel with 14 luminous capsules so that set time intervals are easily recognizable even in full darkness.This model comes on a titanium link bracelet with folding clasp. The box that the M2 titanium bracelet model is delivered in additionally contains a Kevlar weave strap as well as a tool set for changing the strap.Learn more

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