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 Jordan Aquistapace – September 02, 2026

Girard-Perregaux Debuts The New Laureato Fifty Tourbillon Collection

As Geneva Watch Days gets into full swing, the biggest names in haute horology are revealing their latest creations, offering collectors and enthusiasts a forward-looking glimpse at what’s next in watchmaking. For Girard-Perregaux, this year’s focus remains on highlighting its 235 years of watchmaking expertise while evolving a cult classic with one of the industry’s most beloved complications. Enter the new Laureato Fifty Tourbillon Micro-Rotor 39mm, a watch that takes the legendary Laureato and adds considerably more mechanical ingenuity without losing the collection’s recognizable character.At 39mm and just 10mm thick, the new Laureato Fifty manages to pack an impressive amount of watchmaking into a relatively restrained package. The headline feature is the brand-new Calibre GP8410, an automatic tourbillon movement with a platinum and pink-gold micro-rotor. The in-house movement delivers a 72-hour power reserve and can be viewed in full through the sapphire caseback. The tourbillon sits beneath a Grand Feu enamel dial, with Girard-Perregaux’s signature lyre-shaped cage.The dial features a Clous de Paris pattern that houses two large white-gold bridges on the movement. Those bridges also draw from Girard-Perregaux’s long-running design DNA, dating back to the famous arrow-shaped Bridges introduced by Constant Girard in 1867. For those who prefer something warmer, the Laureato Fifty Tourbillon is also offered with an 18K solid-gold rose-toned dial. Both versions retain the octagonal bezel, integrated bracelet, and a sporty-elegant size that have made the Girard-Perregaux Laureato such an icon since 1975.This also isn't an attempt to reinvent the Laureato. Instead, Girard-Perregaux is taking a celebrated design and pushing it mechanically, combining a tourbillon, micro-rotor and extensive hand-finishing within its familiar styling. It also make its debut during an especially busy time for the brand, following three other new movements introduced over the past year. Now available through authorized boutiques worldwide, the all-new Girard-Perregaux Laureato Fifty Tourbillon Micro-Rotor 39mm Collection starts at $95,600. Source: Girard-Perregaux

By Jordan Aquistapace – September 01, 2026

TAG Heuer Monza Returns With a 50th Anniversary Racing Edition

If there’s one TAG Heuer watch that feels like it belongs at the track, it’s the Monza. Born from the brand’s early relationship with Ferrari and introduced in 1976 to celebrate Niki Lauda’s Formula 1 World Championship, the Monza has spent the past five decades carving out its own identity among racing watches. Now, with the Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio d’Italia returning to Monza, TAG Heuer is marking the occasion with a new TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Chronograph limited to just 500 numbered pieces.The original Monza’s bold, racing-inspired design helped make it one of Heuer’s most recognizable chronographs, and this 50th-anniversary edition carries that legacy into the modern era. The 42mm cushion-shaped case is crafted from forged carbon, giving the watch the lightweight, high-performance material you’d expect in a race car. The marbled finish also means no two watches are exactly the same. Against it, the matte black dial, red accents, white Super-LumiNova hands and black chronograph counters create a style that nods directly back to the 1976 Heuer Monza without just re-releasing it. Underneath all that vintage-inspired character is where the watch really shows how far the Monza has come. The TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Chronograph is powered by the COSC-certified in-house Calibre TH20-12 movement, complete with a flyback function that allows the chronograph to be reset and restarted by a single push. It’s a complication that makes perfect sense in a watch with motorsport in its DNA. The dial also features a tachymeter and pulsometer scale, while the angled date window at 9 o’clock retains the distinctive design introduced with the modern Monza. The finishing touches keep the racing theme going. A perforated black calfskin strap with contrasting red stitching gives the watch a classic motorsport feel, while the sapphire case back offers a closer look at the movement inside. Fifty years after the first Monza arrived on track, this limited-edition TAG Heuer Monza Flyback Chronograph is most certainly a fitting continuation of the story, part vintage racing tribute, part modern mechanical chronograph. The new, limited-edition TAG Heuer Monza is now available through authorized boutiques worldwide for $13,400. Source: TAG Heuer

By Sponsored Article – August 31, 2026

Vesta: The Return of a Founding Idea

In 1982, Riccardo Zannetti created his first unique watch, expressing a vision of watchmaking in which mechanical precision and decorative art could become one. Today, that original gesture returns through Vesta. This is not a nostalgic revival, but a declaration of continuity. Vesta reinterprets the creative origins of Zannetti through a contemporary watch distinguished by its architectural form, rich surfaces and unmistakable Roman identity. GALLERY-EMBED Its titanium case is engraved with motifs inspired by ancient Rome and enriched with polychrome enamels. Every line, relief and colour is created to interact with light, transforming the case into a sculptural surface. The mother-of-pearl dial, completed by an enamelled inner section, Zannetti indexes and distinctive hands, introduces a luminous contrast between classical references and contemporary design. Inside, a Swiss automatic movement makes Vesta suitable for everyday wear while remaining deeply connected to traditional watchmaking. The name evokes the Temple of Vesta and the sacred flame: a symbol of continuity, identity and values preserved through time. Zannetti is Rome’s only independent Haute Horlogerie atelier and one of the very few in Italy. Every creation includes a tangible element of hand-craftsmanship and is produced in very small limited series or as a unique piece. Vesta does not look back to repeat the past. It looks back to recognize its origins and to transform memory into matter, colour and time. Follow On Instagram

By Jordan Aquistapace – August 28, 2026

OMEGA Makes the Case for Going Smaller With Seven New Speedmasters

The watch world, like any other corner of luxury, is susceptible to trends, and case sizes can be just as volatile as the stock market. What’s considered too small one year can suddenly become the perfect size the next. Of course, you should always wear what you like and what fits you best, but watchmakers are clearly leaning into smaller cases again. Omega is following suit with the launch of its newest collection, featuring seven updated Speedmaster references, all housed in a newly designed 38mm case. The biggest update is the move from oval to rounded subdials, which brings the dial layout closer to the classic Speedmaster Moonwatch. GALLERY-EMBED OMEGA has also stripped back some of the dial text, giving the watches a cleaner appearance, while the thicker bezels now feature the Dot-Over-Ninety detail that collectors will immediately recognize. All seven references are fitted to five-link, Moonwatch-style bracelets, with polished and brushed finishes used across the different configurations. The stainless steel lineup includes a black-dial version with a black aluminum bezel that comes closest to the traditional Moonwatch aesthetic, along with white and silvery dial options accented with shades of blue, brown, and Sedna Gold. GALLERY-EMBED The two-tone models take things in a dressier direction, pairing stainless steel with either 18K Moonshine Gold or 18K Sedna Gold, while the familiar “cappuccino” combination returns with an ivory dial and brown subdials. The lineup even includes two diamond-set references, featuring 52 diamonds totaling 1.53 carats, with either an ice blue PVD dial or white mother-of-pearl. Underneath the dial, OMEGA is sticking with its Co-Axial architecture, using two self-winding movements across the collection. The six date-equipped references are powered by the Co-Axial Calibre 3330, while the black-dial model without a date gets the Calibre 3332. The smaller case size is really the main focus here, especially as interest in more wearable, compact watches continues to grow across the luxury watch market. Instead of just shrinking down the Moonwatch, OMEGA has continued to let the Speedmaster 38mm form its own identity while borrowing some of the details that made the original Speedmaster such an icon. The all-new OMEGA Speedmaster 38mm collection is now available at authorized boutiques worldwide starting at $6,500. Source: OMEGA Watches

By Jordan Aquistapace – August 27, 2026

IWC Unveils New Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team Watch

In Formula One racing, strategy, consistency, and confidence are all key ingredients for success. But it also goes without saying that surrounding yourself with fellow powerhouses and like-minded individuals can only strengthen the recipe for winning. And while wearing a luxury watch may not shed sub-seconds off a lap time, support and access to technology and resources prove just as important for Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS and its ongoing 13-year partnership with the watchmakers at IWC Schaffhausen. Just ahead of the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix, IWC is bringing some excitement to the paddock this weekend with the reveal of its all-new Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 Mercedes- AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team watch. For its fourth collaboration with Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS, IWC took a slightly different approach to its familiar motorsport-inspired chronograph. Instead of using the team's signature PETRONAS green, the new Pilot’s Watch features a deep purple dial inspired by Singapore’s national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim orchid. Green numerals, indices, and luminous hands tie in that familiar team connection, while a matching purple rubber strap keeps it monochromatic. Measuring 41mm, the case is crafted from Grade 5 titanium, which makes plenty of sense for a watch tied so closely to Formula One engineering. Lightweight, strong, and resistant to corrosion and heat, titanium is also used throughout F1 cars and in the Halo safety structure surrounding the driver.Behind the Singapore-inspired design is IWC's in-house 69385 caliber, a mechanical chronograph built around a column-wheel system and designed with durability. Its vertical subdial layout places the stop-minute display at 12 o’clock, while a day-date window at 3 o’clock adds some everyday practicality. The movement delivers a 46-hour power reserve and can be viewed through a sapphire-glass case back, revealing Geneva stripes and circular graining. Like earlier models, the new IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 will be worn by team members, engineers, mechanics, and staff, giving the latest collaboration a purpose that goes beyond simply putting a Formula One logo on a watch. It is another example of how IWC and Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS continue to turn their shared focus on engineering, performance, and precision into something enthusiasts and racers can actually wear. Source: IWC Schaffhasuen

By Jordan Aquistapace – August 26, 2026

URWERK Reveals Its One-Off UR-1001 Amadeus Titanium Pocket Watch

The evolution of independent watchmaking over the past 40 years has truly been one for the history books, with a market shift that has allowed micro brands to operate and compete in the same space alongside industry giants like Rolex, Audemars Piguet, and Patek Philippe. Launched less than 30 years ago, URWERK stands as one of the creative, independent visionaries found in the same realm as pioneers with centuries of expertise in the art of watchmaking. The brand was founded on a shared passion for dreaming up new ways to express time, and since then, their futuristic, space-inspired watches have caught the attention of collectors like Michael Jordan, Robert Downey Jr., and Ralph Lauren. URWERK is showcasing its creativity and limitless boundaries with the reveal of its newest one-off pocket watch, the UR-1001 Amadeus. Dreamed up as part of URWERK’s ‘Special Projects’ collection, the UR-1001 Amadeus takes the brand’s fascination with unconventional time displays and stretches it across an almost unimaginable scale. On the front, URWERK’s signature satellite hours and retrograde minutes are joined by an orbital annual calendar, a day/night indicator, and a 39-hour power reserve. Flip it over, and everything gets even more interesting. An “Oil Change” indicator tracks service intervals, while additional counters record five-year increments, centuries, and ultimately a millennium. Instead of piling complication upon complication into a single movement, the UR-1001 Amadeus approaches time as one interconnected mechanical system, capable of displaying everything from the seconds passing to milestones no one could ever realistically experience.What makes this extraordinary URWERK pocket watch even more fascinating is that its movement isn't the only thing designed to make a statement. The raw titanium case was handed to engraver Florian Güllert, who spent nearly 500 hours transforming it into an elaborate, Baroque-inspired work of art. Laser-cutting prepared the difficult titanium surface, but the final result came through painstaking hand engraving, filing, texturing, and finishing that gives the metal an almost sculptural quality. For collectors of independent watches, haute horlogerie, and one-off timepieces, the UR-1001 Amadeus is a reminder that the most exciting side of modern watchmaking is still willing to ask a simple question: what if measuring time didn't have to look anything like a watch at all?

By Jordan Aquistapace – August 26, 2026

TIME at Wynn: Where the World of Watches Meets the World of Collecting

Few things can turn a something into an obsession quite like a great car or a great watch. Both are built around craftsmanship, engineering, design, and an almost obsessive attention to the details that most people might never notice. A beautifully finished movement and a perfectly engineered engine can inspire the same kind of interest, whether you're studying the mechanics of an F.P. Journe Résonance or listening to the sound of a vintage Ferrari V12. But the connection runs deeper than what is under the hood or behind the caseback. For many collectors, a love for cars and watches starts at home, sparked by a parent or grandparent and eventually passed down to the next generation. Those early memories become the stories, objects, and experiences that keep a passion for collecting alive, creating a cycle that continues long after the original owner is gone. That shared appreciation for craftsmanship, history, and the stories we attach to the things we collect was on full display at the inaugural TIME at Wynn in Las Vegas this weekend, where some of the world's most respected watchmakers and collectors came together to celebrate the art of watchmaking. GALLERY-EMBED From the moment you walked in, TIME at Wynn felt more like a gathering of collectors than a traditional watch show. Conversations seemed to start everywhere, with people moving from one table to the next, comparing watches, swapping stories, and stopping to catch up with friends and familiar faces from the industry. The setting helped, too. Wynn provided the kind of relaxed, polished backdrop where you could spend an afternoon looking at a rare watch and then find yourself talking about cars, jewelry, travel, or the next piece on someone's wish list. With support from duPont REGISTRY, Caliber Collective, F.P. Journe, URWERK, MB&F, Breguet, H. Moser & Cie., Girard-Perregaux, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, TE Paris, Pattern Recognition, and Alex Crown, the weekend brought together different corners of the collector community, finding similarities and deeper connections between the luxury worlds. And with the Wynn Concours coming up this November, that crossover between watches and cars already feels like a natural part of what's taking shape at the resort. GALLERY-EMBED Walking through the Mouton Ballroom, it was hard not to stop every few feet. F.P. Journe, H. Moser & Cie., MB&F, URWERK, Pattern Recognition, Biver, and Hazemann & Monnin had brought an incredible mix of independent watchmaking into one room, from familiar collector favorites to pieces that felt like they belonged in a different dimension altogether. What made it especially enjoyable was how easy it was to slow down and actually talk. Collectors could spend time with the watches, ask questions, and hear directly from the people behind the brands without feeling rushed from one presentation to the next. The same went for the panel discussions, with Yoni Ben-Yehuda moderating conversations with Pierre Halimi of F.P. Journe, Michael Friedman of Pattern Recognition, and Alexandre Hazemann and Victor Monnin of Hazemann & Monnin. Rather than sticking to the usual polished talking points, the group went straight after the subjects collectors really want to hear about, from allocations and the secondary market to the challenges facing independent watchmakers and where the industry goes next. With the people actually shaping that future answering questions in the room, the conversations felt honest, sometimes unexpected, and genuinely entertaining.While much of the conversation at TIME at Wynn centered on watches, Enzo Mattioli Ferrari offered one of the clearest connections to the automotive world, speaking about the same ideas of rarity, legacy, craftsmanship, and collectibility that surround Ferrari's most coveted cars. The mechanical connection runs deep, too. Take an F.P. Journe Caliber 1619, with its 758 individual components working together behind the caseback, and compare that with the hand-crafted 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 that has become such a defining part of Ferrari's identity. One is built to measure time with incredible precision, while the other turns fuel and air into something you can hear, feel, and experience from behind the wheel. Yet both come down to the same thing: countless individual parts, assembled with an incredible amount of thought and craftsmanship, all working together as one. That is where the connection between watches and cars gets really interesting. Behind the wheel or behind the caseback, there is a tangible experience that connects us to the machines themselves and to the visionaries who imagined them in the first place. For collectors, preserving that feeling is part of the appeal. These aren't simply objects that mark a moment in time; they are ways of holding onto it. GALLERY-EMBED By the time the evening rolled around, the watches were still very much the center of attention, but the mood had loosened considerably. Over cocktails and food from Wynn's culinary team, collectors gathered around the Intrigue Lounge for A Toast to Time, with plenty of time to show off the pieces they had brought with them and talk about the stories behind them. From URWERK creations that looked like they came straight from another planet to some of the most historically significant F.P. Journe models, and plenty in between, the room was filled with watches you don't come across every day. But it was the conversations happening around those watches that really made the night memorable. Collectors compared notes, shared stories, and discovered plenty of common ground, whether they had known each other for years or had just met that evening. That same curiosity carried into more panel discussions, with URWERK co-founder Martin Frei exploring what a watch can represent beyond simply keeping time, followed by a conversation with Jean-Marc Bories of MB&F and Claudio Terjanian of H. Moser & Cie. on innovation, collaboration, and pushing the boundaries of modern watchmaking. GALLERY-EMBED The same easygoing atmosphere carried into Timeless Icons, where the focus shifted toward heritage watchmaking and fine jewelry without losing that sense of discovery. Breguet, Girard-Perregaux, Tiffany & Co., Alex Crown, and Emmanuel Tarpin brought a different side of the collector world into the room, with plenty of opportunities to get close to the pieces and hear the stories behind them. Vincent Brasesco of Breguet offered insight into the maison's history and technical expertise, while a collectors' conversation with Patrick Brennan, Sandeep Chugani, and Justin Blau opened up a more personal discussion about why people collect in the first place and what keeps them searching for the next piece. Emmanuel Tarpin and Tiffany & Co.'s Bill Rhodes explored the creativity behind high jewelry, while Girard-Perregaux's Ruggero Mango touched on complications and the brand's long relationship with automotive marques and motorsport teams. Away from the ballroom, private appointments at the North Fairway Villas gave collectors an even closer look at pieces from Urwerk, Breguet, MB&F, and Girard-Perregaux, before everyone eventually came back together over cocktails at Tableau. GALLERY-EMBED Cars, Clocks, and Coffee was a natural fit for duPont REGISTRY and one of the weekend's most relevant conversations for the collector community. Cristina Cheever, CMO of duPont REGISTRY Group, first sat down with Nicholas Ryan, Head of Private Office at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, for a conversation around the return of coachbuilding, the growing demand for bespoke craftsmanship, and where automotive customization is headed. She then shifted the conversation toward the relationship between cars and watches, speaking with Antoine Tessier, CEO of duPont REGISTRY Group, and Sandeep Chugani, Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group and duPont REGISTRY Group board member, about the collector culture shared by both worlds. It was a pretty natural conversation for duPont REGISTRY at TIME at Wynn, as our community has always gone well beyond exotic cars, extending into fine watches, private experiences, art, design, and all of the other passions that tend to come with collecting. TIME at Wynn brought those worlds together in one place, and this was a good example of why that overlap makes so much sense. GALLERY-EMBED By the time the weekend wrapped up over breakfast, one statement Patrick Brennan made earlier still felt especially relevant: as collectors and enthusiasts, we seem to be living through a golden age of watchmaking. Creativity and innovation feel almost limitless, particularly among the independent watchmakers who are pursuing ambitious ideas and turning them into wearable art. Just as importantly, this is a moment when collectors can ask questions and learn directly from the people behind the watches, the minds and hands responsible for bringing them to life. That access has helped create an experience that extends far beyond the boutique, whether it means turning a trip to Geneva to pick up a watch into a family vacation, stepping behind the scenes into the design studios and workshops, or simply hearing the story directly from the person who created it. In many ways, that is what makes collecting so meaningful. These watches are designed to outlive the original buyer, becoming family heirlooms with stories attached to them and, hopefully, sparking the same passion in the next generation. TIME at Wynn captured a little of that spirit, bringing collectors and creators together around the shared idea that the object itself is only part of the story, and sometimes the people, conversations, and experiences surrounding it are what give it lasting meaning.

By Jordan Aquistapace – August 19, 2026

Girard-Perregaux and Williams F1 Announce their New Partnership

Formula 1 partnerships tend to focus on the obvious stuff, like logos, hospitality, limited-edition watches and plenty of time in the paddock. Swiss watchmaker Girard-Perregaux and Atlassian Williams F1 Team are taking a slightly different route with their new partnership announcement. There’s no need to force a connection between the two, either, as both brands pride themselves on learning how to make complicated things work better every day. Instead of just putting two recognizable names together, the partnership is built around what happens behind the scenes before anyone sees the finished product. That makes the connection between watches and Formula 1 pretty easy to understand. A mechanical watch can look simple at first glance, but getting everything inside the case to work precisely requires countless hours of R&D, improvements, and testing. The same goes for an F1 car. A race weekend might be defined by qualifying positions and lap times, but those results are shaped by thousands of decisions made long before the car rolls onto the grid. Engineers, mechanics, drivers and countless members of the team are constantly analyzing data, making changes and repeating the process. The human side is where this partnership gets more interesting. Girard-Perregaux and Williams recognize that technology is only part of the equation. That idea is especially relevant in mechanical watchmaking, where traditional skills are passed from one generation of watchmakers to the next, and in motorsport, where years of experience can make the difference when something needs to be solved quickly. Girard-Perregaux has a long history in Swiss watchmaking, while Williams brings decades of Formula 1 experience, and both operate in industries where performance depends on consistency and attention to detail. There will be opportunities for watches, paddock appearances, and other activations as part of the collaboration, but the more interesting story may be what happens away from the spotlight. Whether it is a watchmaker refining a movement or a Williams engineer searching for another fraction of a second, the goal is essentially the same: do the work properly, keep learning, and let the finished result speak for itself. Source: Girard-Perregaux

By Sponsored Article – August 11, 2026

Zannetti Discobolo Race Edition: Italian Craftsmanship in Motion

Born from a passion for speed, design, and traditional craftsmanship, the Zannetti Discobolo Race Edition transforms the visual language of classic motorsport into an expressive piece of contemporary watchmaking. Its most distinctive feature is the case profile, hand-engraved with a tread pattern inspired by historic Dunlop racing tires. More than a decorative detail, it gives the watch a powerful three-dimensional identity and reveals new textures from every angle.The Discobolo Race Edition is available in different artisanal interpretations. One combines a warm bronze case with an intricate dial created through enamel miniature painting. Another pairs stainless steel with a dial made from corozo, a natural material individually engraved and painted by hand. Because every dial is completed manually, subtle variations make each watch genuinely personal. The engraved Discobolo figure on the caseback connects the collection to classical Roman culture, while the bold radial composition of the dial evokes wheels, movement and mechanical energy.Zannetti is an independent Haute Horlogerie atelier, the only one in Rome and one of the few in Italy. Every creation incorporates genuine handcraftsmanship and is produced exclusively in small limited series or as a unique piece. Learn More GALLERY-EMBEDPhotography by Ty Alexander Photography.

By Jordan Aquistapace – July 30, 2026

TAG Heuer And Team Ikuzawa Debut A Limited-Edition Carrera Chronograph

With racing roots that date back to 1963, TAG Heuer has always been pit-side with watches engineered with motorsports in mind, more specifically, mechanical lap-timers used to track splits and determine race strategies. The Swiss watchmaker’s passion for the culture and its involvement aligns with Tetsu Ikuzawa’s vision for Team Ikuzawa, merging the style and history of motorsport into an authentic lifestyle brand backed by Tetsu’s resume as a former professional racing driver. Driven by his daughter and Team Principal, Mai Ikuzawa, Team Ikuzawa is stepping into the spotlight with its second and latest collaboration with TAG Heuer, the limited-edition TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Team Ikuzawa.But even before ideas and visions came to fruition, Mia enlisted the expertise of longtime collaborator and friend George Bamford of Bamford London, making the exclusive release a melding of the minds. Limited to just 150 individually numbered pieces worldwide, Carrera Chronograph x Team Ikuzawa takes visual inspiration from the original Heuer Roadmaster stopwatch long used on track, starting life as a stainless-steel 39mm TAG Heuer Carrera Glassbox. The customized dial is where Bamford’s mastery comes into play, reimagining it in a subtly stunning way with a white Clou de Paris-textured finish and contrasting red touches and branding that nod to the iconic colors of Team Ikuzawa. An exposed back case offers a look inside the watch, protected by sapphire crystal etched with the Team Ikuzawa and Bamford Watch Department logos as a nod to the collaboration. Powered by TAG Heuer’s in-house TH20-10 chronograph caliber, the Carrera features a running seconds display to pay homage to vintage TAG Heuer racing chronographs and the golden era of motorsport. The watch comes fitted on a seven-row steel bracelet with alternating brushed and polished finishes, accompanied by two additional colored straps and special packaging resembling an old tool box. The all-new TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph x Team Ikuzawa is available at authorized boutiques worldwide for $10,500. Source: TAG Heuer

Watches

duPont REGISTRY News

duPont REGISTRY Group

Support

Subscribe