When the worlds of haute horlogerie and high-performance vehicles clash, the results are nothing short of spectacular as both the sectors have a profound enthusiasm for precision engineering, timeless design, and mechanical skill, so their collaborations are a natural extension of each other’s DNA. Over the years, watchmakers and automakers have collaborated to create limited-edition timepieces that reflect the spirit, performance, and aesthetics of the machines they are inspired by. These collaborations not only honour skill and creativity, but also result in sought-after collector’s goods that bridge two worlds of luxury. Here are the top five watch and automotive brand combinations that properly capture this connection.
Girard-Perregaux Laureato Skeleton Aston Martin Edition
Unveiled this year, Aston Martin and Girard-Perregaux’s partnership fuses British automotive elegance with Swiss horological mastery, creating timepieces that echo performance and precision. This 42mm black ceramic novelty gets a crown at 3 o’clock, and an octagonal bezel. Unlike traditional timepieces with closed dials, this skeletonised model offers unrestricted views of its inner workings, revealing the openworked calibre. Turning the watch showcases the skeleton sapphire crystal and caseback with the oscillating weight, balance wheel, the beating hairspring, and the pallet lever engaging with the escape wheel, and the metallised Aston Martin logo. Powering the watch is Calibre GP01800 with a 54 hour power reserve.
Jacob & Co. Bugatti Calandre
Launched this June, Jacob & Co. and Bugatti’s collaboration brings hypercar-inspired timepieces that mirror the brand’s raw power, innovation, and mechanical artistry. The timepiece maker has inserted a clock calibre beneath the horseshoe grille, with a vertical flying tourbillon inspired by Bugatti’s recently announced Bugatti Tourbillon hyper sports car. This design also pays homage to the tourbillon’s original function, which improved accuracy in vertically positioned watches. The clock’s dial is polished steel, and the openworked grille is constructed of aluminium. The hour and minute hands are rhodium-finished. The Lalique-moulded crystal table clock measures 264 x 196 mm and contains two carved dancing elephants in the Royale style. Calandre, which translates to “radiator grille” in French, also pays homage to Bugatti’s French heritage, reflecting the brand’s well-known horseshoe-shaped design. Above the grille is the Bugatti Macaron, the brand’s characteristic insignia, distinguished by its rich red tint and well-known to car enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.
TAG Heuer Carrera Chronosprint x Porsche ‘Glassbox’
TAG Heuer and Porsche’s partnership unites two icons of racing to celebrate timeless design and high-octane performance. The timepiece launched in 2023 has a 42mm 18k rose gold case with lugs, a beige shimmery dial, a beige shimmery flange with a 60 second/minute scale, rose gold chronograph pushers at 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock to start and restart the chronograph function, and a crown at 3 o’clock. Turning the watch over reveals a sapphire 18k rose gold caseback with an oscillating weight, designed to replicate the iconic three-spoke steering wheel of Porsche. Powering the watch is calibre TH20-08 automatic movement with 80 hours of power reserve.
IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Mercedes-AMG G 63
IWC’s craftsmanship and the Mercedes-AMG G 63’s commanding presence embody innovation built to endure. Launched in 2023, this 46.2 mm 18k Armour Gold® case has lugs, sapphire crystal, and a larger onion-shaped crown at 3 o’clock. There is a black dial with a diamond structure and minute markings on the outer edge. The gold and black colour scheme is reminiscent of the G-Class “Grand Edition” interior. In terms of substance, 18k Armour Gold® is a new type of gold that is much harder and more wear-resistant than standard 5N gold. The black-gold dial has golden Arabic hour markers and a date window at 6 o’clock, both with a black backdrop and golden numerals. The arrow-shaped hour and minute hands are similarly finished in black and gold. When you turn the watch over, you’ll see the sapphire caseback in 18k Armour Gold® with a gold oscillating weight.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date
Audemars Piguet and Rolls-Royce’s association epitomises bespoke luxury, uniting haute horlogerie with automotive elegance. The fascia of the 2023 launched, Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail is commissioned with an integrated one-off timepiece from Audemars Piguet. The 43 mm Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds Chronograph GMT Large Date is powered by a unique self-winding Calibre 4407 movement, featuring a flyback chronograph and a split-seconds mechanism wit a 70 hour power reserve. It comes with a curved titanium case and bezel. Once the timepiece has been removed, the aperture in the fascia is covered with a titanium openworked watch, highlighting a white gold coin that displays a rose engraving, hand-sculpted by Audemars Piguet; each of these pieces is hand-sculpted at the Swiss brand’s atelier. TThe openworked dial provides an overview of the mechanics through an opening that has been cut out from a single German silver plate, finished with sandblasted black PVD.
