
To bolster it’s already impressive arsenal of highly accurate, highly durable time pieces, in early 2021 Tudor launched a new addition to the Black Bay family. Long enough to think that the waiting lists and premium pricing is a lot more to do with a high quality swiss manufacturer and less to do with the typical ‘Rolex’s younger brother’ stereotype that has long been with the brand, since it’s conception by Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf. Constructed around a 39mm 316L stainless steel case with a black tachymeter bezel and a knurled crown with double seal “O” ring seals, the Rallygraf features a Seiko VK64 meca-quartz movement, a steel mesh band, and a uniquely-designed dial with mirrored trapezoid-shaped sub-dials underneath a double-domed mineral crystal.For long enough now, Tudor products have been causing a stir in the watch industry. The Rallygraf is a modern-day reissue of the brand’s ’original 70s-era racing chronograph - the very watch famously worn by Mario Andretti when the race legend piloted his 700-hp Brawner Hawk MK III race car to victory at the 1969 Indy 500. The YEMA Rallygraf is an attractive yet affordable motorsport-themed watch that punches well above its weight - and MSRP. And though this factor doesn’t really change a watch per say, it does give it a more concrete connection to the world of motorsport. Motorsport Connection: While timekeeping is seldom done with a watch these days, there are still dozens of timepieces that possess tangible ties to race teams, specific automakers, iconic race events, or legendary race liveries. Like a tire, a watch’s band can also be swapped out at will, allowing its wearer to dress it up or down depending on the occasion. This aesthetic is fairly common in this space, as are chronograph watch dials that feature sub-dials and tachymeters - scales used for measuring speed over distance.īand: A watch’s bracelet or band plays an enormous role in its overall appearance, and with so many of these watches aiming for a motorsport-inspired appearance, quite a few models boast bands with visual nods to classic car interiors. While often of the mechanical variety, a myriad of different type of horological movements can be found in driver-focused watches.ĭial: Another way some watchmakers establish an even greater connection between timepieces and watches is through the use of dials that are modeled after automotive instrumentation and gauges. Movement: Practically any auto enthusiast can tell you that what’s under the hood of a car really matters, and this belief is no less true with motorsport-themed watches and the movements that they contain. Cases obviously come in a wide variety of shapes, styles, and constructions, though materials utilized in motorsport - such as carbon fiber or titanium - are often some of the most common.

Below, we’ll briefly touch on the five main areas that should be considered when buying an auto enthusiast timepiece.Ĭase: Not unlike the frame that are car is built around, a watch’s case serves as the backbone and chassis for the rest of the timepiece. Though there are dozens of elements one can take into account when buying an auto-themed watch, five factors undoubtedly stand above the rest. The Main Factors To Consider When Buying A Motorsport-Themed Timepiece
