Motorsport Travel Destinations is pleased to announce its collaboration with The Watch Collectors’ Club, bringing together a shared passion for precision, performance, and craftsmanship.
The Watch Collectors’ Club connects enthusiasts across the UK through meet ups, events, and exclusive access to leading brands and independent makers. From London to Manchester to Glasgow, they bring together a community united by craftsmanship, connection, and the stories behind every dial.
We know that many racing enthusiasts love their watches, and many watch enthusiasts love cars and racing. Through this partnership, we hope to help people explore both worlds further.
Timing Perfection: How watches and racing became inseparable
Watches and motorsport have been intertwined for more than a century. Many racing enthusiasts are passionate about watches, and many watch collectors are drawn to cars and racing. Watch brands have long supported the growth of racing teams, with hundreds of timepieces inspired by iconic cars, racetracks, and even legendary corners.
Today, brands such as TAG Heuer, Tudor, Richard Mille, Omologato, and others sponsor major race events and teams. TAG Heuer’s recent partnership with Formula 1 means every Grand Prix features its clocks on display – a fitting tribute to the company’s pivotal role in developing timing systems for the sport back in the 1960s.
The importance of watches in motorsport
As soon as cars were invented, people wanted to race them and time them. Before speedometers arrived in 1902, drivers often relied on pocket watches. Brands like Breitling and Longines, already timing horse races, soon turned to motor racing.
After the First World War, wristwatches surged in popularity, and chronographs became the tool of choice for measuring speed. Breitling pioneered the two-button design still common today.
In the 1930s, Sir Malcolm Campbell wore his Rolex while chasing land speed records, proudly linking watches and motorsport. His efforts in Florida later inspired the name “Daytona” for Rolex’s famous chronograph.
READ MORE: The Watch Collectors’ Club | Introducing the Rolex Daytona
Motorsport-inspired watch designs
Watches inspired by cars, bikes, and racing have been hugely popular with collectors since the 1950s. Two features in particular stand out: the chronograph, or stopwatch function, and the tachymeter, a scale used to measure speed. The Omega Speedmaster and Rolex Daytona are two of the world’s most iconic watches – both featuring tachymeters on their bezels.
Another legendary design is the TAG Heuer Monaco, with its distinctive square case and bold blue-and-red dial. It was the brand’s first automatic chronograph, later followed by the famous Gulf edition with orange and blue racing stripes. Chopard also embraced motorsport heritage with the Mille Miglia Chronograph, celebrating Europe’s great long-distance race. Although the original event is now a heritage rally, Chopard’s chronographs remain a benchmark for sporty design.
For new collectors, understanding these elements can seem daunting. That’s why The Watch Collectors’ Club hosts regular events where members can examine motorsport-inspired watches in person – from comparing tachymeters with other bezels to exploring chronograph layouts. Reading about a Gulf-liveried Monaco is one thing; seeing it up close and appreciating the craftsmanship is another.
Materials inspired by cars
One of the biggest trends in modern watchmaking is the use of exotic materials. Cases and movements now feature carbon fibre, advanced composites, and titanium, giving watches a bold, modern edge. Colourful dials are on the rise too, offering racing enthusiasts a fresh alternative to the classic steel sports watch.
The Watch Collectors’ Club run trips to Switzerland – the heartland of Alpine racing and fine watchmaking. Members often tour manufacture facilities, watching these materials handled with the same precision as a Formula 1 car. Seeing a master watchmaker assemble a complex timepiece is as thrilling as watching top mechanics at work.
Official partnerships that inspire watch designs
Many racing teams across motorsport have official watch or timing partners, inspiring special limited-edition watches from the brands. These often feature team colours, co-branding, or unique designs. Ferrari, for example, has worked with multiple watch partners over the years and now exclusively collaborates with Richard Mille, creating highly technical and ultra-expensive timepieces. Mercedes, along with former driver Lewis Hamilton, enjoyed a long partnership with IWC, producing special edition Pilot watches.
It’s not just Formula 1 teams that have these collaborations. MotoGP manufacturer, Ducati, has partnered with several watch brands for their Superbikes, while British brand Omologato has tie-ins with race teams and circuits worldwide. Their partnerships with Ganassi Racing and other Indycar teams have produced special edition watches, including a recently released Silverstone model celebrating the circuit’s anniversary this year.
Enthusiasts who love both cars and watches often find that exploring one deepens their appreciation of the other. The precision engineering, the heritage and the connection to speed and performance means these worlds complement each other perfectly.
Whether trackside at Silverstone, Monaco, or Le Mans, understanding watch partnerships and history adds another dimension to race day. At The Watch Collectors’ Club, many members first discovered their passion for horology through motorsports. Their events and Swiss excursions are designed to explore these connections, from examining vintage racing chronographs to visiting workshops where modern motorsport watches are brought to life.
Find out more via The Watch Collectors’ Club website.