Bal Harbour

40 BAL HARBOUR MAY 2023 SPECIAL EDITION ew sports have a history so closely entangled with haute horology as the high-octane world of Formula 1. Indeed, timekeeping has been fundamental to track- ing a driver's performance behind the wheel, where milliseconds can mean the dierence between glory and defeat. The love aair between racers and watchmakers stretches as far back as the late 19th century, when horse-drawn carria ge races were timed using early pocket chronographs. In 1894, the world's first competitive motor race took place, from Paris to Rouen, in cars powered by steam and petrol. The final heat ran a distance of 79 miles and was plagued by poor timekeeping, result- ing in multiple race times being recorded. It wasn't until the 1930s, when global sports car racing, both am- ateur and professional, truly flourished, that precise timekeeping during races became commonplace. Heuer ( later known as TAG Heuer) was an early pioneer. The Swiss watchmaker began by mak- ing dash-mounted rally timers, which later migrated to the wrists of F1 racers in the '50s and '60s. Rolex also fostered a pioneering relationship with motorsport, reaching back to 1935, when Sir Malcolm Campbell set a new land speed record, driv ing Bluebird over 300 miles per hour on the Utah salt flats with a Rolex Oyster strapped to his wrist. Campbell later introduced the watch to his racer friends, and in 1963, Rolex introduced the Cosmograph Day tona, which was famously worn by Paul Newman. Since then, the Swiss brand has ramped up ties F with motorsport, sponsoring the Day tona Speedway from the late '50s and, most notably, becoming the title sponsor of F1 in 2013, its signature cadmium green logo plastered across cars, drivers, and advertising boards. "F1 is the ultimate engineering race, competing and operating at the highest level," says multiple Formula 1 Grand Prix winner Mark Webber. "Rolex champions performance, innovation, and precision through the brand's partnership with the pinnacle of motorsport, making the link between Rolex and F1 very authentic and natural." As of late, big, new players have expanded into the world of F1, such as the ultra-luxury watchmaker Richard Mille. Felipe Massa first debuted a Richard Mille watch on the racetrack during the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix. More recently, the brand unveiled the fruit of its first collaboration with Ferrari, the RM UP-01. Measuring a mere 1.75mm in thickness, the timepiece toppled the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra as the record-holder for the world's thinnest watch, and has shimmered on the wrists of F1 stars Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. Elsewhere, heritage jewellers including Jacob & Co. and Chopard continue to push for perfection with killer, auto- motive-inspired designs. For F1 fans, there's little doubt that the second Miami Grand Prix will be packed with excitement. And for the watch fanatics among us, 2023 will be another year of further crossover, with innovative launches to sate every appetite. DRIVE TIME CAR ENTHUSIASTS, TAKE NOTE. THESE ARE THE GRAIL WATCHES OF YOUR DREAMS. 1. Jacob & Co. Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon 2. Richard Mille RM UP-01 Ferrari 3. Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona in 18K white gold with a meteorite and black dial and an Oysterflex bracelet 4. Ralph Lauren 45mm Skeleton Steel Watch from the Ralph Lauren The Automotive Collection 5. Chopard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph in Stainless Steel As the 2023 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix unfolds, writer Joshua Hendren spotlights the intertwined histories of motorsport and watchmaking. GEAR TO GEAR The iconic status of the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona is undeniably linked to the late Paul Newman, who received the watch from his wife Joanne Woodward, while he was filming the car racing drama Winning. Engraved with the inscription "Drive Carefully Me," Newman wore it consistently for many years, including while competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1979. 2 1 3 4 5 PAU L N E WM A N : N E W YO R K DA I LY N E W S A R C H I V E / G E T T Y I M AG E S CO N T R I B U TO R ; CO U R T E S Y O F R A L P H L AU R E N, R I C H A R D M I L L E, C H O PA R D, R O L E X , J ACO B & CO.

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