Luxury Racing Watches: Perfect Time, Perfect Speed
Both the sport of racing and luxury watches share high levels of engineering and precision. Whether you’re a luxury car fan, an actual racer, or just like watches that boast pinpoint precision and sporty style, a racing watch might be right for you.
From IWC and TAG Heuer to OMEGA and Girard Perregaux, some of the world’s biggest and most well-known luxury watch brands manufacture racing watches that are highly respected both on and off the track.
Check out some of the features you’ll find on the racing watches at Feldmar.
Premium Race Watch Features
Many racing watches share similar features. First is the luminous or high-contrast dial designed to be easy-to-read at a glance during focus moments. On the dial, the features may be similar to a classic luxury racecar’s own dashboard. The dial is typically surrounded by a tachymeter, located either on the bezel or sometimes on the dial itself. Useful for measuring speed and distance, the tachymeter is the signature feature of a racing watch. Race watches usually feature acrylic crystals more than other types of watches. While the acrylic can be more prone to scratching, it will crack (not shatter) under impact. A shattered crystal means microscopic shards of glass that can wreak havoc with hands, dials, and even the movement. Meanwhile, a cracked crystal is a simple replacement.
Racing is all about accurate timekeeping. The chronograph featured on luxury racing watches tracks and stops time. It can be started, stopped and reset with a single click of the pushers.
Other complications often found on racing watches include the power reserve or the date, especially useful for nighttime racing!
Select racing watches feature an enhanced angled case that gives extra visibility for drivers. It allows the wearer to quickly glance down and get an accurate measure while driving or in action.
Most race watches use surgical-grade stainless steel or lighter titanium for bracelets which results in a good balance of lightweight construction and durability. Bracelets can often be swapped for leather or rubber straps or rally straps (straps that are perforated) that may provide more comfort.
Racing Watches: Our Top Picks
Now that you know a little more about racing watches, check out some of our favorites available at Feldmar.
The Breitling Premier B09 Chronograph measures 40mm, and features an inner tachymeter circling a vintage-inspired pistachio green dial. The bicompax chronograph style takes the vintage vibes to another level!
Sporty meets sophisticated. The Hermes H08 stuns with a black nickel-treated dial, a titanium strap and an instantly recognizable case shape.
Described as the “ultimate racing watch,” the TAG Heuer Carrera Porsche Chronograph is new for 2022. The textured dial and red accents make it as eye-catching as it is functional. Doesn’t that dial remind you of blacktop?
This OMEGA Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional features a Hesalite crystal (making it shatter-resistant) and continues to be one of the most popular watches at Feldmar. Originally developed as a racing watch, the Speedmaster was perfectly suited to NASA’s needs for a highly accurate timepiece capable of tracking time and distance during missions.
If you’re looking for a true sports watch, look no further than Zenith. This Chronomaster Sport features a black ceramic bezel, Super-LumiNova C1 hands and markers and a 60-hour power reserve.
If you’re looking for a high-performance luxury racing watch, look no further than Feldmar Watch Company. Browse our online shop or stop in to see us.
About The Author: Tom Roth
Born in Washington state, Tom developed an interest in photography during college at University of San Diego. There, he got started in music journalism, interviewing artists and taking photos at concerts. A life-long tinkerer and collector, it wasn’t long before Tom became fascinated with fountain pens and watches.
Those interests collided in November 2020 when Tom started at Feldmar Watch Company where he lives out every watch geek’s dream: photographing and writing about timepieces. When he’s not tinkering with his watch collection, Tom can be found traveling, biting his nails while watching PNW sports teams, and taking flying lessons.
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