Story Highlight
– French watchmakers link horology with motor racing design.
– Reservoir transforms automotive dashboard aesthetics into timepieces.
– B.R.M Chronographes incorporates racing mechanics into watch design.
– Lorige uses racing brake pads for innovative watch cases.
– Automotive-inspired watches emphasize precision, durability, and legibility.
Full Story
French watchmakers are increasingly merging the worlds of horology and motorsport, utilising high-performance automotive design elements to create timepieces that echo the spirit of racing. This trend highlights an evolving relationship between the two fields, focusing on aspects like engineering accuracy and innovative materials.
Brands such as Reservoir and B.R.M Chronographes are at the forefront of this movement, drawing inspiration from features found in high-speed racing vehicles. The similarities between watchmaking and racing stem from their shared need for precision, reliability, and efficiency—attributes that are vital in both disciplines.
Current French watch designs reflect this connection by incorporating retro automotive influences alongside modern technologies.
**Reservoir: Automotive Aesthetics**
Reservoir is notable for its Kanister collection, which draws design cues from the classic Porsche 356 Speedster, an icon of mid-20th century motoring. Recognised for its minimalist style and legacy of freedom on the open road, the Speedster’s influence is evident in the design of Reservoir’s watch dials, which aim to mimic the appearance of car dashboards.
The Kanister Silver features a silver dial reminiscent of the car’s exterior, while the black-dial variant employs a large central white hand paired with pastel-green markers to display minutes, echoing the visuals of rev counters. Notably, a red zone added between the 45 and 50-minute marks enhances this motif further.
Additionally, the hour is represented in a window at six o’clock, alongside a power indicator. Encased in polished grade 5 titanium with leather straps that evoke the feel of classic sports car seats, this collection was recognised with a Red Dot Design Award in 2022, showcasing a successful blend of automotive aesthetics with modern watchmaking.
**B.R.M Chronographes: Racing Inspired**
Founded by Bernard Richards in 2003, B.R.M Chronographes combines a love for watchmaking with the thrill of motorsport. The brand has carved out a distinctive niche, creating watches that are as much about visual appeal as they are about their performance characteristics.
Best known for its V12 collection, launched in 2005, the brand’s products often feature a unique piston-shaped case and strategically placed push buttons. B.R.M has innovated by developing its own shock-absorbing technology, reminiscent of racing car suspensions, to protect watches from shocks and vibrations.
Their designs incorporate materials such as carbon, titanium, and stainless steel, mirroring the construction of racing vehicles. Elements like brake discs, pistons, and chequered flags are reflected in the watch aesthetics. Collaborations with motorsport events and teams, such as the French Drift Championship, have also strengthened the brand’s connection to the racing world.
**Lorige: Racing Heritage**
The founders of Lorige are deeply rooted in motorsports, having transformed their passion into a unique watchmaking initiative in 2018. Their dedication led to a patented method of using carbon and carbon-composite brake pads from racing cars for crafting watch cases, infusing each piece with a traceable racing heritage.
Partnering with Aston Martin’s Heart of Racing team, Lorige launched the BL-Evolution collection. This series features watches crafted from brake pads used in Aston Martin Valkyrie prototypes that competed in prestigious endurance races, establishing a direct link between the timepieces and high-stakes motorsport.
The technical excellence of the BL-Evolution is underscored by its exclusive LOR-DB calibre, which boasts a remarkable seven-day power reserve. Enhanced with meticulous finishing techniques such as artisanal satin-brushing and a specialized Duo-Tone treatment, Lorige successfully merges motorsport resilience with exceptional watchmaking craftsmanship.
Francéclat’s collective of French watchmakers exemplifies a growing trend within the industry to draw inspiration from automotive design. This relationship transcends mere aesthetics, encapsulating shared values of precision, durability, and weight efficiency that are essential in both fields.
