Autoblog

F1-themed watches tend to be very big, very shiny and named after a current F1 driver, or at least one living. The Hubolt Big Bang Ayrton Senna All Black Rattrapante fits just one of those categories, and we'll give you a clue: it's not the bling and it's not the pilot.

The exclusive chronograph flies in the face of fancy with its stealth-like matte black finish and black rubber strap, picking up on the contemporary trend of matte-finish cars. At the heart of the 44.5mm ceramic resin case is Hubolt's HUB44 RT mechanical movement, automatically powered and driving the full array of timing sub-dials.

This big, black muted timepiece is launching the watchmaker's foray into Brazil, Senna's home country, and the watch is the result of a partnership between the Swiss company and the Aytron Senna Institute, the foundation started by his sister Viviane. Part of the proceeds from the sale of the 500 numbered watches go to the Institute, and at $25,000 apiece, it had better be a big chunk.

[Source: Luxist]

Say what you will of the late John DeLorean, but when push came to shove, he never tired of searching for creative ways to promote his business interests.

One of the last initiatives he undertook was a time machine of sorts. Not quite like the one that immortalized his creation -- the stainless-steel, gull-winged DMC12 in the Back to the Future trilogy -- DeLorean Time was an initiative to sell a unique wristwatch. While you could certainly argue that any merchandising initiative – be it a timepiece or anything else – is simply another way for an automaker to raise income through alternative means, DeLorean was a little more direct about it. With the purchase of the DeLorean watch, the buyer would be entered into an unofficial contract to get first crack at the DMC2, the ill-fated sportscar which DeLorean had hoped to build before passing in 2005. By selling enough watches, DeLorean hoped, he could raise enough money to get the DMC2 into production.

Follow the jump to view a video of John DeLorean promoting the watch, or follow the link to view more photos.

[Source: Watchismo]

It seems you just can't make an exotic sportscar these days without offering a wristwatch to go with it. Bugatti's got one. Koenigsegg has two. McLaren and TAG Heuer are on their third. And Ferrari's got a whole series. Is it a shameless ploy to capitalize on the merchandizing potential of their supercars, or do their creators simply want to provide their moneyed customers with an adornment for their pampered wrists as bold and unique as the hand-made supercars in their garage? The complication, exclusivity and, if nothing else, sheer price on some of these limited-edition timepieces would seem to indicate the latter.

Enter Pagani into the fray with what seems to be the first licensed piece of merchandise the independent carmaker has produced since first releasing the original Zonda back in 1999. Made in partnership with a likewise new craftshop called Cvstos, the Zonda F chronograph draws its inspiration from its namesake supercar. The crown is patterned on the dials in the Zonda's cabin; the sub-dials on the face are arranged to mimic Pagani's signature exhaust pipes; even the rotating disc, visible through the clear case-back, recalls the Zonda's wheels.

The Cvstos Pagani Zonda F chronograph is available in pink gold, yellow gold or titanium, at an unspoken cost and availability suitable to a creation bearing the Zonda's name.

[Source: Sybarites]

Who needs Ferrari? That's the rhetorical question asked by Girard-Perregaux, the noted Swiss watchmaker. For years GP made watches under license from Maranello, but since Ferrari moved their timepiece contract over to Panerai, Girard-Perregaux hasn't missed a beat.

Unveiled together with several other timepieces at the recently concluded watch and jewelry show in Basel, Switzerland, the Girard-Perregaux Monte Carlo Fly-back chronograph pays homage to one of the most famous runnings of the most famous rallies in motor racing history. In 1970, Björn Waldegaard drove and Lars Helmer navigated their #6 Porsche 911 S through a notoriously tricky course spotted with icy patches but no snow to claim victory at the legendary stage of the Monte Carlo Rally.

Their names are engraved on the case back along with a reproduction of the car's registration plate. The words "Monte-Carlo 1970" appear in bold red letters on the black face that displays the unique chronograph and tachymeter movement, a fly-back complication that doesn't lose a second in re-setting the mechanism on the fly. It's all held in a steel case fastened with a black alligator strap and limited to an edition of 250.

[Source: TimeZone via Luxist]

With the Baselworld watch show still underway, TAG Heuer released a trio of new driver's watches, including the latest SLR chronograph. Not to be outdone, the sketchers over at Porsche Design used to occasion to take the wraps off their latest timepiece, the P'6750 Worldtimer GMT.

Like any other GMT wristwatch, this one keeps track of two time zones – a handy feature if you're taking your Carrera on a cross-country tour, or want to know what time it is at the other end of your Cayenne. Instead of using a fourth hand like other GMT watches, however, the P'6750 uses an indicator window placed at 9 o'clock on the dial to display the secondary time zone, and another indicator window at 3 o'clock to select the time zone by city.

The unique features are driven by an Eterna ETA Valgranges automatic movement, enclosed in a titanium case in either matt finish or with black PVD coating. The dial can likewise be ordered in either titanium color or in black, featuring decidedly avant-garde numerals and detailing, while the watch fastens to the wrist with a wide black rubber strap.

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• Porsche makes time fly with new calendars
• Porsche Design launching personal navigation system

Full press release after the jump.

[Source: Porsche Design]