The Senturion watch that can start your supercar

Back in 2008 during Aston Martin’s partnership with historic watch house Jaeger-LeCoultre, the pair came up with an ingenious timepiece called the Amvox Transponder that could unlock your DBS, DB9 or Rapide from several paces.

The watch was updated a decade ago to enable it to work with what was then the entire model range, but development of the line inevitably fell by the wayside in 2016 when the two firms parted company (after which Aston enjoyed a very brief relationship with the Richard Mille brand, followed by TAG Heuer and now Girard-Perregaux).

Since then a British-based company led by two young car-mad entrepreneurs (who have asked us not to name them) has taken the Amvox Transponder idea a big step further. The mysterious pair launched Senturion in 2013 with the aim of creating ‘wearables’ that can not only unlock a car but also start it.

Senturion launched with the Model 1 palladium bracelet which could be linked with the owner’s supercar and used in conjunction with keyless entry systems. The bracelet concept was developed and improved, leading, in 2020, to the brand’s first watch collection, the SW series, a small run of designs made from materials including carbon fibre and meteorite.

At the end of last year, however, Senturion announced the arrival of its SW2 watch models that are not only smaller and more refined than the originals but can also be paired with a wider range of supercar marques, including Bugatti, Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, McLaren and Lamborghini.

To say it’s the watch that works the magic on the car’s locking and ignition systems is not, however, entirely accurate – the technology is actually built in to the strap and now, according to Senturion, features no fewer than 11 patents.

Horophiles can rest assured that the watches are of good quality, though. All feature Swiss movements and are assembled in the UK, with the most expensive piece being the SW-M1 that boasts a gold-plated bezel made from a piece of a 4.9 billion-year-old meteorite. It costs a reassuring £175,750.

At 46mm it might be chunky for some but, in keeping with the trend for smaller case sizes, Senturion has now launched three 41mm models, including the £43,450 J2 in rose gold with a rainbow bezel set with different coloured sapphires and the G5, a £22,050 version of the same watch without the gem setting.

In a bid to keep things realistic, however, we’ve illustrated the entry-level T5 model which features a blackened, titanium case and a price tag of £12,150. As with all Senturion products it’s a limited edition, and just 10 will be made.

‘Friends’ of the brand include sprinter Usain Bolt, soccer player Peter Crouch and star drivers Fernando Alonso and Romain Grosjean.

Senturion Key SW-T5, £12,150. senturion.world 

When Ferrari uses the Aperta nameplate it refers to the car being ‘open’ – and, in the case of this watch collaboration between Bovet and Pininfarina, Aperto means the dial is open as a result of being skeletonised. The ultra-light piece has a 42mm case made from sandblasted titanium and contains a special hand-wound movement featuring numerous finishes, including graining and perlage. It also has a quick-change system that makes it easy to swap between the two rubber straps supplied with each example.

Bovet x Pininfarina Aperto 1, £48,300. bovet.com

Micro brand MHD (founded by former Morgan designer Matthew Humphries) is making just 10 examples of this special version of its Daily Driver model – and they can only be bought at British Watchmakers’ Day, which takes place on March 9 at London’s Lindley Hall. The event, organised by the British Watch and Clock Makers association, will see 44 UK brands exhibiting, with each making a special edition that will only be available on the day. This has a blackened case and a ‘reverse panda’ sandwich dial.

MHD British Watchmakers’ Day Daily Driver, £595. mhdwatches.com

Precision is written by renowned luxury goods specialist Simon de Burton