Mechanical movement powers ode to Ferrari: Omolagato’s new Classic Timer watches

We’ve featured the watches of UK-based Omologato several times since the business was set up eight years ago by Shami Kalra, a car- and motor sport-loving graduate of the London College of Fashion who spent the first 25 years of his career working in corporate design. From the outset, he positioned Omologato as a watch brand that would take its styling cues from the world of motor racing and he’s stuck with the theme ever since, making it a name that’s widely recognised in both the classic and contemporary spheres of the automotive scene.

Until now Omologato watches have been quartz-powered, potentially reducing their appeal to die-hard horophiles for whom only a mechanical movement will do. But the arrival of the new Classic Timer range puts that to rights with an initial series of four models fitted with automatic mono-pusher chronograph movements by Japanese maker Miyota.

The versions include the silver-dial 722 Mille Miglia that celebrates the famous 1955 win by Stirling Moss and Motor Sport scribe Denis Jenkinson in a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR; the Écosse that pays tribute to the string of great competition drivers to have emerged from Scotland; and the Heritage 75 that features a dial in the moss green colour used on many road and race cars of the 1950s and ’60s.

But the most unusual and eye-catching is the Maranello ’61 that recalls the year in which Ferrari rolled out its 156 ‘Sharknose’ F1 car in response to the dominance of British marque Cooper, which had won both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships in 1959 and ’60.

For 1961, the 1.5 litre cars – driven by stars including Phil Hill, Wolfgang von Trips, Richie Ginter and Olivier Gendebien – turned the tables by also winning both championship titles. The year was marred, however, by the death of von Trips and 15 spectators when the German driver’s car collided with Jim Clark’s Lotus, became airborne and landed in the crowd.

Despite the tragedy, Hill took his 156 to victory, helping Ferrari to the Formula 1 comeback that the car was built to achieve.

The Maranello ’61 recalls that pivotal year for the prancing horse marque with a deep red dial highlighted by a Ferrari yellow subdial indicating the months and a silver one showing days of the week. The 41mm steel case, meanwhile, is fitted with a classic perforated rally strap made from ‘ethical’ leather.

The watch is well made, good-looking and, in true Omologato style, excellent value for money – not least since it contains a ‘proper’ mechanical movement rather than a less appealing quartz one.

But if it takes your fancy you’ll need to act fast – just 61 will be made.

Omologato Classic Timer Maranello ’61, £600.
omologatowatches.com

If you find yourself among the 30 people who end up forking out £2m-plus to own  a Delage D12 hypercar, you’ll want the watch to go with it. Made by Rebellion Timepieces – the horological arm of LMP2 and WEC team Rebellion Racing – the carbon fibre watch is based on the existing Re-Volt model, and D12 owners will be able to specify dials that exactly match the colour of their particular cars. The Delage D12 is claimed to be “an F1 car for the road” and features a 1100bhp hybrid powertrain with a 7.6-litre V12 at its heart.

Rebellion Delage D12, £POA. rebellion-timepieces.com

Fans of Vic Elford will appreciate this special edition from New York designer Bradley Price’s Autodromo. The 42mm, cushion-cased chronograph celebrates Quick Vic’s heroic effort at the 1969 Targa Florio in which he and co-driver Umberto Maglioli brought their works Porsche 908/02 across the line behind team-mates Gerhard Mitter and Udo Schütz. Before his death in 2022, Elford signed a card to go with each of the 350 watches, which have case backs engraved with the record lap times he set during the race.

Autodromo Prototipo Vic Elford 1969 Edition, £735. autodromo.com

Precision is written by renowned luxury goods specialist Simon de Burton