Watches, like cars, are mechanically precise fashion statements. Rather than caring about what tie Tom Hanks wore at the Oscars, we gearheads pay attention to what’s on our favorite drivers’ wrists: Jackie Stewart, Lewis Hamilton, and the rest. Indeed, the popularity and press race drivers garner helped birth the genre of automotive watches.
Whether you want racing function from your watch—or simply to look like you know what you’re talking about—there’s a plethora of automotive watches to choose from. Chronographs are watches with timing functions on them if you want to check your lap times the old-fashioned way. Other watches are styled with automotive heritage in mind.
Whatever you choose, rest easy knowing you’ve taken the next step into the automotive enthusiast world with a shiny new timepiece on your wrist. Here are our five favorite automotive watches.
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G-Shock GA140-1A4 Black One Size
G-Shock
amazon.com
$94.90
Any G-SHOCK does a fantastic job of cramming tons of functions and doohickeys into a tough, beefy watch. We love this example because of its awesome 1990s-style face and retro dials. It even features a speed indicator that calculates speed based on the elapsed stopwatch time and distance specified. No vehicle speedometer? No problem.
Chronograph
This Seiko Chronograph is a fantastic entry-level piece for any auto enthusiast. The diameter is a solid 40 mm with accurate quartz movement inside, and the various timing functions are a fun way to keep track of those lap times. This watch’s bang for your buck is unbeatable.Â
New Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS + Cellular, 40mm) – Graphite Stainless Steel Case with Black Sport Band
Apple
amazon.com
$699.00
$599.00 (14% off)
The Apple Watch comes with far more benefits than your conventional watch. Add Apple CarPlay into the mix, and you have the perfect driving timepiece on your wrist. Cars with integrated Apple CarPlay display information directly from your Apple Watch, without needing to hold your phone while you drive—which is never a good idea.
Analog Display Watch
This watch is more of a stopwatch for your wrist. With a throwback design and large buttons on top rather than the side, this Scuderia is an awesome retro-style choice. And it’s Swiss made, so you know it’s a quality piece.Â
Copperstate 1000
Autodromo makes excellent automotive watches—it’s hard to pick just one. But this piece pays homage to the Copperstate 1000 30th anniversary, one of the most prestigious vintage car rallies in North America. The polished copper face looks fantastic.
Monaco
The Monaco is one of the most legendary watches in the automotive world. This particular piece is a reincarnation of the example Steve McQueen wore. (Yes, that Steve.) The 39-mm diameter is highlighted by the stunning sunburst blue dial and sharp red hands.
Cosmograph Daytona
This is the pinnacle of automotive watches, and the price proves that. It’s far from cheap, and the line to get one isn’t for mere mortals, but if you get the chance to own one, do it. Racing driver and actor Paul Newman wore at Daytona, cementing it in watch lore.
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