In the market for a motorsport-inspired timepiece?
There’s no shortage of them on the market. Many of them tout tie-ins with
automakers and racing teams, and carry stratospheric price tags to go with
them. But PaceMasters does without all that.
The startup is committed to making racing watches as
metaphorically drenched in high-octane fuel as any from the likes of TAG Heuer,
Hublot, or Richard Mille. But they’re priced at a far more accessible level.
PaceMaster’s debut Paddock Chronograph includes all
the features you’d expect of a driver’s watch: chronograph timer, tachymeter
scale, even a carbon-fiber dial and Alcantara strap. What sets it apart is the
F1-style Pit Board surrounding the date window. It comes in acid yellow (which
could be just the ticket for fans of Aston Martin‘s latest, for example) but
can also be had in more low-key black.
It’s powered by a hybrid meca-quartz movement from
Seiko that combines the best elements of automatic and batter-powered
mechanisms. The 316-grade, CNC-machined stainless steel case measures 42 mm
across, it’s water resistant to 100 meters, and it features a sapphire crystal
face and Super-LumiNova indices. And it’s being offered in an array of color
combinations, including three case finishes (steel, matte grey or black PVD)
and several strap options. Buyers will even be able to choose their own Pit
Board message like “Box,” “Keep Pace,” or “Laps to Go.”
Best of all, it’s priced at less than US$ 600, which is
a heck of a lot more than you’d have to pay for some of the other automotive
wristwatches on the market.
