2020 Green Dial Watches Part 1: Top 15 Time Only Watches

Green is the new blue. 

Previous years there has been a few splatter of green dial watches. Nothing dramatic and most of the time paired to a bronze case. But 2020 seems to be the year where being seen to be green is in fashion. 

Green is a symbol of hope, luck, growth, and nature in many cultures. Today, it also symbolises environmental protection. There is nothing more eco-friendly than a watch that is powered either by the movement of your wrist or a simple wind up of a mainspring which stores energy in a barrel, which will continue to run (with careful maintenance) for decades?

Now, stop being green and think the grass is greener on the other side. Here are a wristful of green watches that will surely make others green with envy. Go ahead. You have the green light. 

The following is a list of the top 15 green mechanical/automatic simple 2/3 hand watches with/without date we could find that were launched in just 2020 alone. In alphabetical order: 

1. Ball AWF Limited Edition

The Ball Engineer III Mavelight AWF watch was designed for the Australian Watch Forum, the largest Facebook group for watch enthusiasts. 904L grade stainless steel, 40mm case size.

2. Bell & Ross BR03-92 HUD limited to 999 pieces

The collection is directly inspired by the navigation tools of aircraft cockpit. The new BR03‑92 H.U.D (Head-Up Display) gets inspiration from the avionics displays of fighter jets equipped with the most cutting-edge technology. The case is matte black ceramic, 42mm, green sapphire crystal and water resistant to 100m. Power reserve of 38 hours.

3. Blancpain Bathyscaphe Mokarran limited to 50 Pieces 

A special watch dedicated to protecting the great Hammerhead shark. This model will be available exclusively in Blancpain boutiques in New York and Las Vegas. A total of $50,000 will be added to the brand's regular contributions to promoting, respecting and protecting the fascinating world of the oceans. Case is in black ceramic, measuring 43.6mm x 13.8mm. Water resistant to 300m, powered by in-house calibre 1318 with 120 hours power reserve.  

4. Bovet Miss Audrey

It features a green guilloché dial inspired by the lotus flower that reflects sumptuous shades. This timepiece is also housed in the Amadéo® convertible 36mm stainless steel case. The bezel and the iconic bow are set with diamonds.The case's convertible feature allows the timepiece to be worn on the wrist, transformed into a table clock or turned into a pendant without tools. Total of 1.04ct diamonds. Water resistant to 30m.

5. Eberhard Traversetolo Hope

The green dial was chosen as it symbolises hope. Stainless steel 43mm case, water resistant to 50m

6. Frederique Constant Vintage Rally Healey

The Vintage Rally "Healey" limited editions were created as a result of a partnership between the Frederique Constant Manufacture and the Austin-Healey car brand. Established in 2004, the bond has never been broken; seventeen years of allegiance and fellowship between watchmaking and mechanics, punctuated by rallies, meetings, races and a shared passion for retro design. 40mm stainless steel case, water resistant to 50m. The caseback has been engraved with an Austin-Healey and powered by Frederique Constant caliber FC-303 with a power reserve of 38 hours. 

7. Kurono Anniversary Green ‘森:Mori' Limited edition of 288 pieces.

To commemorate the first anniversary of Kurono, made by watchmaker Hajime Asaoka. Stainless steel case with a high curvature sapphire crystal, powered by Miyota's calibre 90S5, with a 42-hour power reserve. Proudly made in Japan and hand assembled. 

8. Laurent Ferrier Classic Origin Green

Housed in the Classic, pebble-shaped case, this new version is cased in grade 5 titanium. The hand-wound Calibre LF 116.01  is equipped with a free-sprung balance and a Breguet overcoil. 

9. Longines HydroConquest Green Boutique Edition

41mm stainless steel case, with sapphire crystal and water resistant to 300 meters. Green ceramic bezel insert. Powered by Longines caliber L888.5 (base ETA A31.L11) with a silicon balance spring and a power reserve of 64 hours.

10. Montblanc Heritage Automatic

40mm case in 18kt yellow gold, a steel caseback with Minerva Manufacture engraving, water resistant to 50 meters. Powered b by Montblanc caliber MB 24.27 (base Sellita) with a power reserve of 42 hours. It features a flat hairspring and a flat hoop balance. 

11. Norqain Independence 20 Limited to 200 pieces

We mentioned the brand Norqain before, and this is the first piece to use the Kenissi movement. Stainless steel case, 42mm diametre, Kenissi movement with 70 hours of power reserve. Water resistant to 100m.

12. Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra 41

41mm stainless steel case, AR-coated sapphire crystal, a sapphire display back, and it is water resistant to 150 meters. Powered by in-house caliber 8900 with a power reserve of 60 hours. Co-Axial escapement. Certified Master Chronometer by METAS, and resistant to magnetic fields reaching 15,000 gauss. Free sprung-balance with silicon balance spring.

13. Oris x Momotaro Divers Sixty-Five

This special steel and bronze version of the Oris Divers Sixty-Five is made in collaboration with the independent Japanese company Momotaro Jeans. Named after a Japanese folklore hero, Momotaro was launched in 2006 by Hisao Manabe. Its roots lie in his textile company, which he established in 1992 with just three employees in the small coastal town of Kojima in Okayama. Stainless steel 40mm case, rotating bezel with bronze edge. Water resistant to 100m, powered by Oris calibre 733 (base Sellita SW200-1) with a power reserve of 38 hours.

14. Rado Captain Cook Diver Green 42

Stainless steel case measuring 42mm x 48.6mm x 12.3mm, water resistant to 300m. Steel bezel with polished green ceramic insert. Powered by ETA caliber C07.611 with a power reserve of 80 hours. 

15. Urban Jürgensen Big 8 "London Edition" Limited to 10 pieces  

This limited edition watch will donate all profits to the Wellcome Trust COVID-Zero Research Fund.

Stainless steel case 40mm x 10.8mm, water resistant to 30m. Soldered tear-drop shaped lugs. Powered by Urban-Jurgensen caliber FP1160 (base F. Piguet) with a power reserve of 48 hours. It features a 21kt gold rotor with guilloché decoration. 

When Worlds Collide - Hot Wheels IWC Racing Team Transport feat. IWC Ingenieur

When worlds collide 

Collabs are nothing new. Fashion. Music. We can all rattle off at least half a dozen car/watch collabs. This was certainly not something I’d expect to happen at all and it was quite the nice surprise when I first knew of its existence. 

Is it an obscure collab? Perhaps. But cars and watches do go together and it’s kinda only logical for that to extend to model cars, and by virtue of association, toy cars. You might think of Hot Wheels as toys. And yes, primarily they are toys for kids. But they are also collectable for... those who are kids at heart. 

So how did this collab come about? It helped that IWC has a historical racing team, featuring none other than the famed Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gull Wing. It also helped that Chris Grainger just happened to be a Hot Wheels collector, and you can see his collection in an interview he did with Lamley Group. Of course, having one of the Hot Wheels designers being a watch enthusiast sealed the deal. I don’t think there would be that much crossover between Hot Wheels collectors and watch enthusiasts, but I just happen to be one of them. 

Knowing about this and actually finding it in stores are two completely different things. If anyone from Hot Wheels/Mattel Australia is reading this: fix it!! 

The lack of consistent distribution in Australia makes collecting and tracking down certain highly sought after models a real pain in the backside. (Yes. Highly sought after. Don’t get me started. Oh ok you did.) At the moment, in Australia, certain Japanese cars are all the rage. To give you an example, the Nissan 300ZX. This, I have never seen at retail, apart from the most recent police livery which isn't as popular. 

I don’t have the time to do the rounds every single day and even then you’re never really sure if 1) the stores actually received allocation of certain boxes and 2) whether the staff at said store actually displayed ALL the cars from a case rather than keeping then and buying it themselves and scalp online to supplement their income and 3) let's say all the cars are displayed on the pegs, you’d have to be at the right store at the right time and hope and pray that it hasn’t already been cleaned out by professional collectors/scalpers. 

I’ve seen this in action personally where during one of my rare rounds of all the stores that stock them, I’d see the same 1 or 2 people doing the exact same route. And all of us leaving empty handed became we were all too slow. Or just didn’t have the right “connects”. And then you have the overstock of certain cases, where the pegs would be overflowing with the same few cars and they stay on the pegs forever because anyone that wanted one, or 10, already have them, but if these stay on the pegs the stores aren’t going to refill them with something new.

But that’s a long rant way off on a somewhat related tangent. Back to the model at hand. 

When I saw this I felt like I’d won the lottery. Yes it is exactly like that. It’s not an empty metaphor. I’ve seen and bought others from the set, but this particular model was a rare sight indeed. well, to be fair, any real world sighting of team transport is hard to come by. But I guess the monster trucks are the best seller, considering how much stock and variations are stocked everywhere...

So how much do I like this set? So much so that i resorted to forking out ebay tax for another one. Why you ask? Because it’s the nerdy collector in me. Must be mint in box. Or at the very least, to have one to open and play/display, and another in box to keep.

Look, I think for the majority of Hot Wheels collectors, this collab might not mean much to them. You get a nice 300SL and the truck is a brand new casting. The colour scheme is well done and it is overall a fairly nice model at the price point. I doubt many of these will go to kids as toys. For me, it’s one of those rare items where it appeals to a couple of my hobbies. 

I have decided to pair the model with an IWC Ingenieur in the photo shoot. No this isn’t current anymore, but i felt this was the best iteration and style for the Ingenieur. It also should be the feature range of the watch for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team (and it was, in the first couple of years of the partnership), given Ingenieur = Engineer, and yes I get that ”pilot” in French also applies to the f1 drivers, but it’s a bit of a stretch...

Is this a review on the model? Nope. Just sharing my thoughts about an improbable collaboration between Hot Wheels and IWC Schaffhausen. I would love to see more coming from this pairing. The models aren't bad at all, especially considering the retail price it is set at, and it's likely my favourite Team Transport so far.

New Model: Tudor Royal 2020 Quick Look and Full Pricing

Given the plethora of non-round steel luxury sports watches available in the market, Tudor thought, why not? Let’s dust off an old name plate and cash in on this madness. Heck, Maurice Lacroix did so well with their 80s/90s inspired Aikon, why not do the same thing? Good thing though. There are other coloured dials to be had. 

Maurice Lacroix Aikon Auto 42mm, Sellita SW200 Movt, AUD$2400

From all accounts this model is a limited regional release, for the Asian (read: Chinese) markets only, and that is why Jay Chou, brand ambassador, was chosen to write and direct the advertisement for it (look it up on Jay Chou's instagram). It seems to be a relatively subdued launch, without all the fanfare usually associated with Rolex and Tudor. Perhaps the current depressed economic climate and low consumer confidence due to the pandemic has something to do with it? Or the fact that there was no Baselworld this year?

The watch comes in 4 different sizes, to suit all different shaped and sized wrists. So all of you out there (you know who you are) who feel 41mm is too big and 38mm is too small, then... you're outta luck here and best try the Maurice Lacroix Aikon, which now comes in a 39mm case size! Note, if you want the day-date look, it is only available in 41mm size.

However, let’s give credit where it’s due. If you want a 90s inspired blue dial stainless steel sports watch with integrated bracelet, you could do much worse than the aforementioned Maurice Lacroix. Bloody well priced too. But if you MUST have a Rolex Datejust or an Oysterquartz but can’t stump up enough dough for either, and you’re perfectly happy with a Tudor branding and an ETA movement inside (not that there’s anything wrong with these - they’re reliable workhorses), then Tudor has your number, and this is the exact watch for you. 

Oysterquartz 19019 white gold day-date, image: antiquorum.swiss

Spex:

Tudor Royal 41mm

ETA 2834 movement, 38 hours power reserve.100m water resistant. 

Price: Approx AUD$3500 in steel, AUD$5000 steel/gold

Tudor Royal 38mm

ETA 2824 movement, 38 hours power reserve. 100m water resistant

Price: Approx AUD$3400 in steel, AUD$5900 steel/gold

Tudor Royal 34mm

ETA 2824 movement, 38 hours power reserve, 100m water resistant

Price: Approx AUD$3350 in steel, AUD$5900 in steel/gold

Tudor Royal 28mm

ETA 2671 movement, 38 hours power reserve, MOP dial and diamond indices, 100m water resistant

Price: Approx AUD$4250 in steel, AUD$6000 in steel/gold

Industry News: MCH unveils its new platform - HOURUNIVERSE (previously Baselworld)

You may have heard the news that MCH is re-branding Baselworld, because apparently it's had such bad press and negative associations that it was deemed necessary to cut loose and set adrift. REALLY? AND THIS NEW BRANDING IS ANY BETTER? And whilst the fair includes not just watches, but also jewellery and gemstones, this new name isn't exactly all-inclusive. On the contrary. I'm sure this will go down nicely with all the jewellery, gemstone, packaging, accessories and machinery supplies exhibitors.

I mean, who came up with the name? Baselworld 2.0 would've been better. Or heck, even Baselverse. This seriously drew a collective face palm from pretty much everyone in the industry. And I'm sure they've just sent even more brands over to Watch and Wonders, whose name is at least much more inclusive in the term "wonders" which could be applied to just about everything.

View of Basel

So we thought the final nail had already been well and truly hammered when COVID-19 hastened the discontinuation of Baselworld, but now? It's been sent through the furnace and only ashes remain. Sorry Murdoch - you bought a pile of burnt up rubble... The issues with Baselworld was that the fair format had outstayed its welcome and was no longer relevant in today's world. Not to mention the price gouging. From everyone. From the fair itself, to the surrounding hotels and restaurant. Gouge. The brand was never the issue. All they had to do was listen to the exhibitors who each paid exorbitant sums of Swiss Francs in order to participate in the show. They're the customers that MCH should be listening to. All of them. The brands know what is needed and what is required for them to return to a show that will benefit all. But no. Rebranding. That'll fix everything...

Messe Basel - Venue of Baselworld

I don't usually like to regurgitate the whole press release but this was so bad it's... no... it's just bad. 

Here it is in full (and please pay particular attention to the final 3 words):

MCH is creating a new concept for a global platform for the watch, jewellery and gemstone industries: HOURUNIVERSE.

Two months to listen, analyse, identify; and create. An innovative platform to meet today's needs. To unite and support a whole community that wants to regroup, make a new start and is receptive to change. Open, modern, experimental, inclusive, user-friendly, interconnected, the MCH teams have put all their expertise and the feedback and input from customers and other stakeholders into giving birth to a new platform concept. An extended ecosystem   Live and virtual, active all year round, benefiting from the latest technologies for content, and for networking, the new platform is dedicated to players in the watch, jewellery and gemstone industries, but not exclusively. The new concept is a B2B2C meeting point that places the customer at the heart of its focus, reversing the order of the past. The entire platform is thought out and designed around the customer. This applies to all players of the distribution chain, traditional and online retailers, including those of the CPO (certified Pre-Owned).  Flanking them, the platform will build an extended ecosystem with watch, jewellery and gemstone brands, developers of new solutions in distribution, marketing and points of sale, and other players of the industry. A global, varied, interconnected, unified world. A 365 platform, with an annual live meeting Named HOURUNIVERSE, the platform will be digitally active throughout the year and will host an annual live show.  A community platform that creates bridges between buyers and sellers and all the players in the industry, it is also a place that encourages exchanges, information-sharing, content creation, reflection through talks and conferences that also provide visibility for brands and their products.  In April 2021, the community will meet at HOURUNIVERSE in Basel, Switzerland. The show will be aligned with the watchmaking events in Geneva, in the best interests of the international community which will only have to travel to Switzerland once a year. The show will reinforce contacts thanks to new tools, the creation of content, a maximum of Touch & Feel experiences, as well as moments of conviviality, networking and fully integrated events. Along with this new customer-oriented approach, a new competitive hospitality concept will also be an integral part of the packages proposed, and those associated players of Basel life will not be exempt from this involvement. The detailed concept of HOURUNIVERSE will be unveiled late August in combination with the start of marketing.   HOURUNIVERSE: IT'S WE TIME!

Feature: Sporty Roman Numeral Watches Part 1 - Romain Jerome Steampunk 46

Who said watches with Roman numerals has to be dressy? 

There seems to be a preconception that watches with Roman numerals are dressy. Think Cartier. Off the top of my head, Cartier has really made the Roman numeral design their own, especially when combined with a rectangular case. A cursory Google search seems to also confirm that the vast majority of watch brands utilises Roman numerals to “dress up” their models.

One might pose the question whether Roman numerals always makes a watch look dressier? Are there instances where the watch errs on the side of casual, Maybe even sporty, with a large diameter case? ask no more. In the following 3-part series, we will look at 3 watches all with Roman numerals, in 3 very different interpretations, and none of them can really be described as “dressy”. Maybe you could get away with wearing the with a suit, but I doubt any of them would fit in with a black tie event. (In the traditional sense. We’re not talking Aussie black tie, which can mean anything from a tux to jeans, t-shirt, sports jacket and sneakers.)

Part the first:

Romain Jerome Steampunk 46 - 2015

I still remember the first time I came to know Romain Jerome. And my reaction is far from favourable. The watch? The titanic DNA. the reaction? Let's just say it was NSFW. Well. NSFAnything really... however, something that polarising definitely sticks in your mind and over the years RJ has broadened their horizon to include some incredible pieces such the subcraft, to the extremely niche market Hello Kitty watches... and somewhere in between, watches that appealed to my childhood nostalgia such as the Space Invaders and the Super Mario Bros... Let’s just say that I’ve come to appreciate its quirks and its audacity to be so different in a seemingly still-quite-conservative Swiss Watch industry. Yeah I know there are a lot of so-called self-anointed “disruptors” but who are we kidding? Most of the industry is still extremely traditional, despite what their marketing material may say.

It is however, quite saddening to hear of their bankruptcy earlier this year, as well, their funding dried up in the very trying luxury market, especially for an independent niche brand such as RJ, and all the more depressing especially when I've had the opportunity to meet some of the really lovely people working for the brand at Baselworld (when it was still around...) Hopefully the brand will somehow find its way back, but in the meantime, let's have a look at one of the more distinctive designs from the brand. 

This might be an entry level sort of watch, but by no means does it mean cheap and cheerful. Far from it. The moment you hold the piece in your hand you know you have something quite special. You feel it in its weight. You see it in the details, and you definitely notice it in your wallet. Comes with the territory of being a limited production run. This version? Just 999 pieces. There are a couple of other versions; a shinier polished steel case and one in 18k rose gold.

Now I’ve always had a soft spot for everything steampunk and retro futuristic style. I think calling this piece steampunk is probably stretching the term a little, but I am very taken with the style, and now that they’ve tossed the “rusted” bezel look of the titanic, it works even better with just a smooth, albeit somewhat aged industrial look, nicely juxtaposed with the smooth black case claws and shiny screws on the dial. 

Speaking of the dial; yes there is a dial, even though at first glance it might seem skeletonised. In closer inspection there is no hint of the movement, but multiple layers of patterns, in different finishing, which gives it a subtle three-dimension design. Although the OCD in me may prefer a completely symmetrical look, I do like the fact the small propeller running seconds at 9:00 position acts as a charming small reminder of its beginnings as a ship-themed watch. 

The strap is usually the first thing to come off a watch for me, but in this instance, one major obstacle stopped me from doing so... I didn’t know how. It’s not the usual arrangement of spring bar, strap, and lugs. Apparently one needs to use a special tool to remove the strap. Whilst I wait for said missing tool to arrive, I have no choice but to wear the OEM Strap. And it’s actually not a bad thing. It tapers from being quite thick at the lugs to thin and soft at the other end. It holds the shape and supports the watch quite well, at the same time being very comfortable to wear. One thing I didn’t like is the folding clasp (and RJ aren’t alone in this) which felt cheap and flimsy. So off it came and a sturdy, thick pin buckle I had lying around went on. Perfect. 

The watch comes with a solid case back, making identifying the beating heart that much more difficult. According to the internet, it’s built by LaJoux-Perret or Concepto on a Valjoux 7750 base, meaning it should be relatively reliable but not exactly “uh-house”. Does that turn you off? It depends on what you want out of a watch movement. As nice as an in-house movement is, sometimes you just want something simple, reliable, and most important aspect of all - serviceability. A competent watchmaker will be able to service simple. Complications, well... can be complicated and lead to unwanted um... complications...

Despite its outlandish styling, and seeming large-watch size, the watch as a whole is quite stealthy, helped by the use of matte black case and black strap. I was hoping to put a vintage dark brown calf strap on the watch to bring out the steampunk vibe even more. Its relatively short lug-to-lug length makes it much more wearable than the diameter suggest, and yes, it sits very well and comfortable on the wrist. It is not a watch that will have mass appeal and it doesn’t need to. Given the relatively low production run and the uncertainty over the brand’s future, chances of seeing a Romain Jerome watch in the wild is likely to remain in the realm of a steel Daytona in stock for retail.

Lug to lug 48mm

Diameter 46mm

USD 12500 or approx AUD 19000

The Definitive Guide to Watches in Formula 1: 2020 Edition

Formula 1 for 2020 is back on! And what a start to the season with an excitement and drama-filled first race of the season in Austria! So we thought it was time we updated our feature on watches in Formula 1. Can you believe the last time we did a post on this topic it was back in 2013! Certainly a lot has changed since then, so without further ado, it's LIGHTS OUT AND AWAY WE GO!!!

Rolex - The official timing partner for Formula 1 since 2013, and continues to dominate all the track landscapes with the corporate green and gold logo. 

Pirelli - The official supplier of tyres for all the teams. Pirelli has a partnership with Roger Dubuis, and there are models specifically made in collaboration where the strap is made from actual tyres of race winning cars.

Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Pirelli

And now, in order of the current Constructor's Championship standing so far in 2020 (after the first race), here are the watch partners for each team:

1. Mercedes - IWC has been a partner with Mercedes-AMG team since 2013 and it seems to be a very successful partnership as they continue into 2020 and possibly beyond. Numerous limited editions has been produced for both the teams and the drivers, with Lewis Hamilton taking the additional step in customising his own version. IWC watches can also be seen on numerous top management in the team including Toto Wolfe and various engineers/team members.

IWC limited edition Pilot watches for Mercedes-AMG

2. McLaren Renault - It's so refreshing to see McLaren so high up in the standings after many years languishing mid-pack. Let's hope this new trend continues. The official watch partner is Richard Mille, who himself is a fan of racing and races classic cars himself. Amazingly Richard has cornered the market, partnering up with three teams on the grid. The partnership with McLaren extends to drivers in the team both wearing Richard Mille timepieces.

The RM50-03 - valued at just under USD$1 million

3. Ferrari has a long standing partnership with Hublot and again, it is one that is working extremely well for both parties, as Ferrari owners are very much Hublot owners. Numerous limited editions produced, as well as watches designed by Ferrari like the Hublot TechFrame.

4. Racing Point BWT Mercedes - Formerly Force India, we have mentioned before regarding their partnership with TW Steel. This was followed by an obscure "lifestyle" partnership with Felio Siby, who designed an even more obscure watch, powered by a movement from Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier. This didn't last long and after Force India went into administration in 2018, and was taken over by a consortium lead by billionaire Lawrence Stroll, it's had no watch partnerships. 

Felio Siby Force India Watch

The current drivers for Racing Point, however, do wear watches and Sergio Perez is even a bit of a watch collector. He has admitted to owning around 20 timepieces and each of them were purchased for special occasions as a memento, the first one for the first salary that he received, followed by first podium, first child, etc. He has been quite diplomatic in not mentioning any brands. However, a quick dig around the interwebs revealed a few stand outs. Franc Vila presented Perez his very own watch back in 2010, when he announced his debut with Sauber for the following year in F1. Of course, when you drive for Sauber, you had to represent the team's watch partner which was Certina. When Perez went over to McLaren in 2013 he had TAG Heuer watches, and I'm assuming he had to wear TW Steel with Force India.

And Lance Stroll? He's had an Oris watch from his days at Williams, but no watches right now at Racing Point, but given he's the son of a billionaire...

Franc Vila Sergio Perez

5. Alpha Tauri Honda - Previously Scuderia Toro Rosso, or Red Bull junior, they've had an ongoing partnership with Casio Edifice. Given this season has only just started we're yet to see a proper Alpha Tauri watch, as Casio is still marketing the previous Toro Rosso edition.

The 2020 Alpha Tauri F1 Car

Casio Edifice Toro Rosso

6. Renault - The partnership with Bell and Ross has been going for a few years now, and again, there is a certain synergy between the brands. Also, both being French probably helps too. The Bell and Ross watches for the Renault F1 team over the years has always been quite striking and distinctive, using various F1 design motifs and team colours as inspiration. The drivers are given a limited edition watch that corresponds to their racing number.

Bell & Ross BR X-1 Tourbillon R.S.20

 

7. Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari - The second team partnered with Richard Mille. Kimi Raikkonen, one of the drivers for the team, has his own Richard Mille watch. In more recent times, Alfa Romeo only returned to F1 racing in 2018, as a title sponsor for the Sauber team. It last competed in F1 back in 1985. From 2019 onwards, Alfa Romeo took over the team completely the and Sauber name was dropped from the entry list. Certina used to be a long standing watch partner with Sauber team. 

Richard Mille RM50-04 Kimi

8. Williams Mercedes - Oris was a long time partner with Williams until they shifted their focus to more eco-friendly initiatives. There is currently no watch partner for Williams, although it seems driver George Russell is wearing an IWC Pilot, possibly due to his ties with Mercedes as a factory-backed driver, and Nicholas Latifi, being the son of multi-billionaire Michael Latifi, can probably buy whatever watch he wants. Latifi is the owner of Sofina Foods and invested 200 million Euro back in 2018 for a 10 percent stake in McLaren Group. Sofina is also the main sponsor for the team this year and quite possibly may become the owner.

George Russell (Left) seen wearing an IWC Pilot in 2019. Can't tell what Robert Kubica is wearing though.

9. Aston Martin Red Bull Racing - TAG Heuer has been a partner with Red Bull ever since they parted ways with McLaren. Red Bull was with Casio, and they still are via their junior team, Alpha Tauri. TAG Heuer has close ties to F1 and was at one stage the official timekeeper for Formula 1 (as Heuer, back in 1974 and remained until the end of the decade, when it passed the torch to Longines). One of the best selling lines of watches from TAG Heuer is actually called "Formula 1". 

TAG Heuer Formula 1 Red Bull Special Edition

10. HAAS - the third team with ties to Richard Mille, and a team that's going through really tough times on track. Partnership extends to drivers, both of whom can be seen wearing RM timepieces.

HAAS F1 team

And there you have it. 2020 will be an interesting year for Formula 1, as they deal with the aftermath of the Coronavirus and work out the best way to get the race numbers up. There are also a number of changes coming up in 2021, with Racing Point becoming the official Aston Martin racing team, and the possibility of Williams changing hands... one thing is for sure. Formula 1 is never lacking in drama and we hope to bring you another edition of watches in Formula 1 next year.