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Race against time: The 6 best racing watches for your next race day out
By Shivani Dubey | 25 March 2026 | Design, Sport, Style
As Formula 1 season kicks into high gear, we take a look at some of the best racing watches in history to wear as the perfect accessory to your next Grand Prix
Racing and horology have a long and storied history dating back to the 20th century. Many prestigious watch brands of today are deeply entwined into the world of motorsports, all driven by the need for precise timekeeping in the sport. Brands like IWC Schaffhausen, Rolex, TAG Heuer, Richard Mille and more all have longstanding partnerships with many Formula 1 teams. And many of these brands have, over the years, released models of racing watches that have truly stood the test of time. Here, we take a look at some of our favourite racing watches that are the perfect accessory for a day out to the races.
BR-X3 Black Titanium | Bell & Ross
Renowned for designing watches that can withstand extreme conditions, at the starting line, we have the BR-X3 Black Titanium watch by Bell & Ross, who is also the official timing partner of Defender Rally, which will compete in the World Rally-Raid Championship. The watch represents the perfect fusion of innovation, robustness and precision. Its grade 5 titanium case construction, COSC-certified manufacture movement and optimal legibility make it perfectly suited to the challenges of the rally-raid, where every second counts and conditions push both human and machine to their limits. Water resistant up to 100 meters, this watch is the ideal accessory for daring races that defy all limits.
Freak X Gumball 3000 Edition 2 | Ulysse Nardin
Ulysse Nardin is known for defying all notions of watchmaking, and that also extends to creating bold racing timepieces. The Freak X Gumball 3000 Edition 2 continues the brand’s partnership with Gumball 3000, resulting in a bold timepiece that fuses high-performance watchmaking with the rally’s boundary-pushing spirit. Featuring a striking black and orange design, a Carbonium hour disc crafted from aerospace upcycled carbon fibre, and the no-dial, no-hands Freak architecture, the watch stands as a high-tech statement of mechanical innovation and maverick performance. The collaboration reflects a shared mindset and values embodied both on the road and on the wrist. Since its rise in the early 2000s, the Gumball 3000 rally became a bucket list event – televised on MTV and immortalised as a PlayStation video game. 
TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 45 mm x Formula 1 | TAG Heuer
TAG Heuer has a long and storied history with motorsport and Formula 1, which has been immortalised in many a timepiece, and, as of 2025, in a partnership as official timekeepers of the racing franchise. The latest TAG Heuer Connected Calibre E5 45mm x Formula 1 digital watch takes this relationship one step further, bringing the world of the Grand Prix directly to the wrist. The watch brings the pulse of every Grand Prix to life, with features including a race track watch face, with the digital time displayed beneath the track outline and a design that adapts to each Grand Prix, represented by the country flag, race name, and its own racetrack silhouette. The watch evolves automatically throughout the seasons, featuring 24 unique designs for 24 Grand Prix weekends. The watch also has some custom sounds and branded icons that mimic the sounds of pit radio communications. A PPG sensor and the red F1 logo on the case-back complete the look, making this a racing watch you simply need to have on your wrist the next time you attend a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona | Rolex
If there was any watch that was born to race, it would be the Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona from Rolex. Introduced in 1963, this watch was designed to meet the needs of racing professionals and has been worn by some of the most storied drivers in history. Equipped with a high-performance mechanical movement, this legendary chronograph is the instrument of choice for measuring time intervals or, using the tachymetric scale on the bezel, for determining average speeds. The watch, which is equipped with an additional mechanism to measure intervals of time displayed by secondary hands, also offers outstanding legibility of its functions. Time intervals can be measured to within one-eighth of a second with the centre chronograph seconds hand, while the two counters on the dial at 3 and 9 o’clock display elapsed time in minutes and hours respectively. The watch’s bezel acts as a tachymeter, while the watch is waterproof for up to 100 feet. The paramount of racing watches, it is a chic accessory for any motorsport enthusiast.
Gerald Charles Maestro 4.0 Ducati 30° Anniversario 916 | Gerald Charles
Limited to just 250 pieces, the Maestro 4.0 Ducati 30° Anniversario 916 watch is a collaboration between Gerald Charles and Ducati, blending the precision of watchmaking with the fervour of motorcycling. The watch revives the iconic jumping hours, a complication that was introduced with the Maestro GC39. Created for durability and design, the watch features a matt black ceramic bezel on a marbled-black carbon forged case body, seamlessly integrated with grade 5 titanium crown, case-back and buckle. This is the first Gerald Charles skeleton jumping hours watch as well as the first to display time on a motorcycle wheel. At the centre of the case, a central wheel has been added as a subtle nod to the original Ducati 916-wheel rim. The golden jumping hour disk mirrors the motorcycle’s original three-spoke bronze alloy wheel, with black contours enhancing the colour contrast.
Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team | Breitling
In February, Breitling marked its return to F1 by becoming the official timekeeper of the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One team. To mark the partnership, the brand has released the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Aston Martin Aramco Formula OneTM Team watch, which is limited to 1,959 pieces and pays tribute to Aston Martin’s first foray in F1. The watch features elements of Aston Martin racing green and lime accents drawn from the Aston Martin Aramco livery, a lightweight titanium case – the first ever used on a Navitimer – and a carbon-fiber dial inspired by materials found in the cockpit of an F1 car. The textured leather strap recalls a racing harness, while enhanced nighttime visibility keeps the watch legible under any conditions. The caseback has engravings “one of 1959” and “Instrument for Drivers”, sealing the partnership with a stylish racing accessory.