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Formula 1 and fine watchmaking share an obsession with the same things: speed, precision, engineering and the slightly irrational pursuit of shaving a fraction of a second, or a few grams, off the final product. It is no surprise, then, that some of the most extravagant watches in modern horology have racing in their DNA. And, as F1 fans ourselves, here we list the 5 best luxury watches with F1 links including Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher, Richard Mille Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph McLaren F1 RM 50-03, TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph F1, TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph, and IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 Edition Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team.
From a featherweight Richard Mille to a timepiece designed around Michael Schumacher's lap-timing challenge, these are 5 watches that take their F1 credentials seriously.
Michael Schumacher wanted a mechanical watch that could measure consecutive laps without losing the previous reading. Audemars Piguet took up the challenge and eventually created the Royal Oak Concept Laptimer, featuring a specialised mechanism for measuring successive laps. The 2015 edition was produced in just 221 pieces.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher Watch Original price: US$229,500 | Limited to 221 pieces.
The Richard Mille Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph McLaren F1 RM 50-03 watch is what happens when a Formula 1 mindset meets a watchmaker with very little interest in moderation. Developed with McLaren F1, the RM 50-03 combines a tourbillon with a split-seconds chronograph, while weighing less than 40 grams including its strap. Its lightweight construction and use of advanced materials make it feel less like jewellery and more like a miniature racing machine for the wrist.
Richard Mille Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph McLaren F1 RM 50-03 Watch Original price: CHF 980,000 | Limited to 75 pieces.
The TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph F1 has never exactly been shy, but this version goes full throttle. Created to mark TAG Heuer's return as the Formula 1 Official Timekeeper, the 41mm Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph F1 pairs a white ceramic case with a translucent red dial and a sophisticated rattrapante mechanism capable of timing separate intervals. Only 10 pieces were produced.
TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph F1 Original Price: CHF 155,000 | Limited to 10 pieces.
Before Monaco became a watchmaking icon, it was simply a very unconventional square chronograph. Its racing credentials grew considerably after Steve McQueen wore one in Le Mans, and TAG Heuer continues to build on that heritage. The 2024 Monaco Chronograph, launched around the Monaco Grand Prix, pairs its familiar square silhouette with a skeletonised dial, lightweight titanium case and an 80-hour power reserve. Its launch price was US$11,250.
TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph Original price: US$11,250.
IWC's relationship with Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS is not a marketing cameo. The brand has been the team's engineering partner for more than a decade, and the IW388108 was its first official team watch. A titanium case, black dial, and Petronas-green details give it a distinctly paddock-ready personality, while IWC's automatic Calibre 69385 powers the chronograph.
IWC Pilot's Watch Chronograph 41 Edition Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team Original price: €8,450.
Formula 1 has always been about finding the limit, and then moving it. These watches take the same approach, whether that means stripping a tourbillon chronograph down to less than 40 grams, inventing a mechanism for timing consecutive laps or turning the Monaco into one of racing's most recognisable design icons.
What makes these 5 luxury watches compelling is that each captures a different side of the sport: Richard Mille is pure engineering excess, Audemars Piguet is mechanical ingenuity, IWC is team loyalty, and TAG Heuer is racing heritage with a healthy dose of glamour. They may never see the inside of an F1 garage, but they carry enough of the paddock's spirit to make the wrist feel like a rather luxurious place.
