We often tell you that there is only one step between the world of the car and the world of watchmaking. In this new piece from Watches x Cars, I introduce you to two jewels in their respective industries: the Bugatti Chiron and the most automotive performance of all watches: the Jacob & Co Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon.

Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2016, the Bugatti Chiron was tasked with replacing the Veyron, which was leaving the market after 14 years in production. The Veyron is the superlative car of all, with a top speed of more than 400 km/h, a price of more than 1 million euros and, most importantly, 4-figure power: 1001 horsepower. It quickly became an automotive legend, but it had to end its long career in 2015 after selling 450 copies.

A year later, the Chiron, named after 1930s Bugatti driver Louis Chiron, was unveiled to the public with much fanfare. It pushes back all the limits previously set by the Veyron: the W16 is pushed to 1500 hp and 1600 Nm of torque, the tachometer reaches 500 km/h and its carbon structure is reinforced with aero parts. To bring it home, it cost twice as much as its predecessor… Soon, more than half of the planned 500 copies found buyers, and Bugatti adjusted the record: 0-400-0 at 41.96 Seconds, 490 km/h top speed. The Chiron is positioned as one of the fastest cars in the world and is gradually launched: Sport, Black, Pur Sport, Supersports 300+…

Notably, it was at the center of the brand’s 110th anniversary celebrations in 2019, with the Chiron Sport 110 Years and its cousin the Centodieci taking over the platform and running gear. https://www.proreviewwatch.co

As for Bugatti, the change of chairman and CEO has brought about earth-shaking changes for the brand, which has developed a habit of releasing a new car every 10 years and a new version every 6 months, and the partnerships that follow. In 2018, Parmigiani Fleurier was responsible for a Divo-related watch whose strap dominated its interior material, as well as several other watches bearing the Bugatti stamp. A year later, Bugatti joins forces with the Jacob & Co manufacturer to create a watch that pushes the limits of modern watchmaking…

The Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon is the name of this engineering marvel born after a year of in-house development. As a reminder, Jacob & Co was founded in 1986 as a manufacturer of jewelry for major brands and a few private clients. In 2002, the artisan made watchmaking history with a luxurious five-time zone watch inspired by the lifestyles of his customers. The first implementation featured 5 different dials in one, representing each of the following time zones: New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Paris, with a fifth designed for the time the wearer was in. In 2006, the Quanttin made headlines with its 31-day power reserve and tourbillon mounted on the edge of the dial. at last,

Specializing in horological complications, the brand opened a development center in Switzerland and produced a growing number of pieces, mainly adorned with diamonds. Finally, in April 2020, the Manufacture discreetly announced the release of its latest masterpiece, the Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon. Visually, this is another watch with a skeletonized dial, but if we look closer, this one houses a miniature replica of the Chiron’s W16 engine. A totally crazy idea that we really like.

The automotive approximation doesn’t stop there, with the famous horseshoe grille embossed with the Bugatti logo on top of the titanium case. The movement is held there by a suspension, again inspired by the automotive world, while the 60-hour power reserve is simply indicated by a fuel gauge to the left of the dial.

The imposing side of the case (diameter 54 mm, thickness 44 mm), the separation of the titanium case and the hollow sapphire imitates the separation of the Chiron, which is the most beautiful effect.

Let’s go back to pure technology and talk about the JCAM37 movement. Its tourbillon, positioned 30° above the clock, provides a power reserve of 60 hours at 21,600 vibrations per hour. While this is the first demonstration of fine watchmaking craftsmanship, the most intriguing is the automatic that sits beneath the tiny W16 engine that moves it. Cut from sapphire and featuring 16 articulated pistons connected by crankshafts that are activated when the corresponding buttons are pressed, this is an impressive mechanism consisting of 578 parts and 51 jewels . The animation then lasts 20 seconds and can be activated 3 times before it has to be wound by the central barrel.

Personally, I especially appreciate the effort the manufacturer put into the details of the W16. As the madness of the Chiron continues, this watch is sure to mark the history of watchmaking in the same way that Bugatti marked the history of the car. As for the aesthetics, of course it’s not the prettiest watch on the market, but I find the readability is still very accurate thanks to the colored hands. The watch is available in three different finishes (titanium black, brushed DLC titanium, rose gold) and I must admit that I am slightly partial to the brushed titanium with the blue dial. Discount replica watches