CARS AND WATCHES occupy a common region somewhere in man’s right brain.  They perform an essential function but their ability to make the heart beat faster has little to do with logic.  As you go up the price scale, the essence of a fine watch, as that of a car, will be far removed from its basic function.  A simple Timex, proudly made in Cebu, can do the job of telling time perfectly well, just as a bare subcompact can shuttle you from A to B with ease.  But the beauty is in how far the watch goes beyond its function, to capture the imagination and stir emotion as you’re checking       

A watch that can keep ticking even if you submerge it to the seabed is the equivalent of an SUV that can tackle the Rubicon trail.  A sports car that can lap the Nurburgring in seven minutes flat is the automotive equivalent of a wrist chronograph that can split time to 1/1000 a second.  You’ll likely never use them in those situations, but it’s exciting to know that they can do it.  There is a feeling of satisfaction in a mechanical object that is precisely crafted, sturdy, and easily capable of far more than you will ask it to do on a daily basis.

For a time, watches were all about technology, and this was when digital timepieces came into the spotlight.  In the 1980s, even agent 007 sported a digital Seiko that could spout printed-tape instructions from M.  Similarly, cars with active aerodynamics, electronically-controlled suspension and four-wheel steering were all the rage.  This trend soon faded out, and as motorists came to embrace more traditional means of extracting high performance, just as buyers came to appreciate the intricacies of mechanical watches.  With the current atmosphere of nostalgia, there is a strong desire for sports cars with a pedigree, and watches also have to bear a famous badge as well as being technologically competent. 

The details of a car’s workings have been slaved on by teams of engineers, just as the complicated movements of a mechanical watch were painstakingly developed by master watchmakers.  The exterior is just as important, with styling that will catch the attention of passersby without crossing over to the side of gaudiness.  In some ways, a watch is a more convenient way of displaying one’s personal tastes and even status.  After all, you don’t drive your car into a restaurant or swimming pool.

Some watches are intimately linked to the automotive world, and we have here a listing of some of the finest machinery for your wrist:

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