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dOmInIX · 01-20-2006, 12:24 PM

Parmigiani Bugatti Type 370 (www.parmigiani.com)

Michel Parmigiani's Type 370 has been in development as long as the 1000-hp Bugatti Veyron that it's supposed to complement. But while the Veyron is still mired in high-speed testing,
Parmigiani Bugatti Type 370. Click image to enlarge
the Bugatti watch is now on sale -- for a price almost as outrageous as the million-Euro supercar. For the privilege of strapping one of Parmigiani's 150 Type 370s to your wrist, you'll pay upwards of $200,000. What, exactly, do you get for that? In rational terms, not much. You get a $200,000 watch that you have to wind yourself and that only tells the time. But what's special about the Parmigiani Bugatti piece is that its hand-wound mechanical movement is a complete reimagination of anything before seen in watchmaking.

Most watches feature a face that sits at on your wrist, which is all well and good for normal use, but which means you have to take your hand off the wheel while driving to read the time. So Parmigiani decided on a vertically-oriented face which necessitated a completely new mechanism that's more reminiscent of an automobile engine than any traditional watch movement.

Parmigiani Bugatti Type 370. Click image to enlarge
Visible through the eight-piece gold case's six sapphire crystals, the 370's movement allows you to see exactly what's going on, with all of its various pieces in all their gorgeousness laid bare for inspection. Also visible through the top is the 10-day power reserve indicator, telling you how long the watch still has to run before you have to charge it again.

Like everything else about the watch, winding it is something special, and isn't done with a simple crown on the side. Instead, a battery-powered metal pen is inserted into the bottom, which takes care of both winding and time-setting duties.

The first Bugatti watch was delivered to noted car fanatic Ralph Lauren earlier this year. Fifty each will be available in each of three colours.

more car themed watches here

01-20-2006, 12:24 PM	#1
dOmInIX Devotee Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Croatia Posts: 2,749 Thanks: 429 Thanked 422 Times in 256 Posts	Feature: Car-themed watches Parmigiani Bugatti Type 370 (www.parmigiani.com) Michel Parmigiani's Type 370 has been in development as long as the 1000-hp Bugatti Veyron that it's supposed to complement. But while the Veyron is still mired in high-speed testing, Parmigiani Bugatti Type 370. Click image to enlarge the Bugatti watch is now on sale -- for a price almost as outrageous as the million-Euro supercar. For the privilege of strapping one of Parmigiani's 150 Type 370s to your wrist, you'll pay upwards of $200,000. What, exactly, do you get for that? In rational terms, not much. You get a $200,000 watch that you have to wind yourself and that only tells the time. But what's special about the Parmigiani Bugatti piece is that its hand-wound mechanical movement is a complete reimagination of anything before seen in watchmaking. Most watches feature a face that sits at on your wrist, which is all well and good for normal use, but which means you have to take your hand off the wheel while driving to read the time. So Parmigiani decided on a vertically-oriented face which necessitated a completely new mechanism that's more reminiscent of an automobile engine than any traditional watch movement. Parmigiani Bugatti Type 370. Click image to enlarge Visible through the eight-piece gold case's six sapphire crystals, the 370's movement allows you to see exactly what's going on, with all of its various pieces in all their gorgeousness laid bare for inspection. Also visible through the top is the 10-day power reserve indicator, telling you how long the watch still has to run before you have to charge it again. Like everything else about the watch, winding it is something special, and isn't done with a simple crown on the side. Instead, a battery-powered metal pen is inserted into the bottom, which takes care of both winding and time-setting duties. The first Bugatti watch was delivered to noted car fanatic Ralph Lauren earlier this year. Fifty each will be available in each of three colours. more car themed watches here