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From Steve McQueen’s Heuer Monaco to Breitling clocks in Bentley GTs, there’s simply no denying how inextricably linked cars and wristwatches are. The mechanical artistry exhibited in both of their productions demonstrates how creativity and engineering can produce incredible pieces of technology with a hint of style and flair. Autodromo––a watch brand inspired by the history and allure of the automotive industry––is set to release a limited-edition variant of their Monoposto timepiece in collaboration with Mobil 1 to celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary of their synthetic motor oil. Limited to 100 pieces for the stainless-steel variant and 50 pieces for the gold tone variant, this model is the first re-issue of the original three-hand Monoposto produced by Autodromo in 2012.
Let’s start off with the Mobile 1 Edition’s specs. Both steel and gold tone cases have a rather large 43mm diameter, employing the design principles utilized in “the oversized dashboard gauges of 1950s ‘monopostos’ or single seater racing cars,” according to Autodromo. The watch’s wire lugs support 20mm handmade Italian buffalo leather straps fitted with stainless roller buckles. Powering the piece is the dependable Miyota 9039, an automatic 24-jewel movement with hacking and hand winding, beating at a solid 4 Hz with a power reserve of approximately 42 hours. The movement can be admired through the exhibition caseback featuring Mobil 1 branding and other information pertinent to this model’s specifications and production.
The most notable alterations between the original Monoposto and the new Mobil 1 Edition can be found on the watch’s dial and crystal. Gone is the symbolic red line printed on the inside of the original model’s KL glass sapphire-coated crystal. The line was included on the 2012 model to represent the redline on tachometers which indicate the RPM range where engine damage can occur but was removed for this edition. This decision, according to Autodromo founder Bradley Price, was made based on collector feedback, and it also serves to emphasize the most significant addition to the dial: the Mobil 1 Pegasus.
The original Pegasus logo, entirely monochrome without any text, debuted in 1911 and was used by a subsidiary of Standard Oil named Vacuum Oil. In the same year, Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey v. United States was brought to the U.S. Supreme Court in a landmark case which ruled that Standard Oil had violated the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, illegally monopolizing the American petroleum industry. Two byproducts of Standard Oil’s dissolution into 43 separate companies––Vacuum Oil and Standard Oil Company of New York (Socony)––merged in 1931 and maintained the Pegasus logo created by Vacuum twenty years prior. The bright red iteration we know today was a redesign by Robert Elmer and introduced in 1934 through advertising campaigns and oil iconography. Socony rebranded as Mobil in 1963, and the Pegasus logo was mirrored to be facing right instead of left by 1965––a move some believe was made to indicate that Mobil 1 was always moving forward and looking towards the future.
The inclusion of the Pegasus on the Monoposto Mobil 1 Edition’s dial is a fantastic choice. It’s a simple addition that, without prior knowledge of Mobil 1’s branding or automotive history, blends into the watch’s design very well. There are times where wristwatch collaborations utilize the branding of the outside collaborator in a heavy-handed way, in turn making the finished product feel more like advertising merchandise––similar to driving those real estate or insurance advertisement vehicles I’m sure you’ve seen at some point. This application of the Pegasus is a subtle nod to Mobile 1 that celebrates their heritage while still keeping true to the original Monoposto blueprint. Both variants will be available on Autodromo’s website beginning today, with the stainless-steel model retailing at $875 USD and the gold tone at $975 USD. Autodromo
