What Is a Racing Watch: Tracking Time on the Tracks

What makes a racing watch a racing watch? I’ll break it down for you.

Out of all the styles of sports watches, few have captured our greater imaginations the way racing watches have. Paul Newman’s Daytona, a model he’s actually worn on the race tracks, is a famous auction record breaker. 

Meanwhile, even non-watch fans will likely know about the Speedmaster’s journey to the moon.

Men’s racing watches, along with dives, are truly ubiquitous. Besides, horology and motorsports have had an inextricable relationship since the birth of cars.

Have you ever heard the adage that the difference between a pilot watch and a field watch is where you wear it? Sure, certain simple models are interchangeable. But there’s a lot more nuance between non-sea-faring sports watches than just location.

Today, we’re going to go into the nuances of racing watches. It’s one of the funnier ones, so buckle up (pun fully intended).

How Does a Racing Watch Work

At its most basic, a racing watch is used to track and measure race time and average speed. This means it should have a clear crystal dial protector, a high-contrast dial for legibility, a clear seconds track, and, of course, an accurate, reliable secondhand.

This is why high-end racing watches often have anti-reflective coating on the back and front of the sapphire. In fact, the best ones usually have several coats of it. 

Meanwhile, black dials with white indices and second tracks are also popular design choices for many timepieces built for motorsports.

How is this different from a pilot watch, you might ask? Well, it’s not that different, not as a rule. 

After all, pilots measure time, too. A pilot watch might have an extra emphasis on bold, large, often Arabic hour indices. This is so that they can read it from different angles while their hands are steering. 

But if the race car driver in the vehicle is doing his timing, he’ll need maximum legibility, too. The ability to do a clear glance is paramount for safety. 

Moreover, both may be equipped with a rally strap. Rally straps are leather watch bracelets with perforated holes that make them more breathable in the often fast-paced, engine-neighboring environment of the driver’s seat.

So, a basic race watch is simply a good sports watch with accurate timekeeping that one uses in racing cars (or by the race track).

Today, however, modern racing watches are essentially synonymous with the chronograph. This is one important way they distinguish themselves from other sports watches. Here’s why!

The Chronograph Racing Watch

A chronograph is purpose-built to track time. So unsurprisingly, when the chrono was invented, it became the go-to timepiece for the race tracks.

And by the way, here’s everything you need to know about the mighty chronograph right here.

A chronograph features a stopwatch function in addition to its timekeeping operations. These days, they usually have two, and up to three, extra counters. Naturally, the watch case will be equipped with pushers to start, stop, and reset the stopwatch hand.

Here are other key features of a racing chronograph:

• The tachymeter scale. With a tachymeter scale, you can measure both distances based on how much you’ve traveled or speed over a fixed distance. The scale itself is usually placed on the bezel, which also makes it look cooler and sportier, in my opinion. A comprehensive chronograph will have a tachymeter scale and a flyback function.
  
• Flyback feature: A flyback chronograph is one that lets you instantly reset your stopwatch. You can also instantly start a new stopwatch session with the push of a button. It’s perfect for measuring back-to-back laps.
  
• Extra subdials: The extra counters on a chronograph often take the form of subdials on the watch face. You know the long hand on a traditional dial that usually measures seconds? On a chronograph, this long hand will likely be the stopwatch hand. The seconds might then be moved to a subdial. That’s just one example of how subdials are utilized.
  
• Stainless steel construction: Of course, you want your racing watch to be durable, right? Most modern racing watches, and sports watches in general, are made from stainless steel.

Some chronographs are technically meant for aviation. So, not all chronographs are racing watches, and not all racing watches are chronographs.

However, I think it’s safe to say that the most iconic racing watches tend to be chronographs. Let’s take a look at a few.

Iconic Racing Watches

There are a lot of culturally and historically important racing watches. Low-key icons like the Tudor Montecarlo and the Compax from the now-defunct Universal Geneve are favorites among the in the know. 

Meanwhile, the Omega Speedmaster is arguably the most famous chronograph of all time. And yes, it was built for the race track. But let’s be real, we all associate it with space exploration.

Here are a few more universal timepieces worth mentioning: 

Rolex Cosmograph Daytona

As the Crown’s dedicated motorsports watch, the Cosmograph Daytona was destined for greatness. Its name comes from the fact it was Daytona Raceway’s official timekeeper when it debuted in the ‘60s. 

Sure, it lost out to the Omega Speedmaster during the race to space. However, it’s definitely bounced back and made a name for itself since. I already mentioned that the model Paul Newman wore is known for being an auction record-breaker. 

Tag Heuer Monaco

It goes without saying that Heuer’s Carrera and Autavia are also race watch icons.

However, I want to focus on Monaco. This striking model was worn by thrill seeker and autosports lover Steve McQueen in 1971’s Le Mans. The square king on the King of Cool. 

It doesn’t just check the pop culture box, though. The Monaco was equipped with one of the first automatic chrono movements, making it a piece of horological history.

Porsche Design Chronograph 1

This sleek watch was designed by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, or Butzi, to his friends. Butzi was known for designing the Porsche 911, which was known for its all-wheel drive and turbo compression.

Porsche even partnered with IWC to serve up a titanium version, bringing lightness to its strength. Coming from the Porsche family, this is one of few watches born of car racing instead of being adopted into it.

A Brief History of Racing Watches

Here’s a funny fact. Racing watches predate cars themselves. It makes more sense if you keep in mind that we were racing boats and horses long before the invention of automobiles.

There’s a lot of overlap between the history of racing watches and the history of chronographs. I’ll mention here that Louis Moinet is credited for creating the first Chrono in 1816. But again, check out our deep dive into the world of chronographs for more on that.

In 1821, Nicolas Mathieu Rieussec built a watch for King Louis XVIII meant for horse racing. 

One of the watch’s hands served as a pen, as it had an ink tip. At the press of a button, this hand would leave an imprint on the dial. This kept records of each racehorse’s timing.

Other race watch innovations include Longine’s first wrist chronograph in 1913 and Breitling’s two-pusher Chrono, which came out in 1933. Today, most racing chronos feature two pushers.

FAQs

Here are some answers to commonly asked questions about racing watches. We’ve covered a lot of these in detail, but who doesn’t love quick and condensed info?

What Is the Purpose of a Racing Watch?

A racing watch is meant to track racing time and average speeds. That’s why most of them have a stopwatch function.

Is a Chronograph Watch a Racing Watch?

Not all chronographs are racing watches, but most can be used as such. Chronographs feature a stopwatch in addition to its basic timekeeping functions. This allows you to record and track race times.

Why Do Race Car Drivers Wear Watches?

These days, classic racing watches are more for style. However, since accurate timekeeping is paramount in motorsports, race car drivers historically wore watches to track their performance.

Which Watch Is Used for Car Races?

Any clear, accurate watch can be used to track car races. However, the best ones also feature a stopwatch, particularly one with an instant reset, such as a flyback chronograph. 

Conclusion: Purpose-Built Style

Once upon a time, a racing watch was an uncompromisingly necessary piece of racing gear. 

Still, even if we have technology that better keeps track of the tracks, everyone needs a contingency plan, right? 

Even more, racing watches are as sleek as they are sporty, no different than race cars themselves.

Are you a fan of racing watches? What are some of your favorite models?