Today i will start a thread dedicated to Ferrari watches from vintage chronographs to partnership with high-end Swiss watches manufacturers. As you may already know, Enzo Ferrari used to give watches personalised with the prancing horse on the dial as present to remember significant moments. Their very limited number has made them highly sought after. First Watch on review : The 1987 Ferrari Formula F40. The Ferrari Formula F40 is an automatic, limited to 140 pieces edition, solid 18kt yellow gold, display back chronograph. It was commissioned by Enzo Ferrari to celebrate his factory 40th anniversary and only given as present to close friends, drivers, and collaborators. Look closely from left to right to the 40mm assymetric case and you will see a stylised Scuderia shield ("scudetto") and hex nut shape crown and pushers. Tachymeter scale shows speed from 60 to 500 km/h. Inside the Watch is the well known Swiss Valjoux 7750 (all parts for repair are still available today), 17 jewels, 28.800 bph caliber automatic chronograph movement. The F40 has a power reserve of 46 hours. The identification number (XXX/140) is engraved on the "engine turned" finish oscillating weight. Movement is "engine turned" decorated too. You can see it trough the display back. Owners of a Ferrari F40 Watch feel free to send pics ! Image Unavailable, Please Login
(Photo courtesy of collectorstudio.com) Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Second watch on review : The stainless steel Ferrari Formula automatic chronograph. The Ferrari Formula automatic chronograph was manufactured in two dial (Swiss made stamped) color variation both with baton number markers plus day and date wheel indicator. Some white dialed watches have developed a very nice creamy/ivoiry patina, some are remaining porcelain white. It was possible to choose between a bracelet or a leather strap with deployant clasp. Inside the watch is the well known Swiss Valjoux 7750 (all mechanical parts for repair are still available today), 17 jewels, 28.800 bph caliber automatic chronograph movement, power reserve 46 hours. Take a look at the movement picture : The metal finish is basic, no "turned engine", or "perlage" here. Why? Because the movement is hidden behind a screwed caseback. Owners of a white/black stainless steel Formula automatic chronograph, feeel free to send pics ! You can contact me here too : http://cavallinowatches.blogspot.fr/ Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Third watch on review : The Ferrari Formula F288 GTO. The Ferrari Formula F288 GTO is an automatic, limited to 250 pieces edition, stainless steel and 18kt yellow gold chronograph. It was commissioned by Enzo Ferrari to celebrate the launch of the 288GTO and only given as present to close friends, drivers, and collaborators. Look closely from left to right to the 40mm assymetric case and you will see a stylised Scuderia shield ("scudetto") and hex nut shape crown and pushers. Tachymeter scale shows speed from 60 to 500 km/h.Date function only. Inside the Watch is the well known Swiss Valjoux 7750 (all parts for repair are still available today), 17 jewels, 28.800 bph caliber automatic chronograph movement. The F288 GTO has a power reserve of 46 hours. (right pic courtesy of collectorstudio.com) Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Fourth watch on review: Pope John Paul II Ferrari Formula chronograph. The Pope John Paul II Ferrari Formula watch is an automatic, limited to 2 (two ! One for John Paul II, one for Enzo Ferrari) pieces edition, solid 18kt yellow gold chronograph. It was commissioned by Enzo Ferrari to celebrate the Pope visit to the Ferrari factory on saturday, june 4, 1988. But Enzo Ferrari was seriously ill and unable to meet the Pope in Maranello/Fiorano. He did speak him by telephone from his Modena house. Inside the watch is the well known Valjoux 7750, 17 jewels, 28.800 bph caliber automatic chronograph movement, power reserve 46 hours, day and date wheel indicator, moonphase indicator. Meeting date is engraved on the back of the watch. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Fifht and sixth watches on review : The Ferrari Formula moonphase chronograph. The Ferrari Formula moonphase chronograph is an automatic, limited to : -050 pieces edition for the 18kt yellow gold chronograph. -100 pieces edition for the 18kt yellow gold and steel chronograph. Dials are slightly different from the Pope chronograph ("Ferrari" and cavallino, instead of "Ferrari" and shield). They were commissioned by Enzo Ferrari and only given as present to close friends, drivers, and collaborators. Look closely from left to right to the 40mm assymetric case and you will see a stylised Scuderia shield ("scudetto") and hex nut shape crown and pushers. Tachymeter scale shows speed from 60 to 500 km/h. Inside the Watch is the well known Swiss Valjoux 7750 (all parts for repair are still available today), 17 jewels, 28.800 bph caliber automatic chronograph movement, power reserve of 46 hours, day and date function. (Pics courtesy of collectorstudio.com) From left to right : First and second pic : 18kt gold, third pic : 18kt gold+steel. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Now that i have reviewed all the different types of Ferrari Formula automatic chronographs, i'm very pleased to present a vintage, 60's, 17 jewels, manual winding, stainless steel, Girard Perregaux "Damier" Watch personalised for Ferrari. Limited edition of 50 watches. (Pics courtesy of a private collector) Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Vetta and Wyler-Vetta Ferrari watches. Paul Wyler, Swiss watchmaker, has founded his brand "Wyler" with his brother Alfred in 1924. In 1927 he patented his "Incaflex" invention. What is "Incaflex"? It's a balance wheel with flexible arms to absorb horizontal shocks (see first pic on the left). To do business in Italy in the 30's (Mussolini ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943) foreign compagnies had to partner with Italian compagnies. Lucio Binda, An Italian watch retailer formed a business relationship with Wyler. Watches were sold under the Vetta and Wyler-Vetta brands.They still exist today. (Chronographs pictures courtesy of a private collector.) Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks for posting these. Is there a resource(s) you're referring to or is this info collected as you have had a chance to find it? I've cross-linked this thread with another summary thread in the Watch section. http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/fine-watches-jewelry-clothes/389233-history-ferrari-watch.html
On a side note, the one on top is one of the better known early Ferrari watches and was referred to, in period, as the "Ferrari Cartier", as this particular Vetta model rather resembles a Cartier Tank.
Thanks for your kind words. I'm interested with watches for a long long time... I have written an article dedicated to Ferrari watches in Prancing Horse #120 and thought fchat members will be interested by this part of Ferrari history. Info come from my personal files, private collectors, and the web.
You're right. This particular watch was nicknamed Vetta-Cartier or Cartier at the Ferrari factory. cavallinowatches
LUIGI "GIGI" VILLORESI BREITLING CHRONOGRAPH. This 18kt gold Breitling,ref 1190, number 797489, venus 188 powered chronograph, was given by Enzo Ferrari to Gigi Villoresi after his victory against Maserati at the 1952 Modena grand prix (14 september 1952). It does not have "Breitling" or a prancing horse stamped on the dial, but only "chronométre suisse". "Ferrari" is engraved on the caseback. According to the Breitling factory this particular watch was made in 1951. Only 300 ref 1190 chronographs were manufactured in 1951. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Heuer Chronosplit Ferrari. From 1970 to 1979 Heuer was a technical partner of the Scuderia Ferrari, providing timekeeping equipment. The Heuer chronosplit, was, in 1975, the first fully digital electronic chronograph available in a wristwatch size. Chronosplits in working order are extremely difficult to find today and almost impossible to restore, hence their high prices.. for an old digital Watch ! First version was lauched in 1975. Upper LCD display : Hours and minutes. Lower LED display : 1/10s stopwatch. Second, uprated version, was launched in 1976. Upper LCD display : Hours and minutes. Lower LCD display : 1/100s stopwatch. The Heuer Chronosplit personalised for Ferrari was given, as usual, as present to close friends, drivers, and collaborators. (Lcd Chronosplit picture: Led-forever.com) Gilles Villeneuve/Heuer ad for the regular (not Ferrari) 2nd version. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Longines Ferrari watches. Succeeding to Heuer, Longines begun his commercial partnership with Ferrari in 1980. All the commercially available models are two-tone (steel+ gold plated) swiss quartz powered square watches, available in men or women size. Suble variations : white or black color dials, date at three or six o'clock, cavallino, Ferrari script or shield at six o'clock. Personalised steel (Gilles Villeneuve engraved) or Gold Longines watches (50's to 80's) are gifts from Enzo ferrari to collaborators, close friends, and drivers. Part 1 : Commercially available models. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Part 2 : Personalised watches for collaborators, close friends, and drivers. Pics, from let to right : Longines 26/50, courtesy of a private collector. Ferrari 025, Ferrari 32/50, Ferrari gift to Sergio Scaglietti 22/09/76, 1982 Gilles Villeneuve Longines, Sergio Scaglietti Ferrari watch, courtesy of collectorstudio.com. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Links to Prancing Horse #120 : In search of mechanical perfection by Philippe Guennou : https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0B3OHy1G_pKWoUFVuMF8xRHJ5X2s Girard Perregaux pour Ferrari F50 Watch by Marcel Massini : https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=0B3OHy1G_pKWoQkRmNDBQLUlMSUk Happy reading !
Vintage Ferrari watches from Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari, Modena : (original pic by Michael Platzer) Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Targa Florio chronograph :1958 1958 Targa Florio Ferrari Valjoux chronograph. Presented to one of the race winners- either Luigi Musso or team mate Olivier Gendebien, who drove 250 testa rossa s/n 0726. To the rear is the symbol that represents Sicily, and the engraved words "Targa Florio 1958". (Pics courtesy of a private collector.) Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Targa Florio chronograph : 1961 1961 Targa Florio Ferrari valjoux chronograph. presented to one of the race winners-either Wolgang Von Trips or team mate Olivier Gendebien, who drove Dino 196SP s/n 0790. To the rear is the symbol that represents Sicily, and the engraved words "Targa Florio 1961". (Pics courtesy of collectorstudio.com) Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Girard Perregaux watches. First and foremost i wish to pay tribute to Mr Luigi "Gino" Macaluso, chairman of the Sowind Group (Girard Perregaux and Jean Richard) from 1992 until his death in 2010. The Italian entrepreneur, architect and former racing driver Luigi Macaluso took over the reins of Girard-Perregaux in 1992. With a wealth of experience in the watchmaking industry, he knew the Brand well: he had been the Brand's official importer in Italy for many years and joined the Board of Directors in 1989. Under his guidance, Girard-Perregaux became one of the major players in the Haute Horlogerie industry. His co-branding agreement with Ferrari led to a remarkable collection of sport and grande complication models between 1994 and 2004, all stamped with the legendary "Prancing Horse". Luigi Macaluso (1948-2010) Image Unavailable, Please Login
Girard Perregaux pour Ferrari ref: 8020 38mm round chronograph, automatic GP2280 caliber, Ferrari logo under the 12, subsidiary dials for the seconds, 30-minute and 12-hour registers, date between 4 and 5. Dial color : Red, yellow, dark blue, grey, black.Some luminous arabic numerals have developed a very nice creamy/ivoiry patina, some are remaining white. Case : Stainless steel, stainless steel and gold, 18kt gold. Leather strap, stainless steel, stainless steeel and gold, 18kt gold bracelet. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
1995 Girard Perregaux "Pour Ferrari" catalog. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login