ROGER DUBUIS EXCALIBUR SPIDER PIRELLI

espite its crucial function—that of fastening the watch to the wrist— the bracelet has remained an unsung hero for the longest time. Rubber for sports, alligator or satin for gala dinners, or full metal bracelet for weekends—the options were limited. But not anymore. The bracelet has been enjoying a spot in the limelight in recent years, as more and more watchmakers are introducing varied options into their portfolio. And we’re not just talking about colour variations. Watchmakers have been working with designers (Jaeger-lecoultre and Christian Louboutin for example) on fashionable bracelets, and have also introduced materials that are durable and weather-resistant such Richard Mille’s Kalrez strap. Over at Roger Dubuis, the focus is also on the bracelet. You might remember last year’s collaborative partnership with luxury shoemaker Massaro, which produced a range of edgy bracelets for its Velvet collection. While the watchmaker focused on fashion for 2016, it explores the adrenaline-filled world of Formula One this year with a collaboration with Pirelli, the official tyre maker for F1. This partnership represents a two-pronged win for the brand. First, it defies convention by working with an industrial partner, as opposed to the more common car or racing team collaborations favoured by other watchmakers. Second, by using only the rubber from the tyres of the winning car at the 2016 Monaco Grand Prix, it drives home the point that Roger Dubuis is a watchmaker for champions—a marketing double whammy. The brand’s creative director Alvaro Maggini says that the relationship between the two brands started less than a year ago—it took just one phone call to Pirelli, and they needed no further convincing. “When you think of rubber, you think dirty, street, industrial, a lot of things that are not connected to Roger Dubuis, as we handmake our watches. And that’s exactly what I liked, the duality,” he says. Of course, it was not simply a matter of cutting up the winning tyres and strapping it on the Excalibur Spider Double Flying Tourbillon or Automatic Skeleton. The rubber has to be worked upon, as its natural state would quite possibly singe your skin. It is combined with Rubbertech, and the inside of the strap displays treads imitating the profile of the Pirelli Cinturato tyre. The strap is finished with blue stitching, a reference to the colour of the tyres on the winning car at the 2016 Monaco Grand Prix. Roger Dubuis does not reveal the name of the F1 driver behind the wheels, likely because of licensing issues. The eight collectors who manage to lay their hands on the Double Flying Tourbillon version will also be invited by Pirelli to a two-day VIP programme at a motorsport event.