Swiss watch maker Baume & Mercier teamed up with the American race car maker Shelby to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of winning the FIA International Championship in 1965. This celebration and partnership resulted in a cool pair of limited edition watches known as the Baume & Mercier Capeland Shelby Cobra that will come in either steel or 18k red gold. “Building your own sports car is a dream for any racer, and that’s certainly what the Cobra has been for me.”- Carroll Shelby.
Each version (steel and red gold) is presented in a 44 mm diameter case that is polished and satin-finished. The dial of the Capeland Cobra is rich with detail and personality. This begins with a homage to Cobra’s famous livery, combining its classic Guardsman Blue racing color with transparent dual racing stripes as elegant as they are historic. Completing the face are Shelby double racing stripes as a subtle accent, and special hours and minutes hands designed in the shape the Cobra steering wheel, with the infamous Cobra logo placed atop the second hand.
It also features crystal case back, engraved with the collection title and Carroll Shelby’s own signature.
The strap is just as elegant, created in premium black alligator with red calfskin rubber-like lining, grey stitching and triple-folding clasp with security pushpieces.
Inside, the steel version is a La Joux-Perret caliber 8120 beating at 4Hz (28,800 beat per hour). It has 25 jewels, a 42-hour power reserve and a circular-graining finish on the manipulate and bridges. The rotors are adorned with a Geneva strips.
The red gold version is powered by a La Joux-Perret caliber 8147-2, which notably requires a 16.5 mm thick case (versus a 14.9 mm thick case on the steel model). The reason for this is because the red gold model adds a flyback function.
All watches in the Capeland Shelby Cobra collection come in special packaging with an exclusive miniature of the 427 Cobra, in addition to a custom brochure and card. Owners of the18K red gold flyback chronograph will also receive a book detailing the full history of the Cobra.
The steel version of the Capeland Shelby Cobra will be produced as a limited edition of 1,965 pieces at a price of $4,450, and the 18k red gold version will be limited to just 98 pieces with a price of $19,950.
