With its mirror-like dial, chronograph counters inspired by dashboard instruments and a bracelet that echoes racing stripes, the Bulova Shelby Racer Chronograph carries the unmistakable details of a legendary automobile.
History is shaped by unforgettable moments, groundbreaking firsts and images that remain etched in our collective memory. The transition from black-and-white television to colour, the first steps on the Moon, and countless others. Motor racing has its own defining moments, and one of them unfolded on the racetracks of the 1960s. Developed to challenge Ferrari, the Shelby Daytona Coupe made motorsport history in 1965 when Shelby became the first American manufacturer to win the FIA Sports Car World Championship. Developed under the direction of designer Peter Brock, the car would earn its place among automotive icons with its mirror-polished body and distinctive white racing stripe.
Today, the lines of the original car live on in the aluminium-bodied Daytona Coupe models still being produced. The story of the Bulova Shelby Racer begins with this legacy, translating the unmistakable details of the legendary racing car from its gleaming dial to its steel bracelet.
Echoes of the Daytona Coupe
Inspired by the 50th Anniversary Aluminium Edition Daytona Coupe, the limited-edition Bulova Shelby Racer Chronograph (Ref. 96K118) carries references to the car throughout its design. The most striking detail at first glance is the dial, whose reflective finish recalls the polished bodywork of the Daytona Coupe. The chronograph subdials, meanwhile, take their cues from the car’s dashboard instruments. Gauges once designed to monitor the performance of the Daytona Coupe are reinterpreted here as instruments for measuring time.
At 6 o’clock, the subdial incorporates Shelby’s iconic snake emblem. Arabic numerals and hour, minute and seconds hands complete the dial, while a silver-toned tachymeter scale reinforces the watch’s connection to the world of motorsport.
The reflective dial is framed by a 40.5 mm stainless-steel case, itself highly polished to create a similarly gleaming appearance. The watch offers water resistance to 100 metres. M. Neil Cummings, CEO of Carroll Shelby International, points to the qualities shared by the two brands, noting that the innovative design and strong engineering associated with Shelby automobiles can also be found in Bulova watches.
The closed caseback is engraved with the inscriptions “Daytona Coupe” and “Bulova Limited Edition”. Inside beats Bulova’s high-precision quartz movement, operating at a frequency of 262 kHz. Engineered for high accuracy, the movement powers both the chronograph hand and the running seconds. Their dynamic motion offers another subtle nod to the high-performance character associated with Shelby.
The Daytona Coupe influence continues onto the bracelet. Combining contrasting finishes, the stainless-steel bracelet recalls the distinctive twin racing stripes running along the body of the car. In this way, one of the Daytona Coupe’s most recognisable visual signatures finds a new expression on the wrist.
Limited to 7,000 pieces, the Bulova Shelby Racer Chronograph is presented in a special box that also contains a 1:24-scale Shelby Racer model car and an additional brown leather strap. While the second strap offers an alternative look for the watch, the miniature car provides one final reference to the automotive heritage behind the collaboration.
For more information about the Bulova Shelby Racer Chronograph, please visit the official website of Ersa Saat, Bulova’s official distributor in Türkiye.
About Bulova
Founded in 1875, Bulova has built its watchmaking heritage around quality, precision and innovation. From its beginnings in Lower Manhattan to becoming one of New York’s emblematic watch brands, Bulova has distinguished itself by combining traditional elegance with advanced technology and craftsmanship. From the iconic Archive Series to the CURV collection and the brand’s proprietary Precisionist movement, Bulova continues to carry its heritage forward through bold design and pioneering technology.
