Tradition and innovation – the Audi centennial watch

100 years of Audi. An exceptional anniversary is being celebrated with an exceptional timekeeper – the Tachoscope, the new Audi centennial watch. It embodies the incomparable spirit of the brand: tradition and innovation, design and precision, sophistication and perfection. A masterpiece of watchmakers’ artistry, this push-piece chronograph with tachometer function has a manufacture caliber and a unique design.

“The Tachoscope is a tribute to 100 years of Audi,” explains Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. “This timekeeper is a masterpiece of the watchmaker’s craft, a product of passion for mechanical precision. And, it symbolizes the strong roots of our powerful brand.”

Audi Design was responsible for styling this exclusive timekeeper, in collaboration with Chronoswiss, its Munich-based development and production partner. Like Audi, Chronoswiss is dedicated to precision and the utmost quality. A further bond is their deeply rooted tradition and shared commitment to pursuing innovative approaches and visionary solutions.

The inimitable Audi Tachoscope features a combination of a regulator dial, chronograph function, single push-piece and tachymeter scale. Particularly noteworthy about its version of the classic regulator principle is the decentralized arrangement of the hour and second scales. Only the minute hand extends from the center of the dial; with the Tachoscope, the chronograph hand is also centrally positioned. This improves the unmistakable readability – even of a complex dial. Chronographic measurement is enhanced by the tachymeter scale on the Tachoscope’s bezel. This allows measurement of speed in kilometers and miles per hour. After all, the word “tachoscope” is Greek for speed display.

Equally as singular as the layout is the design of the genuine enamel dial face:  Inspired by the instrumentation of the legendary Auto Union race cars, Audi Design developed its own, especially sharp numeric font for it. Prominently encircling the regulator dial are the large numerals of the second scale, reminiscent of the speedometer gauges of the Type C Grand Prix race cars of the 1930s. Audi Design also styled the crown to resemble a gear. The housing, delineated by clear-cut edges, projects distinctive elegance and proportional balance.

Engraved on the winding rotor of the mechanical movement, visible through the casement’s glass back, are the years signifying Audi’s anniversary.

“The aesthetics of the Tachoscope’s movement are incredible,” enthuses Wolfgang Egger, Audi Group Head of Design. “The centennial watch’s style is typical Audi; our design philosophy translated to classic watch design. The Tachoscope represents the state-of-the-art, as each of our products do in their own segment.”

Chronoswiss is responsible for the technology behind the dial. Hence, inside the Tachoscope is the exclusive manufacture caliber C. 125, for which Chronoswiss has just received a European Patent (No. 1243984). An intricate mechanism makes it possible to operate the chronograph with just one push-piece, which is integrated into the winding crown.

As a special limited edition, only 100 specimens of the Audi centennial watch will be made – in platinum (CH A 1520) and white gold (CH A 1521 W); one for each year of the company’s history. The 35 platinum and 65 white gold watches will be delivered in wooden jewelry boxes with a black piano finish. Included are also a watchmaker’s loupe and screwdriver. The recommended retail price for the platinum version is €24,900, for the white gold version €14,900.

Sales information for both timepieces can be obtained from Audi quattro GmbH by phone at +49 (0)841 89 46599 or by email at quattro@audi-shop.de.