Tonino Lamborghini adds to the enthusiast's choice of motoring-inspired timepieces

Watches and cars are the most natural of bedfellows, even more so when those cars are racing or sports cars, so you’d imagine that the most desirable watches would be the ones found in the accessories catalogue of your favourite motoring brand.

But the talents of a car maker are very different to that of a watch maker, which means that most of them fall into the category of ‘brand merchandise’ and would struggle to better the average Japanese import for quality or craftsmanship. Notable exceptions include Porsche Design, Aston Martin/Jaeger-LeCoultre, Bentley/Breitling, Cvstos Pagani and McLaren/TagHeuer.

There are also the classic driving watches such as the Chopard Mille Miglia, TAG Heuer Carrera, Ferrari by Officine Panerai, Rolex Daytona and the Hublot King Power Tourbillon Senna.

And now Italian design and styling house Tonino Lamborghini has introduced two prestigious timepieces, the sporty Spyder1000 and the classic 1947, adding further choice for the discerning enthusiast. Drawing inspiration from the brand’s history of engineering and timeless style, Tonino Lamborghini’s latest Swiss-made chronographs complement the “Puro Talento Italiano” design epitomised by the Raging Bull.

It’s probably worth pointing out at this stage that Tonino Lamborghini is not part of the same entity as Audi-owned Automobili Lamborghini, purveyors of tasty supercars such as the Gallardo and Murciélago. However there is a strong connection in their lineage, since Ferruccio Lamborghini the founder of Automobili Lamborghini was Tonino’s father!

Tonino launched his own prestige Lamborghini brand in 1981 which is based in Funo, Bologna, some 30 miles or so away from Automobili Lamborghini in Sant’Agata Bolognese, and both companies use the iconic ‘raging bull’ image in their logos.

The trendy Spyder1000 range is the one that caught my eye, with its triangular face, black PVD case, striking bezel colours and tyre-tread inspired carbon-fibre strap.

However the more classic 1947 model follows the more subtle form of the sophisticated Power Reserve and Automatic Retrograde models, all in polished steel case and bezel. The date marks an important milestone: in 1947 his father made the first Lamborghini prototype, it’s also the year that his son Tonino was born, so it’s an extra special date for the Lamborghini family.

Both collections, like all Tonino Lamborghini luxury artefacts, mirror the brand’s values: technology, Italian style and performance, with prices starting from £980. You can find out more at Tonino Lamborghini’s website and order direct through www.forzieri.com.

Photo Gallery

Tonino Lamborghini Spyder1000

Tonino Lamborghini 1947 Classic range

Porsche Design P’6920 Rattrapante

TAG Heuer McLaren MP4-12C Chronograph

Cvstos Pagani Zonda

BRM Peugeot Sport Chronograph

Breitling for Bentley

Blancpain Super Trofeo Chronograph

Aston Martin DBS by Jaeger-LeCoultre