I am always curious as to what the thought process is when admirable watch makers design watches after cars. They never seem to look too much like the cars they are modeled after. this might be a bit of an exception as at least the colors match. Do you think that cars are ever modeled after watches? Maybe. Well this is the Audemars Piguet Millenary MC12 Tourbillon Chronograph. Let me unravel that name for a moment. The “Millenary” title alludes to the stlye of the case and the “MC12” name refers to the Maserati super car that the watch is based on. The MC12 is basically a race car, not even really sure if it is street legal. The MC12 is Masterati’s version of the Ferrari Enzo. Then you have the tourbillon complication and the 30 minute chronograph. Audemars Piguet also throws in a power reserve indicator for the Calibre 2884 manually wound movement.

The open work style of the watch is a good intersection between modern and classic. Branding on the dial has Audemars Piguet and Maserati sharing the same size, which is interesting. Audemars Piguet is shorted to just “AP” and you have the Masterati Trident logo. The chronograph has a large central seconds hand with an easy to use tachymeter. The chronograph is also an monopusher chronograph meaning it is operated via a single button. Although the face of the watch is oblong, the dial itself is actually perfectly round. The Audemars Piguet Millenary MC12 Tourbillon Chronograph originally was released in about 2006 in a limited edition of just 150 pieces. The movement utilizes carbon which is part of Audemars Piguet’s talents many other watch makers can’t seem to replicate too well. I personally think that carbon is a bit gimmicky, but it is apparently very difficult to work in small sizes. The blued metal in the movement to match the blue of the car is a nice touch. The case of the Millenary is made of 950 platinum which makes it hefty and expensive. If you ever hear that a super car uses platinum, walk the other direction, it is a damn heavy material the opposite of “weight saving.” Last of all you get a crocodile leather strap. Price?  About $320,000. Lower than the original retail price though.

See this Audemars Piguet Millenary MC12 Tourbillon Chronograph watch on JamesList.com here.