Press release 6th March 2009
The mysterious dial of the Wyler Genève Code-R Night Racer chronograph has a discreet new look that softens the ever-present burden of time on our daily lives. The velours texture of matt black combines perfectly with the brushed titanium case in a watch brimming with understatement.
Well over 30 years ago, a difference of only one hundredth of a second separated the winner of the 1971 Italian Grand Prix, Peter Gethin (BRM) from second-placed Ronnie Peterson (March-Ford). Today, motorsport times are even measured in the thousandths of a second. The mechanical chronograph therefore seems an anachronism in this ultra-fast, ultra-precise world of motorsport.
In spite of this, watches have long been associated with automobile. Like cars, their bodywork and engines set themselves apart. A precision mechanical chronograph is still the best timepiece for anyone who shares a passion for racing, all the more so if it uses the same high-tech materials found in the parts bins of top-flight motorsport.
Wyler Genève acknowledges this with its new Night Racer chronograph, inspired by the first-ever night-time motor racing grand prix on 28th September last year in Singapore (one of the brand's biggest markets). Its unique shock-absorbing case is made of a lightweight but highly resistant carbon-fibre resin frame. This holds in place a titanium container inside which the movement is sealed. The two titanium plates of the case are fixed to this assembly in a sandwich-like construction by four sprung-mounted titanium screws, leaving the entire watch movement and dial suspended within the case and thus able to absorb shocks. The screws are DLC-coated in black to match the polished black applied numerals of the dial and single them out as functional – rather than purely aesthetic – elements. Fans of motorsport will appreciate the attention to detail of the design, with chronograph pushers in the style of a car's foot pedals and the grooved rubber-coated crown that resembles a racing tyre.
By day, the dark, tone-on-tone dial of the Wyler Genève Night Racer chronograph barely hints at its precision mechanical function. Its muted aspect instead further emphasises the distinctive Wyler Genève case. By night, however, the black SuperLuminova on the hands and minute track numerals fires up to reveal the passing hours and minutes against a background that blends into the darkness, focussing the night racer's mind on the only element that matters – the time.
The Wyler Genève Night Racer chronograph is driven by one of the most reliable Swiss automatic chronograph movements and has a power reserve of 42 hours. The personalised oscillating mass that generates power for the watch by capturing the movements of its wearer offers further parallels with motorsport: its design in drilled blackened heavy metal resembles that of the latest ventilated ceramic disc brakes. The chronograph movement and its oscillating mass are both visible behind a transparent sapphire crystal window in the case back. The Night Racer chronograph is fitted as standard with a black rubber bracelet with pushbutton-operated foldover clasp in steel and titanium. As with all Wyler Genève models, it comes with a 2-year warranty.
Technical Specifications
Functions: Chronograph: seconds, 30 minutes, 12 hours, continuous seconds, date
Movement: Self-winding, Swiss-made mechanical movement
Power reserve: 42 hours
Oscillating weight: Personalised in drilled blackened heavy metal with white Wyler Genève inscription
Case: Top and bottom plates: brushed titanium with 4 polished DLC-coated titanium screws
Case middle: Carbon fibre, 2 sapphire crystals
Inner movement case: Titanium, suspended on 4 independent shock absorbers, water resistant to 50m
Chronograph pushers: titanium with stylised design motif
Crown: rubber-coated titanium
Crown protector: titanium with engraved Wyler logo
Back: Titanium case-back with screws and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal aperture
Dimensions
Width: 43.5 mm
Length: 52.10 mm
Height: 14.5 mm
Dial: Matt black with polished black applied Arabic numerals and counter rings
Skeleton hour and minute hands with black SuperLuminova inserts
Bracelet: Wyler personalised natural rubber with steel/titanium pushbutton foldover clasp
Reference: R01.C1C.12.00.BA012.RBA07.41
