Derek Bell 500 Chrono - Road & Racing

In Stock 

Design  Ethos

We worked very closely with Derek Bell MBE with this watch, as it had to represent him and what he would naturally seek to wear. The case has been made with a very 70's feel so it would almost feel at home in the film Le Mans he appeared in with Steve McQueen. The iconic colours were added to a deep black dial to bring the watch alive. Derek Bell MBE gave the final sign off and we're proud that this watch is now becoming part his modern race history.

The Watch 

The DB500 features our bespoke Stainless Steel 316L surgical standard case. Featuring soft push function buttons and a screw-down crown machined from solid Stainless Steel. 

The dial is hand assembled and has raised indexes with polished steel hands and markers.  The time and seconds hands and date window are filled with luminous X1 Super-LumiNova. The result is an all round watch that can we worn on the track or at dinner.

The case weighs a comfortable 95g. It measures 45mm in diameter, with a 50mm lug-to-lug, and is just 12.5mm thick. The case is finished in a matt finish. Blending seamlessly into the design of the cushion-shaped case is a sapphire crystal, which has multiple internal layers of anti-reflective coating. 

The DB500 carries a depth rating of 100m or 10ATM.

Inside the watch is you’ll find the tried and tested Japanese Miyota OS20 movements. 

The watch is finished off with an Italian ethically sourced leather strap with contrast stitching.

The legendary motor racing driver Derek Bell MBE, five times Le Mans winner, three times Daytona 24 winner and the two times World Sports Car champion, is regarded as one of the greatest sports car and endurance racing drivers of his era. 

Bell is best known for winning Le Mans 24 hours race five times, in 1975, 1981, 1982, 1986 and 1987, making him the most successful British driver in the race to date. He was teamed with the Belgian Jacky Ickx in 1975, racing the Gulf Mirage GR8, again in 1981, racing a Porsche 936, and finally in 1982 racing a Rothmans Porsche 956. The Bell/Ickx partnership is considered  as one of the most famous pairings in motorsport history. Bell went on to win the 1986 and 1987 Le Mans teamed with Hans-Joachim Stuck and Al Holbert racing a Rothmans Porsche 962.

His first Le Mans was in 1970 in a works entered Ferrari 512, with co-driver Ronnie Peterson, his last in 1996 racing a McLaren F1 GTR. Bell achieved his highest ever speed at Le Mans at the 1971 Le Mans 24 Hours  April test day, reaching a calculated top speed of 246 mph on the Mulsanne Straight in the JW Gulf Porsche 917.

We are proud to offer an official motorsport watch as a tribute to the legendary Derek Bell - Limited to just 500 pieces worldwide.

Watch Carpool with Derek Bell and Shami Kalra

MORE PICTURES OF THE DB500 HERE

Tech Specs : 

Case: 
Diameter: 45.5mm
Material: Stainless steel
Dial Colour: Glossed Dial
Movement: Highly accurate Japanese Miyota OS20 Quartz
Water Resistance: 10ATM

Strap: 
Width: 22mm
Material: Italian grain leather
Colour: Black with orange and blue contrast stitching.