Concord C1 NightRacer: Life in the fast lane
Concord has released a new reference to its C1 collection to coincide with the recently concluded Singapore Grand Prix. The aptly named C1 NightRacer comes in a limited run of just 25 pieces, and will be sold exclusively by Concord’s retail partner Cortina Watch.Like its siblings from the collection, the NightRacer is positioned as a […]
Concord has released a new reference to its C1 collection to coincide with the recently concluded Singapore Grand Prix. The aptly named C1 NightRacer comes in a limited run of just 25 pieces, and will be sold exclusively by Concord’s retail partner Cortina Watch.Like its siblings from the collection, the NightRacer is positioned as a luxury sport watch sized at a hefty 47mm. On the wrist, however, it feels more like a 44-45mm watch due to its lack of lugs. The strap is secured with screws instead, and has a calf leather/rubber hybrid construction with contrast stitching that combines the comfort of a rubber strap on the skin with a classy exterior.
The NightRacer is driven by the self-winding Calibre A07.211 chronograph movement from ETA’s Valgranges line, which beats at 4Hz and has a 48-hour power reserve. This is a good choice given the Valgranges’s purpose as a movement line to better match larger watch cases – a comparable movement from Valjoux might look imbalanced with sub-dials clustered around the dial’s centre. Instead, the NightRacer looks well-proportioned here with a balanced tri-compax layout. The usual minute and hour totalizers and small seconds are well spaced out, and sit at 12, six and nine o’clock respectively.
True to its sporty nature and source of inspiration, the NightRacer is made of various high-tech materials that feature prominently in Formula 1 race cars. Its case is Grade 5 titanium that has a black PVD coating, with a carbon fibre sub-bezel and decorative details. The timepiece’s dial is also made of carbon fibre. Finally, the screw-down crown is a combination of titanium and ceramic, while the chronograph pushers are ceramic. This is definitely the sleekest iteration of a C1 timepiece yet, with a dark, low-key look that’s punctuated only by the occasional metallic elements and red accents.