Fine watches and exotic cars are a natural combination, both have a tendency to make the heart beat a little faster.

DuPont Registry has combined the two with the duPont REGISTRYâ„¢ A Buyers Gallery of Fine Watches, which features 44 pages of more than $1,500,000 of watches back dropped by exotic vehicles. The photos include lots of what Publisher Thomas L. duPont calls “Mega Watches” those that measure 44-47mm for men and 37-40mm for women.

Sales within this luxury market, including oversized watches are on the rise, confirmed by industry expert, Corum President, Michael Wunderman. “Oversized watches are no longer only a trend or a gimmick,” says Wunderman. “It is what watches have become – bigger, stronger and more intricate in design. Less than 10 percent of people actually use the chronograph function on their watches, but complicated watches are dominating the mechanical watch market.

Oversized designs allow for complex movements and robust construction with room for interesting design elements for the winding crowns and chronograph pushers using multiple materials and various surface finishing throughout.”

Over the last five years, style and complexity have defined the growth in watch size to reach more fashion-forward customers. In fact, women are now buying men’s watches as a fashion statement accessory to showcase their appreciation for finer goods.

The profile of the ‘Mega Watch’ collector and upscale car collector are remarkably similar with the only visually distinguishing factor often being the size of their garages. Wearing a ‘Mega Watch’ for a man is like a Hermes handbag for a woman. It is a continuation of personal style and also a symbol of personal achievement, equivalent to a Super Bowl ring for a football player – a proud statement of accomplishment worn on the wrist.

Branding yourself with an ostentatious, sophisticated or debonair ‘Mega Watch’ can be an indicative extension of one’s personality. What a beautiful timepiece can do for an outfit is not nearly as much as how much it can boost a psyche. “In a down economy, a fine timepiece can also serve as an affirmation of success and add confidence to the wrist of an optimistic entrepreneur,” adds duPont.

From the pages of this year’s guide, examples from the new class of ‘Mega Watches’ are illustrated below:

Divided into six individual faces, the IceLInk 6Timezone Snow is separated into four dials displaying time zones, one the date and one full of floating diamonds set in a fluid called IceFuel, all of which are displayed within the 26-karat diamond-encrusted bezel that would make a breath-taking addition to any collectors’ watch box.

Limited to only eight pieces, the intricate sapphire crystal features of the FVa No Cuatro timepiece blend beautifully into a skeleton watch that comes alive when the 18-karat gold “Esprit Unique” case begins to move.

Corum Golden Tourbillion Panoramique – $215,000 (shown above)
Innovative with cemented crystal walls and platinum casing, only five Corum Golden Tourbillion Panoramique units weighing a mere 120 grams will ever be produced.

Sleek and refined, the hand-made 152 components of this German timepiece were handmade by Thierry Albert and master watchmaker Daniel Malchert, and sure to dazzle with a mere 25 pieces ever to be produced worldwide.

On a classic blue leather strap, the large faced Sonata displays not only a cathedral-type alarm, but also dual-time, big date and count down inside the 42mm, 18-karat white gold casing