In this in-depth review, Nitin Nair, editor of our sister publication WatchTime Middle East, goes under the hood of the Baume & Mercier Clifton Club Shelby Cobra Limited Edition ? a Valjoux 7750-powered chronograph that is also the Swiss brand’s stylish ode to an American motoring icon.

A motoring-inspired chronograph is a bit of cliché in the world of watches these days. Brands have milked the connection between chronographs as timing instruments and motor racing for decades now. So in a way, watch companies are up against it when their product management teams say they have yet another automotive-inspired timepiece in the works.
The dial takes design cues from the Shelby Cobra.
The truth is that it?s hard to come up with something that?s not been done before. The Parmigiani-Bugatti collaboration, and Hublot?s La Ferrari MP-05 Tourbillion ? with a display that resembles the engine of the Ferrari supercar ? are noteworthy examples of this marriage, but they speak only to a certain audience thanks to their hefty price tag. More recent examples include avant-garde watchmaker Richard Mille?s first partnership with F1 constructor McLaren, a $100,000 split-seconds chronograph. Singer Reimagined unveiled a unique $40,000 motoring-inspired chronograph with a unique movement and display. At the other end of the spectrum, you have micro-brands like REC Watches that use actual parts from the wreckage of vintage or classic cars to create quirky, affordable timepieces that...