For race car drivers, nothing matters more than time. Constant co-driver, he sets the pace of every race, of every step, of every moment. And there is no other object that symbolizes a driver's relationship with time more than his watch. The double world champion of Formula 1 Mika Häkkinen visited the team of Artisans de Genève looking for a personalization that was able to reflect his philosophy of life: keep moving forward, no matter what the obstacle. The Mika Häkkinen Challenge is the perfect blend of classic watchmaking codes and the high-speed world of formula 1.

Looking for a truly dynamic design for its customization, Mika Hakkinen he chose orange and shades of blue to remember the tracks on which he triumphed. The titanium dial is fully perforated - a new design developed exclusively for the champion - and elegant black and blue counters complete the look. The hour and minute hands are sandblasted in the center and polished on the outside, and the second hand finally stands out with its hand-painted orange arrow.
 
 
The Mika Häkkinen Challenge on a base Rolex® 116520 with lbar in grade 5 titanium, with surface treated in anthracite color with patented technology. Skeletonized and sandblasted dial, again with anthracite treatment, but with a combination of blue and orange colors. Minute and hour hands sandblasted in the center and polished on the outside. Hand-wound sandblasted, beveled movement, nickel-palladium finish with a 72-hour power reserve. Ultra-thin titanium caseback with sapphire crystal and millerighe counters.
 

The bezel has a patented titanium finish that those of Artisans de Genève have developed exclusively, a detail capable of giving contrast and lightness to the timepiece. It features the engravings "Tachymeter" painted in orange and "Titanium G5" painted in blue instead. The dial has been given a new cutout with a symmetrical rendering, reminiscent of motor racing. It was sandblasted, then finished with an anthracite coating. The hour and minute hands are sandblasted in the center and polished on the outside. Finally, an orange border has been added to the center of the crown, giving the customization a sporty touch.

 

“The culmination of everything I would have wanted”.

Mika Häkkinen Racecardriver

 

“Time can be your ally or your worst enemy. My whole career was about being on time. When a race starts, winning, setting the best time, is the only goal. Technicality played a key role in the design, largely through the watch's skeletonized movement. When I met Artisans of Genève, I was immediately struck by their passion and their pursuit of perfection. Owning a custom watch is a real privilege, and this project was the culmination of everything I had wanted. "

Caliber 4130 of the clock Mika it was skeletonized in homage to a Formula 1 engine: a design that required extreme precision and exceptional performance. Each piece has been hand cut, sandblasted and angled. Each element evokes the spirit of a racing car.

Mika Hakkinen he wanted to combine this bold design with manual winding, a trademark of vintage watches. So once the automatic caliber was removed, it was replaced with a manual movement capable of providing a power reserve of 72 hours. The original caseback has been replaced by a titanium one with sapphire crystal, which allows you to see the skeletonized caliber by turning the watch.

 

Finally, Mika Hakkinen he wanted a second "bracelet". One was designed exclusively for him in alligator leather, embellished with orange stitching. Combined with a folding steel clasp, always expertly developed by the skilled hands of the Artisans de Genève.