By Phillip D. Johnson
Oversized Timepiece Brand Showcases Six-Model Collection
TW Steel (www.twsteel.com), the global brand ‘Big in Oversized Watches’, recently unveiled the design of its all new six-model Sahara Force India Formula One Team Collection at an exclusive launch event for media within the Formula One Paddock ahead of that weekend’s British Grand Prix, Friday 28th – Sunday 30th June.
Having first announced its status as ‘Official Timing Partner’ to Sahara Force India back in February of this year, TW Steel showcased the next phase of its relationship with the team with the introduction of the Sahara Force India Pilot Editions – set to retail in late July.
“The Sahara Force India Pilot timepieces are a very welcome addition to the TW Steel collection,” stated TW Steel CEO and co-owner, Jordy Cobelens. “We’ve built on our existing Pilot executions and injected all that Sahara Force India wishes to represent into these new models.”
Sahara Force India Formula One Team (www.saharaforceindiaf1.com) is beginning its sixth year of competition in the FIA Formula One World Championship. The team was founded in 2008 when Dr Vijay Mallya, Chairman of India’s iconic UB Group, launched the first-ever Indian Formula One team. The cars incorporate the colors of the Indian flag and the team is a sporting representation of the emerging generation of young, inspirational Indians and the growing strength of India as a nation. In 2011 a historic partnership was agreed as Sahara India Pariwar became co-owners of the Silverstone-based team. With the support of Sahara, the team is driven by two of India’s greatest industrialists who both recognize the value of using sport as a marketing platform to build some of India’s biggest brands.
“I’m absolutely thrilled with the TW Steel Sahara Force India Pilot collection,” enthused Dr. Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director of Sahara Force India. “We’ve enjoyed a tremendous start to our partnership, both on and off-track, and the unveiling of the new collection is the next step in our growing relationship. I’m naturally delighted TW Steel have produced these outstanding timepieces and I am confident they’ll be massively popular amongst not only our team members and partners, but more importantly to our ever growing fan base around the world, and in particular of course, in India.”
These dynamic new timepieces elegantly reflect the successful TW Steel Pilot model DNA, with bold, stylish, clean looks, while incorporating subtle yet powerful design accents to marry them to the Sahara Force India brand – including featuring the team’s patriotic logo, both on the dial and engraved on the case backs. These watches, like their other Pilot counterparts, are clearly legible due to the bold, crisp white numbering and hands used and all feature bold red aluminum pushers and all models are 5 ATM water resistant. If these aren’t for you, perhaps you could find a luxury watch in this clearance sale.
The three new looks unveiled, available in both 45mm and 48mm executions, differ primarily from the regular Pilot collection thanks to the use of the Chronograph Big Calibre Miyota 6S20 movement – accurate to 1/20th of a second. Offering an event sportier appearance to the watch face, the theme of Sahara Force India is further incorporated courtesy of a stylish carbon fibre dial, complete with the flag logo of the team placed neatly below the famed two-dots logo of TW Steel.
All models in the new collection, TW428 (45mm) / TW429 (48mm) / TW432 (45mm) / TW433 (48mm), with the exception of TW430 (45mm) and TW431 (48mm), sport a masculine brushed steel case with shiny steel bezel, while the aforementioned exceptions instead boast a sandblasted steel case with PVD dark titanium coating and a shiny bezel – also with a PVD dark titanium coating.
A notable feature of TW428 and TW429 is the use of a white silicon strap featuring the Sahara Force India logo in grey – this has been double injected and layered on top of the strap for an even more distinguished finish. TW430 and TW431 feature a dark grey leather strap with a PVD dark titanium coated clasp while TW432 and TW433 enjoy a stylish black leather strap with red stitching and a brushed steel clasp.
Cobelens continued; “We’ve talked before about our shared synergies and they’re all here to see with the new timepieces, highlighted by our quest for performance, with the use of the new Chronograph Big Calibre movement, and through our attention to detail with the subtle team accents both in terms of coloring and logos. I have no doubt these models will appeal to the team’s considerable fan base but also to consumers seeking a bold watch with exceptional styling and build quality.”
Force India Drivers, Paul Di Resta (left) & Adrian Sutil (right) modeling the new TW Steel Sahara Force India watches’
TW Steel is a private, family-owned company founded in Amsterdam in 2005 now retailing in over 100 countries and counting worldwide. TW Steel is also proud to be an ‘Official Sponsor’ of the Yamaha Factory Racing Team in MotoGP, and enjoys a stellar brand ambassador portfolio including Kelly Rowland, David Coulthard, Emerson Fittipaldi, Mick Doohan and Dario Franchitti. Now with 140 models, TW Steel has attained a global appeal while creating an internationally recognized and respected brand name offering truly affordable luxury available in the global watch producing/marketing community.
With its name meaning ‘The Watch in Steel’, TW Steel is firmly established as a big, bold, global lifestyle brand. Its timepiece collections are reflective of, and available for all tastes and occasions with innovative design and luxurious styling paired together with Swiss build quality and an exceptional price point. TW Steel offers a defined sense of individuality and shows to the world that as a bold and ambitious personality, you wear a statement watch that truly reflects who you are.
Proudly Dutch, TW Steel is led by its entrepreneurial CEO and co-owner Jordy Cobelens – whose talents have been recognized with Ernst & Young’s ‘Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year 2011’ in The Netherlands. While Cobelens oversees the building of the TW Steel brand, his father and co-owner, Ton Cobelens, serves as the Chief Design Officer.
– James Moy / Sahara Force India