Casio has introduced the new Edifice ECB-2300HR-1A watch, created in collaboration with Honda to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Japanese automaker’s first victory in Formula 1.
Appeal to History
The new Casio Edifice model is not related to Honda’s upcoming return to Formula 1 in 2026 as an engine supplier for Aston Martin. Instead, it immortalizes a key moment from the past – Honda’s first Formula 1 race victory, achieved by Richie Ginther at the wheel of the RA272 at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix. This victory was historic, as it was the first time a Japanese-made car and engine won a race at the sport’s highest level.
That breakthrough came at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix, where Richie Ginther drove the Honda RA272 to victory, making history as the first Japanese car and engine to win at the sport’s top level.
Design Details Inspired by Victory
The watch’s design is imbued with the spirit of that historic victory. The main color of the dial and ceramic bezel is “Championship White” – the exact color of Honda’s winning race cars from that era. The red ring around the dial references the red-painted nose of the RA272. The sub-dial at the 9 o’clock position is styled after the analog tachometers of that period. At the top of the bezel scale, the number “60” is marked in gold, symbolizing the anniversary of the event.
Special attention is paid to the strap. Its outer part is made of white leather, on which technical details of the RA272 race car are printed in small font, including information about its 1.5-liter V12 engine with 230 horsepower, which reached 12,000 rpm and weighed only 215 kg. The inner part of the strap is made of soft red suede, adorned with a complex pattern based on the original technical drawings of that same compact V12 engine.
The strap buckle is finished in gold and engraved with the number ‘11’, the race-winning car’s number, alongside the phrase “Veni, Vidi, Vici.”
Modern Technology and Availability
In addition to historical references, the ECB-2300HR-1A is equipped with modern features. It uses Tough Solar light-powered charging technology and connects via Bluetooth to a smartphone for settings. Functions include world time, a multifunctional stopwatch, a countdown timer, a perpetual calendar, multiple daily alarms, and Super Illuminator backlight. The dial is protected by sapphire glass with an anti-reflective coating.
Unlike many watches created on automotive themes, this model does not have an excessively high price. In Japan, the watch has already gone on sale for 66,000 yen, which is approximately 423 US dollars. The release dates and prices for the North American market have not yet been announced, although individual units have already appeared on online auctions for a significantly higher price.
Collaboration between a watch brand and an automaker often becomes a way to honor key moments in history, creating products that combine nostalgia and modernity. This watch is not just an accessory, but a detailed historical narrative embodied in metal and leather, allowing motorsport fans to wear a piece of legendary victory on their wrist. Such collaborations also highlight how technologies from past motorsports, even ones like analog tachometers, continue to inspire designers in various fields, transforming into modern products with a unique history.