Autodromo
- Founded
- 2011
- Based in
- New York, USA
- In our catalog
- 1 watch at $895
Autodromo makes watches for people who love old cars. The designs borrow from dashboards, tachometers and racing liveries of the 1950s through the 1980s, and they are drawn with real care, which is why the brand has a following well beyond motor sport fans.
History
Industrial designer Bradley Price started Autodromo in 2011. His first big release came in 2012: the Monoposto ("single seat"), a mechanical watch whose dial and numerals were styled after the rev counters in 1950s Italian grand prix cars. It was made in a limited run and became the brand's calling card.
A chronograph version followed for the brand's fifth anniversary in 2016, and Autodromo built out its range with the Group B, inspired by 1980s rally cars, the Prototipo chronographs and the Intereuropa, a nod to 1960s GT cars. It has also done collaborations with car brands and racing names over the years.
Signature models
- Monoposto Series Two: The updated version of the 2012 original, an automatic three-hand watch whose dial reads like a vintage tachometer, with a domed crystal and a slim, rounded case.
- Group B: A 1980s rally-inspired design with a titanium and steel case and a bright, purposeful dial.
- Prototipo: Chronographs drawing on 1960s and 1970s endurance racers, often in bold racing colors.
What it's known for
Autodromo watches use reliable Japanese movements and don't make claims about manufacture calibers or extreme water resistance. What they do offer is a coherent visual idea, executed down to the font choices and hand shapes. They pair well with leather racing straps and casual clothes, and they wear smaller than many modern watches.
Price and positioning
Most Autodromo watches cost between $500 and $1,500. They sit in the same space as other design-driven microbrands like Brew and Farer. If you want a racing chronograph with Swiss mechanics and a heritage name, look at TAG Heuer's Carrera; if you want something more playful and affordable, Autodromo fits.