Baume & Mercier honours racing legend Burt Munro

Baume & Mercier pays tribute to motorcycle racing legend Burt Munro with its latest timepiece: The Clifton Club Burt Munro Tribute Limited Edition. The watch christens the watch company’s new partnership with Indian Motorcycle, America’s first motorcycle company, and is unveiled in time to recognise the 50th anniversary of Burt’s most famous land speed record.

Herbert James “Burt” Munro was a New Zealand motorcycle racer, whose extraordinary story of setting an under-1,000 cc world record at Bonneville at the age of 68 was immortalised in film in 2005, a biopic titled The World’s Fastest Indian starring Anthony Hopkins. His record, which he set riding a 1920 Indian Scout motorcycle he personally modified over the course of 40 years from salvaged metal, still stands today.

Limited to 1967 pieces (the year Munro set his record), the chronograph features special details to commemorate Munro’s special achievements. Most apparent is the large yellow number 35, Munro’s lucky number, that decorates the chronograph seconds counter at nine o’clock. The dial itself is a silver colour with sandblasted and snailed finishes that are meant to mimic the surface of the Bonneville Salt Flats where Munro set his record. The red calfskin strap recalls the bold colour of the Indian Motorcycle Company, and the counterbalance of the chronograph seconds hand is the Indian “I”. Turn the watch over and you’ll see the famous Indian Headdress logo of the company engraved on the case, as well as the number of the limited edition.

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This article was updated on January 26