This watch is called Monocoque XXV. At the top of the page is the logo I designed for the watch name, in the middle we can see the watch I designed along with the Lotus logo and at the bottom we can see the Lotus 25 Formula 1 car. Following this is an overview of the project and some background information gathered while researching the Lotus 25.

This is a project from my Honours year in college. The project was created to celebrate milestones in British design and furthermore design a watch for the chosen milestone. Each milestone was picked at random from a hat. I chose the Lotus 25 Formula 1 car.  

Lotus Engineering Ltd was formed in 1952 by a man named Colin Chapman. The company was originally set up as a hobby but very quickly grew to a full time occupaion. Chapman was an influential design engineer, inventor and builder in the automotive industry. It was Chapman's knowledge of the latest aeronautical engineering techniques that would prove vital towards achieving the major automotive technical advances he is remembered for. One of which is the design of the first fully stressed monocoque chassis in a Formula 1 car, the monocoque chassis is still being used in Formula 1 cars today.

Jim Clark drove the Lotus 25 to victory on many occassions. It was often said 'if the Lotus 25 finishes a race, it wins it'. This was because the car had to retire early on several occassions due to engine failure. Engine failure essentially cost Lotus the championship in 1962 & 1964 when the 25 had to retire early. In both instances engine failure cost Lotus the championship in the last race of the season. Despite this, Lotus won the drivers championship and constructors championship in 1963 and 1965. Jim Clark raced the Lotus 25 in 49 races, he took pole position 17 times, won 14 races and set 13 fastest laps. Clark took the cars final win at the 1965 French grand prix before it was replaced by the Lotus 33.

This is the watch after it had come out of the SLR 3D printing machine.

Some sketchwork for Monocoque XXV

 

I took my inspiration for the watch from the monocoque chassis that Chapman designed. This is the finished watch with different views. An SLA 3D printer which we had in the college was used to 3D print the watch. This project was very exciting and thoroughly enjoyable. Having watched Formula 1 since my childhood I felt lucky to have chosen the Lotus 25.

This is a couple of renderings of Monocoque XXV. The watch will be made from Tungsten which will make the watch extremely strong. The movement used in the watch was a 'Soprod 2021/A10-2' 3 face chronograph.