In the crowded world of anniversary editions—where brands often rummage through their archives, dust off a familiar silhouette, and call it a tribute—Bulova’s 150th feels a little different. The New York watchmaker, whose history stretches back to 1875, has chosen to align itself with another piece of Americana: Carroll Shelby, the man who turned the Ford Mustang into the Shelby GT500 and, by extension, a muscle-car legend. The result is the Bulova x Shelby Racing Chronograph, a limited-edition timepiece that does more than nod to heritage. It tries to embody speed, precision, and the swagger of 1967 on your wrist.
A Tribute to Racing History
Bulova’s connection to the track isn’t another piece of marketing copy invented for the occasion. In the 1960s and ’70s, the brand served as the official timekeeper for NASCAR and IndyCar, back when motorsport was closer to religion than entertainment. The Shelby collaboration leans into that legacy, pulling visual cues from the 1967 Shelby GT500—a car so emblematic of American power that it remains shorthand for muscle to this day.
The chronograph comes in a bold 43mm silver-tone stainless steel bullhead case, topped with a black tachymeter ring. Its strap, made of durable HNBR rubber, carries Shelby’s signature racing stripes in blue and white. And at the 3 o’clock register, the unmistakable Cobra emblem grins back, a small but potent symbol of the partnership.
Precision at 1/1000th of a Second
Underneath the sapphire crystal, the dial is both aggressive and technical, boasting an 8-hand chronograph capable of measuring to 1/1000th of a second. That feat is made possible by Bulova’s proprietary Precisionist movement, which hums along at a staggering 262 kHz—several times faster than standard quartz—producing a sweep more often associated with mechanical watches.
This is no ornamental complication. The smooth chronograph hand and the watch’s uncanny accuracy serve as reminders of Bulova’s long-standing flirtation with precision technology, stretching back to the days when its Accutron guided satellites through space.
Limited to 7,500 Pieces
Each chronograph features a numbered case back engraved with Carroll Shelby’s signature and arrives in a collector’s box alongside a 1:24 scale die-cast model of the GT500. Limited to 7,500 pieces worldwide, the watch will be available beginning this month at select retailers and onBulova.com
