Sauber F1 Racer Sergio Perez wearing the new DS Podium GMT Chronograph Limited Edition Sauber F1 Team.

The Sauber Formula 1 Racing Team and Mexican driver Sergio Perez recently helped Swiss-watchmaker Certina unveil its new watch, the DS Podium GMT Chronograph Limited Edition Sauber F1 Team, at Sauber’s company headquarters in Switzerland on June 19. Highlights of the event included when Perez, who had finished 3rd at the recent Canadian Grand Prix, was presented no. 2 out of the limited run of 2012 pieces of the DS Podium GMT by Certina CEO Adrian Bosshardt and later, when three journalists tried to match some incredible track times set by Sergio Perez on an F1 simulator. But the biggest highlight of this event, as it should be, was the watch itself.

This limited edition of the DS Podium GMT Chronograph has a polished-steel case with a polished bezel and tachymeter scale. At 3 o’clock is a screw down crown with side protection that is flanked at 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock by push down chronographs. The backside of the case has an inscription of “Sauber F1 Team” and the team logo as well as the unique production number of each piece.

Housed in the case and protected by scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, the grey sunray-finish dial has a special twin-scale GMT and a small 60 minute counter at 3 o’clock, a small snailed 24-hour indicator at 9 o’clock, at 6 o’clock is a small snailed seconds counter as well as a small black-on-white date window at 6 o’clock to ensure optimal visibility. To ensure the time is clearly visible in different conditions of light, the 24-hour and GMT sub-dial hands, Arabic numerals (3, 9 an 12) and the indexes are applied with Superluminova and the centers of the large seconds and minutes hands are filled with the luminescent material, as well. This DS Podium GMT also boasts a water resistance at depths of up to 100 Meters.

The Certina DS Podium GMT Chronograph Limited Edition Sauber F1 Team.

Since this limited edition watch was created to commemorate the partnership between Certina and Sauber Formula 1 Racing Team that started in 2005, it is only fitting that Certina adopted Sauber’s team colors of white, red and gray for the color scheme of this watch. The red stitching on the grey leather strap epitomizes the color scheme on this watch. The Certina DS Podium GMT Chronograph Limited Edition Sauber F1 Team watch comes in a display case shaped like the nose from the Sauber F1 race car and also comes with a numbered, individual certificate.

This watch is sure to appeal to watch enthusiasts and Formula 1 Racing fans alike but unfortunately, due to the limited numbers being made, the Certina DS Podium GMT Chronograph Limited Edition Sauber F1 Team watch is only going to be available in the countries of Germany, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and Austria.