Kicking asphalt: The Coblor Nürburgring Asphalt 1 is a unique proposition for petrolheads
D.C. HannayThe Nürburgring. The very name strikes fear into the hearts of race drivers worldwide. So dangerous were its twists and turns, the old course was reputed to have claimed over 200 lives, and prompted Formula 1 icon Sir Jackie Stewart to dub the track the “Green Hell”. The legendary German circuit, first built in the 1920s, is where countless drivers have made the pilgrimage to prove their mettle. The current course is still utilised today for racing events, and as a test bed for automobile manufacturers, where setting a record on the track brings significant bragging rights. Needless to say, there’s a lot of history associated with the nearly 100-year-old circuit, and Stuttgart-based watchmakers Coblor are bringing a literal piece of that heritage to race fans with their new model, the Swiss-made Nürburgring Asphalt 1. And the new limited-edition watch carries something very special within: An actual section of the track itself, repurposed into a strikingly textured dial, a world first. More on that in a second.
The case
Let’s just get this out of the way: The big and bold case shape just looks fast, even while standing still. The sharp angles and bevels of the 44mm titanium case recall the “folded paper” look of some of Giorgetto Giugiaro’s best automobile designs, such as the Lotus Esprit. Heady company indeed, since the designer was once named the Car Designer of the Century. Coblor calls the contours an “angular plank” design, inspired by racetrack curbs, and the case sports a tasteful mix of brushed and polished finishing. The closest analogue in the watch world to the case design might be an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept, or perhaps one of Linde Werdelin’s, but the Nürburgring Asphalt 1 brings a unique look all its own. The grade 5 titanium construction is highly appropriate for a race-inspired timepiece, as the metal is a mainstay in the construction of high-performance car components, due to its high strength-to-weight ratio. The lightweight material is a logical choice, given the larger size of the case, and it can be configured in its raw state, or with a stealthy back DLC coating.
Case height is a rather tall 15.6mm, but understandably so, given all that’s going on inside between the movement and the dial. Continuing the high-tech theme, the outer tachymetre bezel is rendered in scratch-proof black ceramic, with raised monochromatic numerals. Along the right side of the multi-angled case, you’ll find a black, spiral-textured screwdown crown, making the watch water-resistant to 100 metres by use of a 3-gasket design. The red-accented crown has a substantial guard protecting either side, and the chrono pushers reside at 2 and 4 o’clock. Coated sapphire crystals protect the view of the dial, as well as the movement behind the screwdown caseback.
The dial
Now to the Big Story of the Nürburgring Asphalt 1: the dial. Each dial is truly a one-of-one, due to the material -reclaimed and specially processed asphalt from the Nürburgring itself. The dial material is recycled after annual track repairs, and finished to a thickness of 0.9mm, thin enough for use in the watch, but with enough depth to highlight the cobbled texture. The name Coblor is actually a portmanteau of COBblestone and L’ORologio (Italian for “watch”). True to its name, the dial has a surface texture that immediately brings those race day feels, and it would be tough to replicate with an inauthentic material. Coblor plans to use reclaimed track material from other famous courses in the future, so stay tuned.
The chapter ring sits above the textured surface, demarcated for timekeeping, and the ring also serves to support the applied indices. There’s also a red and white section between 5 and 15, evoking the outer edges of the racetrack. The logo and model name sit at 12 and 6 respectively, and the bicompax layout of the subdials finds them at 3 and 9, with a 30 minute counter at 3 and running seconds at 9. The wide, faceted, paddle-shaped hands feature a healthy dose of Swiss Super-LumiNova, as do the indices. The red-tipped central chronograph seconds hand is highly polished, and has the Coblor logo as a counterbalance.
The movement
Racing chronographs are a time-honoured tradition in the watch world, and the Nürburgring Asphalt 1 continues along that road with an attractive and well-crafted Swiss movement within. Coblor has partnered with Swiss manufacture Concepto for the customised movement, dubbed the COB.01, a chronometer-rated automatic made exclusively for the watch. Concepto has some real industry cred, having manufactured movements for big names like Bulgari and Hublot, so you can expect a high level of quality. The 25-jewell movement hums along at 28,000 vibrations per hour, has a 48-hour power reserve, and can be manually wound as well. Decent, if not world-beating power reserve, but the real headline is the finishing. The upper bridges are grained and Geneva-striped, and the steel chronograph components are anthracite-coated with hand-finished “diamond” bevels. The coolest part? The ball bearing-mounted oscillating mass takes the shape of the Nürburgring itself, marked with the coordinates of the track, and a ruby pinpointing the location where the asphalt was sourced. It looks fantastic, and ties in beautifully with the dial up front.
The strap
The strap is a comfortable, sporty affair, utilising natural FKM rubber akin to the material used by other luxury sport models, such as the Royal Oak Offshore, or much of the Hublot line. Its integrated design joins perfectly with the contours of the case, seamlessly flowing the lines from the lugs into the strap. It’s secured with four screws, so it should prove fuss-free, although the integrated design necessarily limits you to the brand’s offerings.
An intriguingly structured, channeled, and brushed titanium bracelet, with a butterfly style folding clasp, is also available as an option to inquire about.
The verdict
If you’re a motorsports fan, the Nürburgring Asphalt 1 brings a truly unique proposition to the table: An actual piece of automotive history to the dial itself. Yes, the case is tall, but that can be forgiven when you consider everything going on inside. The dial material and display caseback add to the height, but they’re the stars of the show, so I consider the tradeoff worth it. The multi-angled titanium case mitigates the weight of a sizable timepiece, and the performance of the bespoke movement is stellar, not to mention the too-cool oscillating weight that traces the outline of the course itself. The watch as a whole is a great souvenir for the serious motoring enthusiast, and I look forward to what’s next from this exciting young brand.
Coblor Nürburgring Asphalt 1 pricing and availability:
The Coblor Nürburgring Asphalt 1 is available for pre-order now, with delivery scheduled for October 2022, limited to 500 pieces per colour. Price: Within EU €6,111.30 / Outside EU €5,335
Made in partnership with Coblor. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.
| Brand | Coblor |
| Model | Nürburgring Asphalt 1 |
| Case Dimensions | 44mm x 15.6mm |
| Case Material | Grade 5 titanium, with black DLC coating |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Dial | Reclaimed Nürburgring asphalt |
| Crystal | Box sapphire crystal front, flat sapphire crystal back |
| Strap | Natural rubber with Grade 5 titanium butterfly clasp, titanium band optional |
| Movement | Calibre COB.01 by Concepto Manufacture, 48-hour power reserve |
| Price | € 6,111.30 |