AUTONEWS

Škoda Auto celebrates 130 years with limited edition watches

* Czech watchmaker Prokop & Brož has created a limited edition watch inspired by the rare Laurin & Klement BSC model to celebrate Škoda Auto’s 130th anniversary

* The 130-piece edition of the watches will reach its first customers in September this year and will be available in selected European markets

Škoda Auto is celebrating its 130th anniversary with a limited edition of 130 Laurin & Klement watches created by Czech watchmaker Prokop & Brož. These exclusive watches are inspired by the rare and historically significant Laurin & Klement BSC model, a sports car from 1908 that represents the pinnacle of early automotive engineering. The watch edition pays homage to watchmaking and automotive engineering and will be available in selected European markets in September this year.

This limited edition was created to mark the 130th anniversary of the founding of Laurin & Klement from Mladá Boleslav, the forerunner of today’s Škoda Auto. Laurin & Klement BSC from 1908, an emblem of automotive innovation and excellence from the early 20th century, serves as the perfect inspiration for this commemorative, purely mechanical watch.

“As part of the celebration of Škoda Auto’s 130th anniversary, we have prepared a number of surprising collaborations that not only highlight our long, remarkable history, but also pay tribute to the craftsmanship of the people, their approach and ingenuity, which have a strong tradition in the Czech Republic. One of these interesting projects is Škoda Auto’s collaboration with the Prokop & Brož brand. The result of this collaboration is the Laurin & Klement 130 Limited Edition, which perfectly combines the watchmaking talent and the brand heritage of our company.” Martin Jahn, Škoda Auto Board Member for Sales and Marketing

The story of the Prokop & Brož brand began in 2012, and since then the small watch factory has developed into a manufacturer of custom watches. “The production of mechanical wristwatches is one of the prestigious indicators of a nation’s technological maturity. The Czech Republic is among the ten countries in the world that have mastered this type of fine craft,” adds Jan Prokop, CEO of Prokop & Brož.

Inspired by the sports version of the Laurin & Klement BSC from 1908...The designers of Prokop & Brož were inspired by one of the most valuable exhibits of the Škoda Museum in Mladá Boleslav, the Laurin & Klement BSC from 1908. This car is an early example of automotive excellence and innovation, with an in-line engine layout and various body types to meet the needs of customers at the time. The anniversary edition watch reflects the car’s uniqueness in various ways: the off-center position of the seconds hand below 12 o’clock is taken from the clock on the dashboard of this model. Other parts that found inspiration in pocket watches integrated into the dashboard are the main hands. Their shape, material and dark blue tempering technology correspond to the traditional watchmaking craft. The watch dial is made using the unique Brosmalt technology developed by Prokop & Brož. The pigmentation of the undercoat matches the highly polished pearl white paint used on the body of the historic car. Each dial is a handmade unique piece that bears the number of the watch in the series. The dial graphics are designed to be as faithful as possible to the aesthetics of the 19th century, but also to attract lovers and collectors of classic watches that do not lose their value and remain attractive for decades.

The crown is laser-engraved with the Laurin & Klement emblem, the same one that adorns the radiator of the old car that inspired this exclusive series of watches. The limited edition will be offered in two versions: the first 30 pieces are reserved for the prestigious version, where the case and its parts are made of 18K gold, while the basic version of 100 pieces has these components made of stainless steel. The color of the strap was chosen to match the shade of the leather strap that was used to tighten the fabric roof of the BSC car.

Laurin & Klement BSC: the only surviving example is a pearl of the Škoda Museum...The Laurin & Klement BSC sports car, which has been part of the Škoda Museum collection in Mladá Boleslav since 2016, underwent a complete restoration that lasted two years, and a team of experts used preserved original drawings and other unique sources. All important mechanical components of this fully operational one-of-a-kind car are original, including the engine with the authentic serial number with which the sports car left the production hall in Mladá Boleslav in 1908.

The BS model series holds an important place in the history of the Mladá Boleslav-based car manufacturer. Compared to the brand's first cars, the Type A, B and B2, it differs in its in-line engine layout and many body styles to meet the needs of various customers at the time.

Škoda PR