Casio has announced a limited-edition Edifice watch inspired by a Japanese racing team and tuning company called TOM’S.
The watch is part of the team’s 50th anniversary celebrations this year.
The name comes from the founders, Nobuhide Tachi and Kiyoshi Oiwa, who called it Tachi Oiwa Motor Sport, later shortened to TOM’S Inc.
TOM’S started life as an aftermarket tuner but was quickly recognised as an official tuner for Toyota, and develops finished cars as well as making aftermarket parts – a massive industry, particularly in Japan.
TOM’S has also enjoyed significant success as a racing team, competing in various formula series and GT races in Japan.
Edifice, a luxury line introduced by Casio in 2000, has sponsored TOM’S since 2013.
The new watch, codenamed EFSS641TMS1A, has a resin case reinforced with carbon fiber, and a carbon fiber dial.
The solar-powered quartz chronograph pays tribute to the best-known car from the TOM’S back catalogue.
The KP47 Toyota Starlet was the car that made the company’s name in the 1970s, winning Japan’s Grand Championship with a high-revving engine that set the benchmark for future Toyota motors.
As well as a TOM’S on the dial, the watch has a ‘36’ printed on the minute track, in reference to the car’s engine, codenamed “3K-R”.
It comes on a leather band that is styled to look like the car’s B-pillar, and it has a metal loop that looks like the side mirrors.
The genuine leather band evokes the KP47’s B-pillar and it also has a metal band loop styled to look like its side mirrors.
The TOM’S collab is water-resistant to 100m and comes in a special gift box. $300 casio.comhttp://www.casio.com