Azimuth SP-1 Crazy Rider in stainless steel. It features an in-house modified movement, a 24-hour hour display with minute hand. Measuring 55mm by 38mm by 16mm, it is water-resistant to 30m and is available with in limited series: with a black dial and black PVD middle case, a brown dial and brown PVD-coated middle case, and one with its middle case and case back in forged carbon. Prices start from SGD7,250. Photo: © TANG Portfolio.
While there are some who describe Azimuth’s SP-1 Crazy Rider as a “crazy” watch, it is a classification the brand duly acknowledges as it is named the “Crazy Rider”. For us, it is what we would rather term a highly creative timepiece.
The SP-1 Crazy Rider is a high visual impact watch – one look and you’d know that it is different, something that is indeed part of the avant-garde DNA and independent, non-conformist spirit of Azimuth.
The chain offers high visual impact as it is something one would never expect to see on the face of a watch – a chain held by open-worked wheels on two sides looking very much like the sprocket brake drive system of a motorcycle.
Chain systems such as the fusée-and-chain transmission mechanism were used in the past and very selectively today by brands like A. Lange & Söhne, Breguet, DeWitt, Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud and Zenith for some of their contemporary high-end wristwatches but these (chain systems) aren’t quite as “in-your-face” as the Crazy Rider in terms of visual impact.
The Crazy Rider is available in three different versions; one with a middle case in black complemented with a black dial and the second in a brown PVD-coated middle middle case and an accompanying brown dial. The third is presented with its middle case and caseback in forged carbon.
Case back of the Azimuth SP-1 Crazy Rider in forged carbon. Its middle case and case back are in forged carbon. Photo: © Azimuth
What many may not know is that the idea for the Crazy Rider was conceived as far back as in 2007. A prototype was actually done up and it was housed in a rather large round case. We actually saw the initial prototype back in the days when Azimuth was exhibiting at BaselWorld.
Among the challenges faced was in achieving the right chain length and speed such that the hours can be indicated more precisely for the hours.
Azimuth’s Crazy Rider is a stunning timepiece offered by an independent watchmaker. Prices begin from SGD7,250 onwards, depending on the model type. What we can objectively say is that such prices are also stunning.
Azimuth SP-1 Crazy Rider
Introduced in 2015
Technical features:
• In-house modified movement
• True 24-hour hour display with minute hand
• Bezel in stainless steel
• 55mm by 38mm by 16mm case in stainless case, middle-case PVD-coated
• Water-resistant to 3 atm (30m)
• Leather strap with stitching
Available in limited series: with a black PVD middle case or a brown PVD-coated middle case