Enzo Ferrari liked watches. The seed was planted by his godfather, Anselmo Chiarli, who gave his godson Enzo a silver watch to mark his first communion. As he achieved more success, he got more watches.

As a (former) racecar driver himself, and director of what would quickly become one of the most well-known and successful racing teams in the world, Enzo perhaps viewed watches as trophies to mark momentous achievements.

He soon began to place orders with various watch brands, each for just a couple of watches, yet always featuring the Prancing Horse proudly on the dial. These watches were given to a very select group of people, all of whom had contributed significantly to the success of Ferrari and shown loyalty to Enzo.

These watches were proudly worn by the men who received them as they were more than just pats on the back or badges of honor; receiving one of these watches meant that they belonged to the inner circle of Enzo Ferrari.

And as the 1980’s arrived it became clear that the power of the Ferrari brand was more extensive than even that. People who could not even afford its road cars wanted to express their passion for the brand.

So merchandising became a real thing, and not all of it was official. This included watches, much to Enzo’s chagrin as he wanted to protect both the name and reputation of his brand. That is why he struck a deal with Cartier, and they launched the new “Ferrari Formula” collection on April 15, 1983, at Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello, Italy.

One of the most distinctive features of most of the Formula Ferrari watches is the asymmetrical bracelet and straps. Some dials feature geometric patterns, which gives them an even more distinct look.

Both the Ferrari name and logo were prominent on the watches, but not annoyingly so.