The look on my driving companion's face told me to slow down. But I don't drive these Swiss roads every day. I wanted my money's worth. As we dipped over hills and squealed around corners in Bremgarten, I could almost hear the roar of post-War Maseratis, Alfas and Ferraris. This was holy ground in the early days of Formula One.

In 1950, drivers roared along the asphalt in what was basically a missile on four wheels. To be great, the men behind the wheel had to be fearless, fast and a little crazy. And Giuseppe "Nino" Farina was one of the greatest.

The first world champion of Formula One was a tough competitor with a unique style. Other drivers hugged their steering wheels, but Farina was known for his stiff-arm driving. He sat so far back in his seat that he drove with his fingertips. It hit me that day in the car that the bold Italian was the perfect inspiration for our newest timepiece.

I told our designers to create the watch equivalent of a vintage Grand Prix roadster. Think power and grace. Make it look fast, but feel effortless. Inside the sleek, coin-edged silver-toned case, we put an ornately detailed and exquisitely-etched guilloche face. The 12 o'clock position features a date complication with day/night window. The hours are marked by bold Roman numerals and a graceful swoop design reveals a peek inside the smooth movement of the flywheel mechanism. Heavy numbers along the outside make it easy to mark seconds at a glance.

Scratch-proof crystal protects an exhibition back that showcases the 22-jeweled, precision rotor and balance wheel at work. The innovative engine is powered by the movement of the body as the automatic rotor winds the mainspring. The Velocita secures with a genuine leather strap, embossed in a crocodile pattern. Water resistant to 3 ATM. Seatbelts optional.