About
Giorgio Piola SHIFT Collection
$225,081
563
Giorgio Piola’s career started as a bet between brothers. A friendly challenge to settle the debate as to who’s illustrations were strong enough to be published in the leading motorsport magazines of the era. Giorgio won, racing headfirst into a career analyzing the technical designs of Formula One machines and quickly taking pole position in an industry that didn’t exist.
For the last 50 years, and after a record breaking 808 Grand Prix covered, Giorgio has profiled every change in design and engineering for every car on the grid. In a sport where victory is determined by mere hundredths of a second, it is often the most minute change that makes all the difference.
Giorgio’s trained eye allowed him to painstakingly recreate and document each new design without missing a beat. He studied ground effect aerodynamics, passionately recreated the designs of the infamous, hell-raising V12 engines with poetic precision and documented the integration of the now commonplace carbon fiber chassis. Suffice to say, there is nothing Giorgio hasn’t seen.
Who better to speak to what constitutes Formula One inspired designs than the sport watch brand created by the man who spent a lifetime illustrating the defining designs of Formula One? A career spent meticulously drafting the most transcendent engineering, of the best racing machine, has given Giorgio an invaluable education on enduring design, evidenced by this new venture that so eloquently conveys the precision, passion and performance necessary for success at the pinnacle of motorsport
As Giorgio states: "There are a lot of parallels between the world of car racing and the world of watches. Both, are based in mechanical engineering, performance and beauty. My career covering Formula 1 and my love for watches has inspired me to translate the passion of racing into a timepiece. I want to give my followers and all of those who love motorsport the opportunity to have a watch that reflects the precision, excitement and beauty that made them fans of Formula 1.
The Giorgio Piola brand was launched in 2017 with three limited edition models. Since then, the brand has expanded to two collections, several sub-collections and almost 25 models that cover quartz and mechanical timepieces that are consistent with Giorgio's vision of bringing the spirit of racing into watchmaking.
At Giorgio Piola's website you can discover what Giorgio has been up to in his quest for the perfect racing watch.
What started as a bet between two brothers and gave Giorgio a career in Formula 1, also brought his skills to watches and culminated with the SHIFT Collection. This is Giorgio at his finest by bringing his Formula 1 inspirations into a watch that embodies the aesthetics and the engineering that define this sport. Also, this is Giorgio's most personal watch creation as each timepiece will have one of his drawing engraved on the back, making each one an individual and collectible item. Furthermore, Giorgio's dream was to make this watch affordable to all racing fans, despite their budget and without sacrificing in quality. In this sense, thanks to Kickstarter funding and a direct-to-customer distribution strategy the cost of these watches will be extremely competitive compared to other offerings currently in the watch market. Here is where your pledge becomes essential and will make a difference: it will allow for better production planning and cost negotiations with suppliers which will translate into a more affordable timepiece that can be enjoyed by many racing fans throughout the world!
Case diameter: 46.5mm
Case thickness: 15.0mm
Opening: 37.0mm
Total watch length (including strap): 250.0mm with buckle
Strap width at lugs: 22.0mm
Buckle width: inner width 22.0mm, outer width 29.9mm
Watch weight: 150 g
It is well regarded that Swiss Made watches are the pinnacle of horological excellence.
The customized base movement in the SHIFT watches is produced by Ronda AG based in Lausen, Basel-Landschaft.
The company dates back to 1946. Movements manufactured by Ronda have been and are at the heart of some of the most illustrious brands in Swiss watchmaking.
Beyond the precision, intelligence and detail needed to manufacture watches at this level of consistency and quality is a dedication to preserving a historical legacy of timekeeping excellence that stretches back over 200 year.
Year after year the Swiss Watch Industry sets new standards of excellence and storied brands continue to produce timepieces that are historical milestones in this fascinating craft blending metallurgy, physics, style, ergonomics and design.
By managing minute tolerances and creating standards of performance reliability – it is not without great care and consideration that the Swiss Made label is used.
The SHIFT is assembled with absolute care, by hand, in Switzerland to deliver the exhilaration and an emotional resonance while still being utterly durable and dependable
The SHIFT collection was born in Italy from the mind of Giorgio Piola, but Made in Switzerland and to be worn globally.
- GP01 - Custom modified Giorgio Piola movement based of Ronda 5040.D
- Analog quartz movement
- 13 Jewel
- Frequency: 32,768 Hz
- Gold Plated Back
- Chronograph function counting tenths of a second, seconds and minutes
- Date function
- Small seconds counter
Risks and challenges
We have our samples ready (the ones you see in the pictures in this campaign) so, at this point, we only need to mass produce a product that is already tested and developed. Having worked previously with our manufacturers and having received our previous watch shipments a timely manner, we do not expect any delays on the planned delivery dates. However, manufacturing watches is a complicated process with many moving parts that could potentially go wrong and create a delay.
Another factor that could delay deliveries is shipping and customs but, again, we fully trust our forwarding agent to anticipate and work on resolving any issues that may present. We know this as we have experienced first hand their professionalism and understanding of the freight and shipping industry.
Rest assured that we will monitor and work with our team through the entire process to make sure everything goes according to plan. In the case we were to experience a production or shipping delay we will keep our backers updated every step of the way.
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Funding period
- (30 days)