They say passion stems from joy. For Formula 1 racing legend Mika Häkkinen, that’s reflective in everything from his style to his nickname. Confidently monikered The Flying Finn, Häkkinen turned to Artisans de Genève with a unique mission: to customize a ROLEX Daytona® watch by transforming it into a skeletonized version with a manual winding movement. Naturally, the watch customization company known for its personalized timepieces wasted no time meeting the challenge. And, so, fittingly came the birth of the Artisans de Genève Mika Häkkinen Challenge Rolex Daytona. The sleek and stylish watch is a vision to behold, as emblematic of precision as Häkkinen himself was of graceful dexterity on the racing circuit.
Witness it in the patented titanium bezel that adds a hint of inviting light to the piece. At the center is a dial after Häkkinen’s heart. It features remarkably positioned cutouts reminiscent of a racer’s wheel. The sandblasted finish solidifies its integrity, while a shot of bold orange trims the crown along the side to lend the piece a sporty touch. The focal point, however, is the 4130 movement that is skeletonized to reflect the appearance of a Formula 1 engine. It’s just as sharp and bold as you might imagine. It all came together masterfully, easily meeting Häkkinen’s desire for an intricately designed watch that harkened back to the quality appeal of old-world watchmaking.
For another creation from Artisans de Genève, check out the ‘Pearl Project’.
DISCLAIMER: Artisans de Genève is an independent company specialized in the personalization of timepieces. We are not affiliated with ROLEX SA nor authorized by them to intervene on their products for any reason whatsoever. This personalization was ordered by a customer, who owns a Rolex® timepiece, for his private use. It is an example of our know-how and the personalization services we offer at our customers’ request.