Limited Special Edition
Made from BMW 503 Interior
Limited Special Edition
ACHTZYLINDER
Many people drive cars. Demanding people drive BMWs. This slogan accompanied the BMW 503 when it was launched at the 37th International Motor Show (IAA) in 1955. Along with its sportier roadster version, the 507 model, the luxury car with a V8 engine was the big sensation at the IAA.
The sound and power of the world's first light-alloy V8 sparked incomparable emotions among enthusiasts, just as it does today, which is precisely why the new Special Edition Achtzylinder (german for eight-cylinder engine) is named after it.
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The leather for this edition comes from the interior of a 1957 BMW 503 which yielded a total of 499 Apple Watch bands.
The watch band will be available online from Sunday, September 11, 2022 at 2 p.m. ET, 11 a.m. PT, 8 p.m. German time.
As with our last special edition, the watch band will also be available exclusively in our Munich store on September 10 during the usual opening hours from noon to 6 p.m.
Spirit of Optimism
The Summer of '22
Freedom: As defined by the Oxford Dictionary, this is “The state of being able to act without hindrance or restraint”. A state we rediscovered in the summer of 2022 after two years of deprivation and limitations.
Our individual definition of freedom is less formal than the description in said dictionary. It is difficult to put into words and therefore finds a more suitable framework in our film for the Special Edition Achtzylinder.
Anyone who has the chance to enjoy the fresh air on the shores of Lake Como with the top down and a powerful V8 under the hood will quickly realize that there is probably no better way to describe this experience than with the words of BMW's own copywriters: sheer driving pleasure.
Although the claim only came about ten years after the presentation of the 503 model, it still fits perfectly well - then and now.
BMW-DNA
The Design
When we were allowed to hold the beautiful midnight blue interior leather of the BMW vintage car in our hands for the first time a few months ago, we already had the final band design in mind.
It had to fit BMW's sporty brand image, but shouldn't be too aggressive, after all, the noble appearance of the 503 model should also be taken into account. Above all, of course, only one color could be used as an accent to the dark blue leather: the white seams and the inner leather of the watch band, which is visible through the racing perforation, are a subtle homage to the white and blue coat of arms of the Bavarian vehicle manufacturer.
A Rare Classic
The BMW 503
Only just over 400 units of the BMW 503 were ever built, and only 49 vehicles are still registered in Germany as of 2022.
Although the car was highly praised by the international press for its incomparably harmonious aesthetics, it was not a great sales success for the Munich company. This was mainly due to the steep sales price: for the approximately 30,000 German marks that BMW charged for the vehicle, you could also get a comfortable residential property in the 1950s. In a society just recovering from the war, the target group was limited to a small, wealthy upper class such as entrepreneurial families and prominent actors.
62 years ago, in May 1960, the last 503 rolled off the assembly line. Because the car was overshadowed by its sibling model 507 for a long time and received little attention in classic car circles, only a few of the 412 cars originally produced are preserved today.
A Piece of History
The 503 model is a snapshot of German automotive history: a unique dream made of well-formed sheet metal that almost drove its manufacturer to ruin. In retrospect, its production was probably not a great decision for BMW, for which we couldn't be more grateful today.
After all, you wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to purchase one of the 499 Apple Watch bands made from the interior leather of the notorious classic car.
Available online from September 11, 2022 at 2 p.m. ET, 11 a.m. PT, 8 p.m. German time.
Stay tuned
More about our Editions
Here's how we make our Special Editions
Take a look behind the scenes and join us in leather selection for a new special edition.
Our store in Munich
Once again, some of the limited edition bands will be available in the BandWerk store in Munich one day before the official release.
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Note: The vehicle shown here in pictures and videos is a model identical to the BMW 503 convertible, from whose interior we were allowed to produce the Special Edition Achtzylinder. Unlike the vehicle shown here, however, this car was delivered in the paint color "Papyrusweiß" (papyrus white). Both vehicles were built in 1957.