Watches and motor racing have had a long association, but a watch fully designed by a racing driving is something rather different.

Le Mans and Sebring winner Stefan Johansson has crafted a very sweet line of limited edition pieces, under the Växjö name (a homage to Johansson’s hometown apparently).

Given they utilise the always robust but not necessarily high-end Valjoux 7750 movement the watches aren’t cheap at $6500+, but they are sought after and the designs really are rather nice.

Each model (model, not piece I presume) gets a road-test on the wrist of Johansson himself, which is a nice touch.

Do want!

Here’s the full press release:

[Press Release] Stefan Johansson merges his artistic sensibilities, his experience as one of auto racing’s most decorated and enduring drivers, and his Swedish heritage in Stefan Johansson Växjö, a line of luxury limited edition and custom Swiss-made timepieces. Johansson’s thirty-plus year career in the sport encompasses Formula 1, Indycar, and sports car racing for a number of prestigious manufacturers and teams. Among his memorable wins are at the 24 Hours of LeMans and two triumphs at Sebring.

With Johansson himself as its driving force, Stefan Johansson Växjö is the only watch brand personally designed (not just endorsed) by an active professional racer. Johansson creates the faces and cases of the current Växjö Mark VIII series, and closely supervises the production of parts and assembly in Switzerland. A forthcoming collection will even feature a patent-pending mechanical movement of Johansson’s own design.

Before it can bear the Växjö crest (a tribute to the watchmaker’s hometown in southern Sweden), each model must pass the ultimate road test: a real race on the wrist of Johansson or another pro driver. Racing conditions — vibrations, shocks, altitude changes and extreme heat — test not just the watch’s movement, but also the fit of the straps, the function of the buckles and the legibility of the dial.

Substance and style get equal time in Stefan Johansson Växjö chronographs, the product of their creator’s lengthy study of horology, his devotion to racing, and his off-track passion for art and design. The sleek, clean, bold timepieces boast 47mm cases suitable for both men and women. A slender bezel allows for a larger dial, and focuses attention on colorful racing motifs and other varied numeral treatments. Johansson’s goal was not to create another watch that mimics the look of a racecar or one of its components. “I wanted to deliver a timepiece with character and personality, one that channels the spirit of the sport and its iconic events,” he says. A clear glass back offers a window onto the watch’s ETA Valjoux 7750 movement, for the perfect intersection of form and function.

To own a Stefan Johansson Växjö watch is to own something rare, unique and personal. A maximum of 250 pieces – and often far fewer – of each model are produced. Watches can be customized to specifications, and each is engraved with its own individual “chassis” number, along with the owner’s name if desired. Diamond bezels can be added upon request. The choice of straps includes rubber, carbon fiber, topstitched python or bony crocodile.

Stefan Johansson Växjö timepieces are sold only directly through the company – there are no retail locations or advertising campaigns. Nonetheless, the buzz has traveled fast. The watches, which range from $6500 and up – have graced the wrists of some of the world’s most dedicated watch collectors including celebrities from the racing world and beyond. Mario Andretti, Emerson Fittipaldi, Paul Newman and Brad Pitt, to name a few, are fans.