Motul and Depancel partner for Serie-P Pista 24 Motul Edition watch

Brandora Editorial Staff - July 2022

Major lifestyle and motoring brand Motul has announced a partnership with Depancel, the celebrated watchmaking brand whose timepieces are inspired by the automotive world, for the Pista 24 Motul Edition, a feature-rich motor-sport-themed watch. The deal was brokered by the French office of ASPIRE by WildBrain CPLG, Motul’s licensing agent for EMEA and the US.

It’s the first of a number of planned collaborations from two major brands, both of which boast strong associations with racing and driving as well as lifestyle accessories. Indeed the Pista 24 Motul Edition is expected to have a clear appeal both to racing fans and to lovers of stylish wristwear.

Depancel is a French brand that offers beautiful watchmaking at excellent value for money thanks to a co-creation and pre-order model. Each Depancel watch is a tribute to a specific automotive brand or concept and aims to inspire lovers of the precision and technical excellence associated with motor sports – and the Pista 24 Motul Edition is no exception.

Red and white flashes – including the famous Motul logo – appear on a stylish black background. The dial pattern is reminiscent of the radiator grille of racing cars, and there’s a disc-brake-like motif under each hour. A large date display window and skeleton hands further underline the sporty, high-performance look.

And it isn’t just a good looking timepiece. The Pista 24 Motul Edition is functional too. The indicator at 12 o’clock, designed to look like a fuel gauge, can be used to check the status of a power reserve in real time. The bidirectional rotating bezel can be used to measure time intervals. There’s even something for night racing: the hour markers and numbers feature a coating that offers maximum visibility at night, and the 24-hour function is equipped with a day/night indicator.

As with all Depancel collections, this new watch will come with a lifetime warranty and will be sold through pre-orders starting on 26 July on the brand’s website, www.depancel.com.

This elegant, sporty watch is a perfect fit for Motul, a world-renowned company, specialising in the formulation, production and global distribution of high-tech engine lubricants. For many decades it has also been a dedicated technical partner and official supplier to the finest motor racing teams and manufacturers in history. Its presence today extends to over 160 countries, and numerous event partnerships including the Dakar Rally, Le Mans and Goodwood Revival.

The Motul brand is now bringing its 100-year heritage, and its associations with speed, style, adventure, performance, elegance and above all winning, to a major lifestyle branding campaign. It will be targeting a wide range of categories, ranging from apparel, stationery, houseware, scale model cars and watches to backpacks, phone covers and of course car accessories.

Depancel (a contraction of Delage, Panhard et Facel Vega, three prestigious French car manufacturers) is the newest addition to a fast-growing Motul licensing campaign that now includes Sunrich Toys & Hobby, Mattel / Hot Wheels and Fire Design. In addition, as well as ASPIRE by WildBrain CPLG for EMEA and the US, Motul has also appointed agents for Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Clément Meynier, the founder of Depancel says: “This is a perfect partnership given the common values that drive our two brands. In addition to our passion for beautiful engines, Motul, like Depancel, makes it a point of honour to offer reliable, high-performance and innovative products, and above all to inspire and bring unique adventures to each member of our communities.”

Managing the Motul campaign is Laurent Taieb, a licensing specialist with over 25 years’ experience. He says: “The Depancel Pista 24 Motul Edition is not only a stunningly designed watch; it truly reflects the technical excellence associated with motor sports. Ideal for both motor racing fans and style leaders, this watch is a perfect association for a renowned lifestyle and motor sport-orientated brand like Motul.”