Limited special edition
From BMW 503 Interior
Limited special edition
EIGHT-CYLINDER
Many people drive cars . BMWs are driven by discerning people. This slogan accompanied the BMW 503 when it was launched at the 37th International Motor Show in 1955. The luxury car with a V8 engine was, along with its sportier roadster version, the 507 model, the big sensation at the IAA.
The sound and power of the world's first light-alloy V8 ignites incomparable emotions in enthusiasts then and now, and that is precisely why they gave their name to the new special edition eight-cylinder .
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The leather for this edition comes from the interior of a 1957 BMW 503 and was plentiful enough to produce a total of 499 bracelets.
The bracelet will be available online from Sunday, September 11th, 2022, at 8 p.m. German time.
As with our last special edition, the bracelet will also be available exclusively in our Munich store on September 10th during normal opening hours from 12pm to 6pm.
A spirit of optimism
Summer '22
Freedom : According to the definition in the Oxford Dictionary, this is “the ability to move freely and without hindrance.” A state that we were able to rediscover in the summer of 2022 after two years of deprivation and restrictions.
Our individual definition of the concept of freedom is less formal than the description in that dictionary. It is difficult to put into words and therefore finds a suitable framework in our film about the special edition eight-cylinder.
Anyone who has the chance today 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 this experience can probably not be described better than with the words of BMW's own advertising copywriter: Sheer Driving Pleasure .
Although the claim was only created ten years after the introduction of the 503 model, it is still apt – then and now.
BMW DNA
The design
When we were able to hold the beautiful midnight blue interior leather of the BMW classic car in our hands for the first time a few months ago, we already had the final bracelet design in mind.
It had to be sporty, typical of BMW, but not too aggressive; after all, the noble appearance of the 503 model had to be taken into account. Above all, however, only one color was possible as an accent to the dark blue leather: the white seams and the inner leather of the strap, which can be seen through the racing perforations, are a not-so-subtle homage to the white and blue coat of arms of the Bavarian vehicle manufacturer.
A rare cult classic
The BMW 503
Only just over 400 units of the BMW 503 were ever built; as of 2022, only 49 vehicles are still registered in Germany.
Although the car was praised highly by the international press for its incomparably harmonious aesthetics, it was not a great sales success for the Munich-based company. This was mainly due to the impressive selling price: for the approximately 30,000 marks that BMW estimated for the vehicle, you could also buy a comfortable home in the 1950s. In a society that was just recovering from the war, the target group was limited to a small, wealthy upper class such as business families and prominent actors.
62 years ago, in May 1960, the last 503 produced rolled off the assembly line. Because the car was long overshadowed by its sibling, the 507, and received little attention in classic car circles, only a few of the 412 cars originally produced remain 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 a bad decision for BMW, but we could hardly be more grateful for it today.
After all, otherwise you wouldn't have the opportunity to purchase one of 499 Apple Watch straps made from the interior leather of the infamous classic car.
Available online from September 11th, 8pm.
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More about our editions
This is how a special edition is created
Take a look behind the scenes and join us in selecting the leather for a new special edition.
Our store in Munich
Once again, some of the limited edition bracelets 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 an identical model to the BMW 503 Cabrio, from whose interior we were able to produce the special edition eight-cylinder. Unlike the vehicle shown here, however, this car was delivered in the paint color "Papyrus White". The year of manufacture for both vehicles is 1957.