Wilbur has never been shy about calling its creations machines rather than watches, and the new NIGHT RIDER takes that spirit to the extreme. Officially launched as a follow up to the LEO JW1.1, this piece dives into darker territory with a case crafted from black titanium and carbon fiber, punctuated by sharp flashes of blue and white. The result is something that looks less like a timepiece and more like a jet pack strapped to your wrist. And just in case you were wondering how many of these supermachines will be floating around, the answer is five. Yes, only five. If exclusivity were a sport, Wilbur just won gold.
Jason Wilbur, the designer behind the brand, comes from the world of automotive and product design, and his watches reflect that background in every edge and layer. The NIGHT RIDER continues this language with an architectural, frame-like case that seems to be built for motion. Wilbur’s calling card is making watches that feel like they belong in a futuristic garage next to concept cars and spacecraft rather than in a leather-lined safe. The NIGHT RIDER carries that mission forward, but in a stealthier mood.
The technical specs remain partly under wraps, which only adds to the mystique. We know the materials, we know the limited production, and we know deliveries begin October 1. But details like the movement, case size, and water resistance are still to come. Given Wilbur’s track record, expect a robust automatic movement and dimensions that are anything but shy. Comfort will be an interesting factor too – black titanium keeps weight down, but this is not a watch designed to vanish under a shirt cuff.
The way to acquire one is as unconventional as the watch itself. There is no strolling into a boutique with a credit card. Allocation is by invitation only, making ownership less about transaction and more about admission into a very small circle. Collectors who get the nod will likely care less about resale and more about the bragging rights of owning something that only four other people on the planet can claim.
Wilbur calls the NIGHT RIDER a supermachine, and for once the marketing hyperbole fits. It is not built for the faint-hearted or those who see watches as discreet companions. It is built for people who enjoy strapping a piece of futuristic architecture to their wrist and smiling every time someone asks, “What on earth is that?” With deliveries about to start, the NIGHT RIDER is poised to become one of the most eccentric, and certainly one of the rarest, launches of 2025. For most of us, admiring from afar will be the only option, but sometimes that is half the fun.
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