A joint celebration of craftsmanship and engineering tradition
This limited series was created for the occasion of the 130th anniversary of the founding of the Mladá Boleslav-based company Laurin & Klement, the predecessor of today’s Škoda Auto. The 1908 Laurin & Klement BSC, an emblem of early 20th-century automotive innovation and excellence, serves as the perfect inspiration for this commemorative, purely mechanical watch.
“As part of the celebration of the 130th anniversary of Škoda Auto, we have prepared a number of surprising collaborations that not only highlight our long, exceptional history, but also pay tribute to the craftsmanship of people, their approach and ingenuity, which have a strong tradition in the Czech lands. One of these interesting projects is the cooperation of Škoda Auto with the Prokop & Brož brand. The result of this collaboration is the Laurin & Klement 130 Limited Edition, which perfectly combines the watchmaking talent and heritage of our company brand.”
Martin Jahn, Škoda Auto Board Member for Sales and Marketing
The story of the Prokop & Brož brand began in 2012 and since then the small watch manufactory has developed into a manufacturer of custom solitaire watches. “The production of mechanical wristwatches is one of the prestigious indicators of a nation’s technological maturity. The Czech Republic is among the ten countries in the world that have mastered this type of fine craft,” adds Jan Prokop, Managing Director of Prokop & Brož.
Inspired by the sporty version of the 1908 Laurin & Klement BSC
The designers of Prokop & Brož were inspired by one of the most valuable exhibits of the Škoda Museum in Mladá Boleslav, the Laurin & Klement BSC from 1908. This car represents an early example of automotive excellence and innovation, featuring an in-line engine layout and various body types to meet the needs of customers at the time. The anniversary edition watch reflects the uniqueness of the car in various ways: The position of the off-centre second hand below 12 o’clock was taken from the dashboard clock of this model. Other parts that found inspiration in pocket watches integrated into the dashboard are the main hands. Their shape, material and the technology of tempering them in dark blue colour correspond to the traditional watchmaking craft. The dial of the watch is made with the unique Brosmalt technology developed by Prokop & Brož. The undercoat pigmentation matches the highly polished Pearl White paint used on the body of the historic car. Each dial is a handmade unique piece bearing the number of the watch in the series. The dial graphic was designed to be as true to 19th century aesthetics as possible, but also to appeal to lovers and collectors of classic watches that do not lose their value and remain attractive for decades.
The crown is laser-engraved with the Laurin & Klement emblem, the same one that adorns the radiator of the vintage car that inspired this exclusive watch series. The limited edition will be offered in two versions: the first 30 pieces are reserved for the prestige version, where the case and its components are made of 18K gold, while the basic version of 100 pieces has these components made of stainless steel. The colour of the strap was chosen to match the shade of the leather straps that were used to tension the canvas roof of the BSC car.
Laurin & Klement BSC: the only surviving example is a pearl of the Škoda Museum
The Laurin & Klement BSC sports car, which has been a part of the Škoda Museum collection in Mladá Boleslav since 2016, underwent a complete renovation that took two years, and the team of experts drew on the surviving original drawings and other unique sources. All important mechanical components of this fully operational unique car are original, including the engine with the authentic serial number with which the sports car left the production hall in Mladá Boleslav in 1908.
The BS model series has an important place in the history of the Mladá Boleslav car manufacturer. Compared to the brand’s very first cars, the A, B and B2 types, it differs in its in-line engine layout and many body types to meet the needs of customers at the time.