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The Truth About the “End of Free Tax and MOT” Rumours
Is the government really going to end free tax and MOT exemption for cars over 40 years old? Here are the facts.
November 7, 2025
Join us to explore the shared DNA and discover 9 of the best watch and car pairings you can buy.
It’s almost inevitable, isn’t it? If you’re into cars, you’re probably into watches. The two obsessions share much of the same DNA: precision engineering, mechanical beauty, and that satisfying sense of occasion when you strap one on or fire one up, oh, and they’re generally not cheap obsessions! Whether it’s the purr of a V12 or the tick of a finely crafted movement, both appeal to those who appreciate craftsmanship and performance in equal measure.
Car enthusiasts see watches much like they see their cars: an extension of personality. A McLaren owner might gravitate towards something lightweight and technical, an Aston Martin owner might go for something more traditional, while a Lamborghini driver could favour bold flair on the wrist.
And just like car paint, dial colour can make or break the aesthetic, so we thought we’d put our morning to good use and explore the art of coordination — browsing our friends Players Watches’ stocklist with the aim of pairing watches with cars, just so you don’t have to!
£6,950
Let’s start something subtle and, relatively speaking, wallet-friendly. The Omega Speedmaster is one of the most iconic timepieces ever made, and worn by NASA astronauts during the Apollo missions, it’s the only watch to have ever been to the Moon, earning its legendary “Moonwatch” title.
Back on Earth, it is worn by countless famous figures who have the means to buy much more expensive wristwear because of its bulletproof reliability and timeless style. It is a watch for those who truly appreciate watches, something quality and totally unoffensive in any environment.
2009 | 10,132 Miles | £114,950
Much like the Speedmaster, the Aston Martin DBS is timeless and unoffensive (apart from maybe cold starting on a Sunday morning at 6 am). James Bond wears an Omega and drives an Aston, so there’s that link too, but it’s that link that no one drives a DBS these days to show off, they drive it for the soul, the engineering of the V12 combined with that manual gearbox, and of course the beautiful, understated styling.
£14,500
Blue is easily one of the most popular colours for a watch dial. There are so many different shades, and its popularity is down to its ability to stand out while being pairable with almost any outfit you can think of, from a pair of swim shorts to a tuxedo.
The Rolex Submariner 126613LB, nicknamed Bluesy, is exactly that. It elevates the subdued Submariner with a two-tone stainless steel and yellow gold look, and the blue dial and bezel are punchy enough to stand out, but not enough to look gaudy, plus this model has the newer, slightly larger 41mm case, first introduced on the Submariner in 2020 instead of the old 40mm.
2018 | 69 Miles | £324,990
I’m not sure any car pairs with the Bluesy better than this Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato. It shares the watch’s punchy blue and even features some very different gold details both inside and out. It’s a classy Aston, but wearing a brave outfit!
£POA
While blue might be a popular dial colour, red is not, but the Coral Red dial of this Rolex Oyster Perpetual shows what a bold statement a simple timepiece can make with the right colour dial. Beneath its clean, no-nonsense design beats the same bulletproof movement as Rolex’s more famous models, but it’s that vivid red dial that steals the show — a flash of personality in an otherwise understated package.
2007 | 28,300 Miles | £75,995
Coral Red just had to be paired with a Ferrari. In this case, it’s the very bold Rosso Scuderia (brighter than Corsa) and I feel the design of the F430 mirrors the clean simplicity of the Oyster Perpetual. Much like the Rolex, it has an impressive beating heart with its flat-plane-crank V8, and at this price, it seems like a great buy as more and more people look back to the analogue Ferraris.
£37,950
It’s back to blue this time with the eye-catching Baby Blue AP Royal Oak Offshore, adding a baby blue strap to the party as if the bold dial wasn’t enough. With its unmistakable octagonal bezel and chunkier proportions, it takes the elegance of the original Royal Oak and injects it with attitude. The blue theme adds a fresh, contemporary twist — it’s real summer spec.
2024 | 1,952 Miles | £489,950
If the AP was injected with attitude, the Revuelto is on a concentrated intravenous drip of the stuff, and it just happens to perfectly match the colour of the watch too. You’ll struggle to tell the time on your stunning AP as you deploy 1,000hp, and you certainly won’t hear the movement ticking over the big Lambo’s naturally-aspirated V12, but the angular lines of the Revuelto pair perfectly with the Offshore’s case, even more so when they match.
£14,950
Fun fact, the Sky-Dweller houses Rolex’s most complex movement, despite being far from their most expensive stainless steel watch on the used market. The white dial keeps things clean and understated, letting the fluted bezel and dual time zone display do the talking. It’s the watch equivalent of a grand tourer — refined, capable and stylish, but not too ostentatious.
2021 | 5,350 Miles | £139,950
The crisp matte white (Bianco Audace Matt) paintwork is this MC20’s obvious link to the white Sky Dweller, but there’s more too. Everyone jumps for a Submariner or Daytona just as they do a Lamborghini or Ferrari, while the Sky-Dweller and MC20 sit on the sidelines, just as capable, but rather less loved. It’s a shame, because the MC20 is a beautiful and amazing driving car, but the good news is, you can pick this one up for £130k less than its new list price!
£99,950
Patek Philippe’s most playful creation, the orange Aquanaut adds an eye-catching splash of colour to an otherwise understated timepiece. Beneath that bold exterior lies the same meticulous craftsmanship and precision engineering the marque is famous for. Think of it as the wristwear equivalent of a limited-edition supercar in a standout spec: rare, desirable, and effortlessly cool.
2024 | 260 Miles | £239,500
Precision engineering is just one of the things (as well as being very expensive) the Huracan Sterrato shares with the orange Aquanaut, but its the way both this watch and car take a polished product and turn it into something more rugged that makes them so suited to each other. The rubber strap makes the Aquanaut more wearable day-to-day than a Nautilus, just as the raised right height and toughened nature of the Sterrato allow you to throw caution to the wind. And if nothing else, the Arancio Xanto paintwork with satin PPF is a perfect match for your orange watch strap.
£16,950
The Santos de Cartier Skeleton is mechanical art you can wear. Stripped back to its essentials, it showcases Cartier’s in-house movement through sculpted Roman numerals that double as the bridges — an ingenious blend of design and engineering. It’s elegant yet daring, classic yet contemporary; the kind of watch that pairs just as well with a tailored suit as it does with the keys to something rare and noisy.
2005 | 19,743 Miles | £299,995
A left-field watch deserves a left-field supercar, and what better matches that than an SLR? Its silver bodywork matches the silver tones of the Cartier, and its intricate details like the side gilles, side exhaust pipes and turbine wheels similarly result in an elegant yet aggressive design. Overshadowed by the Enzo and Carrera GT, still sitting at a fiver under £300k, these are one to watch in the next decade for me.
£58,500
The Rolex Daytona ‘John Mayer’ is a modern icon with serious collector cred. Its signature sunburst green dial, paired with a yellow gold case, gives it an unmistakable presence — equal parts vintage charm and rock-star flair. It has no official link to musician and avid watch aficionado, John Mayer, and was originally overlooked, but it became a cult favourite and earned its nickname after Mayer himself sang its praises, sending demand (and values) sky-high. It’s the horological equivalent of a classic 911 in a rare colour — timeless, and guaranteed to stop fellow enthusiasts in their tracks.
2025 | 29 Miles | £229,950
Speaking of 911s in a rare colour, Oak Green Neo Metallic just so happens to perfectly go with the Daytona’s green dial, and the GT3 Touring has that classic, sort of understated but sort of purposeful look to it, just like a Daytona. All it needs to be a perfect pairing is a set of gold wheels, just mind your watch on the centre console as you stir the manual ‘box!
£79,995
Another Daytona, this is probably the ultimate example of the model without going into limited edition or diamond-studded specials. Nicknamed 'Platona' because of its platinum construction, its precious metal case and bracelet mean this is no cheap watch, but it is insanely desirable. Non-watch people would never guess this is an £80,000 watch, but instantly recognisable by the ice blue dial (a hallmark of platinum Rolex watches), anyone in the know will know this is no 'ordinary' Daytona.
1965 | 5,000 Miles | £749,980
A classy and precious watch deserves a classy and precious car, and not much fits the bill more than an Aston Martin DB5, especially with its Caribbean Pearl paintwork so closely matching the watch's ice blue dial. Like the Platona, most people would admire the DB5 yes, but never come close to guessing its true value. Those who know acknowledge the DB5 as one of the most iconic cars of all time, a little like the Daytona is one of the most iconic watches of all time. This watch and car combo would make you a master of cool.
£289,000
Let’s end with a big one! The Richard Mille RM 65-01 isn’t for everyone, but it’s an exhibition in controlled chaos. Beneath the carbon case and striking skeletonised dial lies one of the most complex automatic chronographs ever made. The blue strap adds a hit of sportiness to the technical drama, making it look every bit as extreme as the cars its owners tend to favour. Think of it as the Bugatti Chiron of watches (apart from the actual Bugatti Chiron watch of course) — outrageous engineering, eye-watering detail, and absolutely no intention of blending in.
2017 | 2,370 Miles | £2,799,995
What better pairing for the Bugatti Chiron of watches than a Bugatti Chiron, in matching colours at that?! This French Racing Blue Chiron has about as much intention of blending in as the outrageous RM, and why should it not? It’s a Bugatti for Christ’s sake! Whilst one of the most complex automatic movements ticks away on your wrist, you have 1,500hp at your disposal from one of the most complex internal combustion engines, with four turbos and 16 cylinders. Bugatti is French, the colour is French, Richard Mille is French (the man, the company is Swiss, of course). They’re a match made in billionaire heaven, and if you asked someone to picture the watch the driver of this Chiron would be wearing, it would be the RM65.
