The Nurburgring is one of the most challenging circuits on the planet, where every automaker from Honda to Porsche goes to perfect their cars. It also serves as a tourist destination and the venue for numerous motorsport events, which is why it is absolutely crucial that the asphalt stays in tip-top shape. Annual renovations began in December last year during the winter break, and the work continued into February of this year. Now that the work is complete and the track is reopened (as of March 12), cars like the Porsche 911 can return to testing, but in a typical show of German efficiency, not even the old asphalt is being wasted. In fact, some of it is going to find a new life as part of the world's first asphalt watch.

The unusual creation comes from a company called COBLOR, which is the official timing partner of the Nurburgring Endurance Series (NLS), with the manufacture taking place in La Chaux-de-Fonds at Swiss company Concepto Holding. Titanium, sapphire, ceramic, and natural rubber make up the construction, along with the obvious inclusion of asphalt from the infamous Green Hell. Fascinatingly, the back of the watch shows the point on the track where the asphalt was recovered, so you can tell your friends exactly where your 90-year-old piece of automotive history comes from. And, as you'd expect of a Swiss-made mechanical watch, the chronograph boasts a solid movement.

Prioritizing sustainability, the company says that the original asphalt is "a 100% reused material" and that everything from the packaging of the watch to the rubber of the bracelets is natural. Two variations of the Nurburgring Asphalt 1 are available: Titan Black and Titan Silver, but getting your hands on one will be tricky. The company's website keeps crashing due to the huge interest in this new piece, and only 500 units will be made in total. Assuming you do secure a pre-order slot, there's the bigger issue of payment - both colors of the watch cost a scandalous €6,111.30, or almost $6,670 at the time of writing. Still, not even Porsche's watches have a piece of an iconic track inside them. If you have the cash and don't get your hands on one, keep calm - COBLOR is currently asking its fans which track to construct a watch from next. Laguna Seca sounds like a good choice to us.