The Hourstriker Verdict
Hot off of the heels of the community designed Elemental, which we participated in, Bausele has released the first limited edition based off of the platform. Bausele has been a long time sponsor of the Bathurst 12 Hour race and for this year's addition the Elemental features a stunning red hued dial. Also I'm a bit jealous that the first five buyers get an incredible in-person experience at Bathurst.
— Peter, Editor-in-Chief
Bausele, the Australian horological marque known for incorporating physical elements of its home continent into its timepieces, has announced the release of the Elemental Bathurst Limited Edition. Produced in a strictly limited run of 50 units, this reference serves as the official timepiece for the Bathurst 12 Hour endurance race, an event held annually at the Mount Panorama Circuit in New South Wales. The watch represents a specialized iteration of the brand's Elemental collection, adapted specifically for the requirements of motorsport through high-contrast legibility modifications and thematic material integration. Notably, the project is the culmination of a "Community Crafted" initiative, a six-month development cycle wherein 400 enthusiasts voted on design parameters to finalize the chassis and aesthetic configuration, which was subsequently adapted for this racing-specific variant.
The release aligns with the 2026 iteration of the endurance event, positioning the timepiece not merely as a commemorative object but as a functional instrument intended for trackside application. The model distinguishes itself through the inclusion of race-derived materials; specifically, the transparent crown chamber, a signature technical feature of Bausele’s engineering, is filled with tire rubber harvested from Bathurst 2026 race cars. This material provenance replaces the brand's traditional inclusion of beach sand or red earth, directly linking the hardware to the specific tribological environment of the Mount Panorama circuit. The watch is priced at $750 USD and is manufactured on a made-to-order basis with delivery scheduled for March, following the conclusion of the race event.
Courtesy of Bausele
The Case and Dial
The Elemental Bathurst is housed in a 316L stainless steel chassis measuring 40mm in diameter, with a thickness of 12.2mm and a lug-to-lug span of 46mm. The architecture of the case is notably complex for a timepiece in this segment, utilizing an 18-part construction method that suggests a high degree of machining tolerance and assembly time. This multi-component design facilitates the integration of a Faraday cage, an internal soft-iron enclosure that shields the movement from electromagnetic fields. Given the prevalence of magnetism in modern automotive environments—ranging from telemetry systems to hybrid powertrains—the inclusion of anti-magnetic shielding provides a functional safeguard for the escapement’s isochronism. The case surfacing displays a utilitarian mix of brushing and polishing, particularly evident in the angular transitions of the lugs, which are drilled to accommodate the heavy-duty screw bars used for strap retention.
The dial is protected by a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal treated with five layers of anti-reflective coating, a necessary specification to mitigate glare under the harsh, direct sunlight often encountered at the Mount Panorama circuit. The dial itself employs a two-layer sandwich construction designed to create visual depth and enhance legibility. The base layer features a stamped texture described as a "sand pattern," which manifests visually as a cellular, organic matrix reminiscent of packed earth or biological structures. Above this, a thick layer of red lacquer is applied, resulting in a "through-the-water" visual effect where the texture beneath interacts with ambient light to create gradients of crimson and vermilion. At the 9 o'clock position, a schematic outline of the Bathurst track is printed in black, providing immediate geographic context without disrupting the overall balance of the indices.
Surrounding the dial is a complex bezel assembly designed for dual-mode timing. The primary interface is a uni-directional rotating bezel equipped with a 60-minute count-up scale, utilized for tracking elapsed time intervals such as stint lengths or pit stop durations. The insert appears to be constructed from a scratch-resistant material, likely ceramic or anodized aluminum, featuring a black background with a red sector spanning the first 15 minutes. Inboard of this, the rehaut (inner flange) is printed with a 12-hour scale. According to the technical documentation, this inner ring is capable of rotation, allowing the wearer to track a second time zone—a function distinct from the standard GMT hand complication usually found in travel watches. Legibility in low-light conditions, crucial for the pre-dawn starts and evening finishes characteristic of 12-hour endurance racing, is provided by the application of Super-LumiNova® BGW9 on the hands and indices, which emits a blue phosphorescent glow.
Courtesy of Bausele
The Movement
Powering the Elemental Bathurst is the Calibre Swiss Automatic Sellita SW200, a ubiquitous and reliable mechanical movement widely utilized across the industry for its robust architecture and ease of service. The movement operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), a beat rate that ensures a smooth sweep of the central seconds hand and provides a higher resolution for time measurement compared to lower-frequency alternatives. This 4 Hz operation is standard for modern Swiss calibers, striking an equilibrium between mechanical stability and component wear. The SW200 offers a power reserve of approximately 38 hours, necessitating daily wear or the use of a winder to maintain operation if left stationary for extended periods.
The movement functions include the display of hours, minutes, and central seconds, alongside a date complication viewed through a circular magnification lens—often termed a cyclops—positioned at 3 o'clock. The date mechanism is of the quick-set variety, adjusted via the crown in its intermediate position. Bausele has regulated the movement to an accuracy range of -5/+5 seconds per day, a tolerance that falls within the upper echelon of non-COSC certified performance standards. This level of regulation suggests that each unit undergoes manual adjustment prior to casing, ensuring that the timekeeping performance exceeds the standard factory deviations often seen in base-grade movements. The winding system is automatic, harnessing the kinetic energy of the wearer’s wrist motion to tension the mainspring, though it also supports manual winding via the crown.
The decision to utilize the SW200 aligns with the watch's positioning as a "tool watch"—an instrument designed for reliability in demanding physical environments. The movement is secured within the case by the aforementioned 18-part construction and protected by the Faraday cage, ensuring that the hairspring remains unaffected by magnetic interference. Furthermore, the assembly is rated for water resistance up to 200 meters (20 ATM), a specification facilitated by the screw-down crown system. This level of sealing ensures that the watch is impervious to moisture, dust, and pressure variations, making it suitable not only for the paddock but also for aquatic activities, despite its primary orientation toward motorsport.
Courtesy of Bausele
Strap and Ergonomics
The Elemental Bathurst is fitted with an integrated stainless steel bracelet that exhibits a significant degree of engineering focus. The bracelet tapers aggressively from a width of 26mm at the case integration point down to 18mm at the clasp. This extreme taper is designed to reduce mass and improve ergonomic comfort on the wrist, allowing for a broad, stabilizing connection at the watch head while maintaining a slimmer profile at the buckle. The link architecture features a distinctive visual motif, with polished oval elements centered within brushed links, echoing the aesthetic language of the dial indices and the bezel knurling.
Mechanical attachment of the bracelet to the case is managed via the Capsa easy interchangeable system. This proprietary mechanism allows the wearer to detach the bracelet without the use of tools, facilitating rapid swapping for alternative straps, such as the rubber variant scheduled for release in early 2026. The links themselves are articulated with split pins, a traditional but secure method of sizing. The bracelet is secured to the wrist by a deployed buckle featuring an on-the-fly micro-adjustment system. This mechanism allows the wearer to incrementally expand or contract the bracelet length without removing the watch, a critical feature for accommodating the natural expansion of the wrist that occurs in high-temperature environments or during periods of physical exertion.
The ergonomic profile of the watch is further defined by the case back, which features a deep etching of the Bathurst 12 Hour logo set against an "underwater sand texture motif." This textured surface serves a dual purpose: it reinforces the brand's thematic identity and minimizes the contact surface area against the skin, potentially improving breathability. The total weight distribution of the watch, governed by the 316L steel mass and the tapering bracelet, is engineered to keep the watch head centered on the wrist, preventing the rotation often associated with top-heavy dive-style cases.
Courtesy of Bausele
Pricing and Availability
The Bausele Elemental Bathurst Limited Edition is positioned at a retail price of $750 USD, placing it competitively within the entry-level luxury segment populated by independent manufacturers. The production run is strictly capped at 50 units, emphasizing the exclusivity of the collaboration. Sales are conducted on a made-to-order basis, with the fulfillment and shipping of units scheduled for March 2026. This pre-order model allows the manufacturer to finalize the specific assembly requirements for the limited batch, ensuring quality control over the unique material integration of the crown elements.
As an incentive for early adoption, Bausele has structured a tiered benefit package for the initial purchasers. The first five buyers of the Elemental Bathurst will receive a comprehensive experience package for the Bathurst 12 Hour event, which includes complimentary entry to the race, access to the grid walk—allowing for close inspection of the machinery prior to the start—and a passenger "hot lap" of the Mount Panorama circuit in a Mercedes-AMG performance vehicle. This experiential component significantly alters the value proposition for the initial tranche of buyers, effectively bundling the hardware with a high-value motorsport experience.
The release strategy underscores Bausele's reliance on direct-to-consumer engagement and community involvement. The "Community Crafted" nature of the Elemental platform means that the core design elements—case shape, dial layout, and bracelet integration—have already been validated by a significant sample size of the target demographic. By adapting this pre-validated platform with specific livery and materials relevant to the Bathurst 12 Hour, Bausele minimizes the commercial risk while maximizing the emotional resonance for motorsport enthusiasts. The watch stands as a technical document of the 2026 race, encapsulating the event's atmosphere through its red livery, track-specific complications, and physical incorporation of race-used rubber.
Courtesy of Bausele
Technical Specifications
Case: 40mm diameter x 12.2mm thickness, 46mm lug-to-lug, 316L stainless steel, 18-part construction with anti-shock and anti-magnetic Faraday cage, screw-down crown with tire rubber insert.
Movement: Swiss Automatic Sellita SW200, 28,800 vph (4Hz), 38-hour power reserve, regulated to -5/+5 seconds per day.
Dial: Red lacquer over textured "sand" base, applied indices with Super-LumiNova® BGW9, Bathurst track map at 9 o'clock.
Strap: Integrated stainless steel bracelet, tapering from 26mm to 18mm, Capsa quick-change system, on-the-fly micro-adjustment clasp.
Price: $750 USD
Notes: Limited to 50 pieces; crown contains rubber from Bathurst 2026 race cars; first 5 buyers receive race entry and hot lap experience.