Petrol heads, motorsport enthusiasts and aviation fans are known for their love of cutting-edge engineering and a keen sense of time.

So they might well “clock” the new Tempus range of illuminated timepieces by internationally renowned British designer Ben Rousseau following the British Grand Prix and Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Rousseau says he is now entering a new direction with his Tempus creations which were originally designed with influence from the automotive and aeronautical industries and now there are some exciting new editions on the horizon.

The first is a collaborative piece with Beaumont Flying Art, an authentic Hawk jet engine cowling with a custom Tempus mounted inside for display on a majestic wall.

Then there is his new collection of F1 inspired sculptural pieces, created both as a free standing piece and as a hanging installation, made from F1 car parts , designed in conjunction with Racing Gold.

Rousseau debuted the original Tempus range at Clerkenwell Design Week earlier this summer and its futuristic aesthetic – it has no hands or numbers – may well appeal to those with an eye for detail and a fresh perspective.

If they do, they would not be the first in and around the paddock to work with the designer, with Rousseau already having custom designed and built a Gulf Stream Tour Master for Superbikes legend Troy Corser.

Rousseau, who has recently returned to the UK after working on a series of major properties in the US and is currently working on a custom timepiece for an as yet unnamed F1 team explains the idea behind the Tempus;

‘The way we view time tends to be from a position of lack, of haste, of challenge. I want to change the way we experience time by taking influence and attention to detail from luxury watchmaking and sports car instrumentation but doing so on a larger scale.

Tempus is the culmination of over 22 years experience working with lighting technology, precision engineering and luxury materials and in true Rousseau style, Tempus brings a sense of theatre to the simple act of telling the time.

Inspired by Rousseau’s love of science fiction film sets and automotive design, a futuristic clock face operates with addressable digital LEDs that illuminate three different segments: seconds, minutes and hours, in sequence, to represent a 12-hour time path.

Rousseau then uses computer controlled laser cutting machines and digital lighting technology to help Tempus bring the art of telling the time firmly into the 21st century.

Rousseau concludes;

‘The Tempus range is crafted with sustainable, locally sourced, cutting-edge materials, and the precision machines that I believe define my work. This is about balancing form and function with a futuristic approach.

‘So Tempus is combining the technology and beauty of digitally controlled lighting to complement and enhance modern environments whilst hopefully encouraging us to appreciate time in a new light.’