Words: Hamish Roy
To spectate at the Grand Prix Monaco Historique or the Mille Miglia is to experience a sensory volley. Idling engines cough throatily before giving out an ear-shattering roar; petrol-reek permeates the air; a car flashes past in a streak of red. These sights and sounds are surely enough to bring on a fit of nostalgia for any longtime motorsports devotee, but to watch these races is also to experience a more human element in the form of the drivers’ boldness, precision and artistic flair.
(Photograph: Colin Robertson Roy)
It is only fitting, then, that Chopard is both sponsor and official timekeeper of these illustrious racing events. Producing precision timepieces since 1860, Chopard likewise celebrates boldness of design, precision engineering, and the beauty of craft. Each year these races are run, it releases a watch collection in their honour. Designed for accuracy, ruggedness and readability, the race watches are made not only in commemoration, but to fulfil the real needs of the drivers that take part.
(Photograph: Colin Robertson Roy)
Grand Prix de Monaco Historique Race Edition
Driven on Monaco’s famed Grand Prix circuit, the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique is the most prestigious vintage racing competition in the world, featuring cars from the pre-war period to the 1970’s. To commemorate this year’s event, Chopard has released two new chronographs that draw design inspiration from the race cars of the 1970’s – the sort once driven by drivers like James Hunt and Niki Lauda. True to the nature of the collection, it is a watch of subtle yet distinct automotive styling: the pushers are shaped like pistons, a steering wheel sits upon the crown and the stopwatch dials are reminiscent of a speedometer. On the back sits the logo of the Automobile Club Monaco, affixed with screws reminiscent of the bolts used in car bodywork.
The Race Edition Chronograph in rose gold.
At the heart of this watch is a horological ‘engine’ of sorts, a high-precision, self-winding chronometer. With a tachymetric scale on the bezel, ideal for calculating average speeds during a race, it’s a watch that offers a level of exactitude for both aficionado and racer alike. When it comes to the strap, there are two options: the more traditional ‘Barenia’ calfskin strap, which is nevertheless accented with sportive orange or blue stitching, or an informal grey NATO strap, featuring a bolder racing stripe in either of these same colours. The watch will be limited to 500 editions in stainless steel and shot-blasted titanium respectively, and 100 editions in 18 carat rose gold.
The Automobile Club Monaco logo, seen here on the stainless steel edition.
For more information, visit www.chopard.co.uk
Mille Miglia 2016 XL Edition
Once part of the World Sports Car championship, the Mille Miglia was reborn in 1977 as a regularity rally for classic cars. This year, 450 classic cars took part, starting from the famous ramp at Viale Venezia in Brescia before traversing the winding, figure-of-eight-shaped route that passes through many of Italy’s most beautiful regions.
The Mille Miglia 2016 XL Race Edition is a sturdy 46mm, making it the largest Mille Miglia watch yet. Borrowing from the design of the cars that took part between 1927 and 1940, it has a more historic look than the Grand Prix watch. The strap, made in weathered “Suportlo®” calfskin leather, recalls the leather straps used to tie down the large bonnets of these classic cars, while the black dial is influenced by their dashboards. Set against this background, the luminous hands and numerals are particularly readable; the second hand, painted in a conspicuous red, counts off the vital seconds of a race. And like the Grand Prix Historique edition, it too has a tachymetric scale on the outside of the dial.
Photograph: Colin Robertson Roy
Within lies the new Chopard calibre 03.05-C, a chronograph movement assembled, designed and developed entirely at the Chopard workshops. This self-winding movement powers the hour, minutes, seconds, chronograph and aperture-type date functions. The Mille Miglia 2016 XL Race Edition is, then, a watch that marries alluring vintage design with a highly precise mechanism. Because although the race undertaken in unusually attractive cars, it is still won only through a combination of adept driving and rigorous discipline.
Photograph: Colin Robertson Roy
To see more photographs, or for information about the photographer, visit www.colinrobertsonroy.com
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