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Kit O. Payumo
July 24, 2016     |    

Monaco Historique

Aside from the Mille Miglia, Chopard’s other love in the south of France.

The OTHER vintage racecar competition that Karl-Friedrich Scheufele is obsessed with, the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, is another exclusive car race that brings together racecars dating from before World War II through to the 1970s and has them racing through what is arguably the most famous racetrack in the world every two years.

Just like the prestigious Mille Miglia in Italy, the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique is a key highlight in the classic racing calendar and, thus, sees the Chopard Co-President personally involved. Indeed, because of Karl-Friedrich Scheufele’s participation, Chopard has been the vintage race’s main sponsor and official timekeeper since 2002.

Organized by the Automobile Club de Monaco, this biennial rendezvous for passionate devotees of vintage automobiles began in 1997 and is an authentic speed trial run that turns the spotlight on a wide variety of vintage automobiles from the world’s oldest and finest car manufacturers.

The 10th edition of the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique ran this year for two days, from May 14 to 15, along the legendary Monte-Carlo circuit, the same route of the even-more-famous Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco, which is held only a fortnight later. And as key sponsor and official timekeeper, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele brought along two new Chopard chronographs made exclusively for the competitors taking part in the race.

A typical vintage sight along the very-modern Monte-Carlo race circuit.

Part of the Chopard Grand Prix de Monaco Historique collection, the new Grand Prix de Monaco Historique 2016 Race Edition is being called “an indispensable instrument for racing drivers,” and like the other race inspired timing instruments from the brand, takes design cues from either the cars, or race by which it is inspired from.

This means, the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique 2016 Race Edition is not only accurate, but also rugged and perfectly readable. Looking very much a part of the vintage world that inspired it, the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique 2016 Race Edition is available in two versions: in shotblasted titanium and stainless steel, or in 18-carat rose gold, which are issued in 500-piece and 100-piece editions respectively. To further differentiate the two, both variants feature the same silver-toned dial but with different accents, the shotblasted titanium & steel version has orange accents while the rose gold model has accents in blue.

Indeed, Chopard’s newest vintage racecar inspired watch looks like it just stepped out of a 1950s or 60s television show and is fitted with pushers shaped like engine pistons and a grey bezel with a tachymetric scale that is ideal for calculating average speeds during the race. This makes its 44.5 mm-diameter case a bit of an anachronism. Nevertheless the watch features a back engraved with the Automobile Club de Monaco logo and is secured by screws reminiscent of automobile bolts.

Because of Karl-Friedrich Scheufele’s participation, Chopard has been the vintage race’s main sponsor and official timekeeper since 2002

Water-resistant to 100 metres, the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique 2016 Race Edition is powered by a high-precision horological ‘engine,’ chronometer-certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). A number of watches in the Mille Miglia line are already driven by in-house Chopard movements but the Chopard Grand Prix de Monaco Historique collection still uses Chopard-finished ETA movements. Thus, this ETA 7750-sourced self-winding chronograph movement beats at 4Hz, is endowed with a 46-hour power reserve, and offers hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph, and date functions.

Chopard also gives us a couple of strap choices designed especially to match with leather driving gloves and driving helmets: a Barenia calfskin strap with orange or blue stitching, for a vintage kind of elegance typical of older gentlemen drivers; or the grey NATO strap bearing orange or blue racing stripes for a more relaxed sporty style.

As far as Karl-Friedrich Scheufele is concerned, this is how racing should be: speed imbued with the thrill and romance of yesteryear. And with the new Grand Prix de Monaco Historique 2016 Race Edition, that won’t be coming to a close anytime soon.

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