Since 2002, the luxury watches and jewellery brand Chopard has been the partner and official timekeeper of the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, one of the most prestigious events of classic car world featuring classic race cars from the pre-War period through the 1970s on the legendary Monte Carlo track, along the same route as the Formula 1 Grand Prix. For this year’s race, Chopard has launched two new limited-edition chronograph watches inspired by the classic cars.
Designed to support the competitors of the competition, the new chronograph Monaco Historic Grand Prix 2016 Race Edition is the essential tool of the automobile driver. Accurate, robust and perfect legibility, the Chopard Grand Prix de Monaco Historique Race Edition is offered in two versions: either a micro blasted stainless steel and titanium case (limited to 500 pieces) or an 18k rose gold case (limited to 100 pieces). The cases, which measure 44.5 mm in diameter and 14 mm thick, features clever details regarding classic-car design elements like the chronograph pushers formed like engine pistons.
The solid caseback is engraved with the logo of the Automobile Club of Monaco, which organizes the Grand Prix race, and is secured by screws that resembles the shape of automobile bolts.
Offering optimum readability, silver tone dial comes alive thanks to the light effects created by the gray and silver chronograph counters. The timer is itself punctuated index sconces shaped arrow. The orange second hand version titanium / steel blue and the pink gold version of 18K tick away the seconds. The hour and minute hand are treated with Super-LumiNova. The white-on-black date numeral appears in a window at 3 o’clock.
The movement is a COSC-chronometer-certified automatic with 25 jewels, a 28,800-vph frequency, and a 46-hour power reserve. Two interchangeable straps round off the sporty character of the new timekeeper: calf leather strap barenia in orange or blue stitching, for an elegant gentleman driver, or Nato gray strap accented with "racing stripes" orange or blue for a sporty and casual style.
Both have folding clasps in materials matching that of the case.
