Watchmaking is often associated with cutting-edge and passionate fields such as the automobile. Search for perfection, racy aesthetics, and culture of detail, the parallels between the two sectors are numerous. Thus, the cars cut for the asphalt, mounted on four wheels, often have the right to their counterparts with four horns and needles. The proof with this new sale organized in Bordeaux by the Quinconces auction house, in partnership with Vintage Watch Story and its watchmaking expert, Jean-Christophe Guyon.
As usual, the specialist – who notably sold Ettore Bugatti’s Mido watch in 2021 for 280,000 euros – set up a sale with the aim of reaching as many people as possible, vintage vehicle enthusiasts or not. From 50 to more than 10,000 euros and through 72 lots, this auction will immerse bidders and amateurs in the intimacy of the collection of a former gentleman driver. The latter has accumulated a set of watches produced in limited edition and recovered from races or ordered from automobile clubs that he frequented as a driver or spectator. “So-called “circuit” references that you could only buy if you went to such and such a race or if you owned such and such a car”, underlines Jean-Christophe Guyon.
Subscription timepieces, only available at sporting events, include lots 20 and 22 from the Philippe Charriol brand. These are two pilot’s chronographs made between the years 1990 and 2000 and estimated between 1,500 and 2,000 euros. The first was made as a tribute to the Venturi team and the 400 LM cars entered at Le Mans while the second celebrates the racing version of the ‘Lamborghini Diablo’. In addition, the session will highlight a selection of watches created as promotional tools for American manufacturers such as Ford, Chevrolet, Buick or Chrysler who offered them to their best customers or the most successful sellers. This is the case of lot 5, a Chevrolet watch mounted on a chrome case in the shape of a 1920s automobile radiator and offered to the brand’s personnel in 1927 (est. 300-600 euros).
We will obviously find the Ferrari brand, which has forged numerous watchmaking partnerships with Swiss manufacturers, such as lot 23. This piece, the flagship lot of the sale, is a Pilote Super Car Ferrari F50 chronograph in pink gold, produced 50 copies for the release of the car presented for the first time in 1995. The watch, from the firm Schwarz Etienne, was designed for the German market around 1998 and is accompanied by its sculpture of the prancing horse in plexiglass (is . €12,000-15,000). Also noteworthy is a set of racing chronos signed Girard-Perregaux, including lot 27 with a split-seconds watch produced in a limited series for the Italian Grand Prix in 1996 and in honor of Michael Schumacher on the Scuderia Ferrari ( est. 3,500-5,000 euros).
As for the myths of car racing, the sale will offer lot 28, a rare yellow gold chronograph from the house of Chopard. This was produced from 2002 to 2012 at each Monaco Historic Grand Prix and always in a very limited edition. On its cream dial, we find the words “Monaco Historique 2002” and the coat of arms of the Automobile Club de Monaco at 6 o’clock (est. 5,000-8,000 euros). Finally, let’s mention lots 44 and 49 with, on the one hand, a pilot’s chrono from Ikepod, produced in the 2000s in 888 copies for the team of Briggs Cunningham, a pilot and creator of a car team which began construction of sports cars in 1940 (est. 1,500-2,000 euros). On the other hand, an original reference made for Ayrton Senna when he was in the F1 Lotus team between 1985 and 1987. Designed by Pininfarina and produced by Orfina, this rectangular-shaped watch features a yellow dial on which the Lotus F1 logo produced for the driver’s Swiss fan club (est. 400-800 euros).
“Collection of watches of a gentleman driver”, June 4, 2023, Bordeaux Quinconces Auction House. Sale operated at Darwin Eco-system, 87 Quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux and on the Interencheres platform.
