Photo Report: Watch And Car Spotting At The 2016 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este With A. Lange & Sohne

May 24, 2016

Some weekends are definitely better spent than others. Courtesy of A. Lange & Sohne, we spent ours at Lake Como, in Italy, in order to follow the years most important European rendezvous of classic automobiles, the 2016 Concorso d'Eleganza (says a European, who has never been to Pebble Beach C the other unmissable show of the calendar year). Sitting in front of the Grand Hotel Villa dEste, their backs turned to the sun, collectors and participants gathered to watch some of the rarest and most prized automobiles drive by while sipping on Prosecco and Aprol Spritz C the local cocktail that the rest of Europe has adopted this summer. Austro Daimler ADR 6 Bergmeister, 1932. That afternoon, the choicest collection of vintage automobiles C only 50-odd models make the cut each year since the competitions inception in 1929 C presented themselves one after the other and in front of an international jury, hoping to capture top honors in one of eight different classes, which include "Pre-War Decadence C Flights of Automotive Fantasy" and "Driven by Excess C Cars of the Studio 54 Era, 1975-1986." Ferrari 365 GBT/4 Berlinetta Boxer with Targa roof, formerly owned by Clint Eastwood, in front of a Ferrari 275 GTB/4 formely owned by Steve McQueen. The experts were looking for automobiles of exceptional quality and interesting provenance C but two cars that created the most small talk were Pininfarina-signed icons owned at one time by American icons. The two Ferraris, which once belonged to Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood, were competing in the "Cars Of The Stars" category. While the concourse was the cornerstone event of the weekend, BMW, as title sponsor of the show, gave sci-fi enthusiasts something to dream about with the introduction of a sample of its most promising concepts, including the new 2002 Hommage Concept (based on the 2-series Coupe) and the R5 Hommage Concept motorcycle. BMW 2002 Hommage Concept, based on the M2. Also pitching its tent in the gardens of Villa dEste since 2012 is another acclaimed German manufacturer, A. Lange & Sohne, which annually presents a custom edition of the Lange 1 Time Zone to the winner of the Best of Show category. A. Lange & Sohne CEO Wilhelm Schmid welcomed guests to Villa d'Este. In the VIP area, Lange collectors shared their timepieces C mostly of the complicated variety (see which ones we spotted below). Some came to see cars; others preferred to look at the Riva boats passing by. But all seemed fascinated for the other raison dtre of the Concorso: the parade of flamboyant wardrobes vying for ?attention C the sartorial competition was very much alive in this part of Italy, where Berluti leather treads the same gravel as Pirelli tires. A. Lange & Sohne Watches Spotted On Collectors' Wrists A. Lange & Sohne Zeitwerk Striking Time. A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Time Zone in platinum. A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Time Zone. A prototype of the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon, on the wrist of A. Lange & Sohne CEO Wilhelm Schmid. A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1. On my wrist, the A. Lange & Sohne Saxonia Annual Calendar in platinum. Cars At The Concorso Bizzarrini GT Europa 1900, 1968. Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ, 1961. Ferrari 275 GTB/4, 1967. Bugatti 57 SC Atalante, 1937. Lancia Astura Serie III, 1933. Lancia Astura Serie IV, 1937. Facel Vega Facel II, 1962. Ferrari 365 GT/4 Berlinetta Boxer. Lamborghini LP 400 Countach "Walter Wolf," 1976. Jaguar XK 120, 1952. Pegaso Z-102, 1951. Austin-Healy 3000 MKIII, 1964. Porsche 550 RS, 1955. Lancia Aurelia B52, 1953. Jaguar C-Type, 1952. Siata 208 S, 1954. Lancia Astura Serie III, in front of the judges. On Saturday evening, just as spectators began to lose count of the number of drinks added to their tabs, they were reminded of their favorite car of the day when the jury announced the winner of the publics choice award C which this year landed on the Lancia Astura S2 Berlinetta and its sensuous, clean lines. Pegaso Z-102, 1951. Lancia Astura Serie IV, 1937. Squire 1 1/2 Litre Long Chassis, 1935. Ferrari 275 GTB/4, 1967. Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, 1961. Pegaso Z-102, 1951. Lamborghini Miura P 400 SV, 1971. Lamborghini LP 400 Countach "Walter Wolf," 1976. BMW 328 Hommage concept car Siata 208 S, 1954. Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental, 1934. Ferrari 330 GTC, 1966. The 'Best Of Show' Award And A. Lange & Sohne Prize The winning Maserati A6 GCS. At a special gala dinner hosted on Sunday by A. Lange & Sohne at Villa d'Este, the company's CEO, Wilhelm Schmid, presented the Best of Show award to the Maserati A6 GCS. Made in 1954, the stunning Italian roadster, which seemed at home on the banks of Lake Como, also won its owner a customized Lange 1 Time Zone, with the city of Como claiming the disc-position usually reserved for Berlin. He joins a esteemed group of Lange champions, including a certain Mr. Ralph Lauren. A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 Time Zone presented to the Best of Show. The limited edition, white-gold Lange 1 Time Zone features a special engraving of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este coat of arms. Hand-engraved coat of arms on the back of the watch. For more information, please visit A. Lange & Sohne. And a full lineup of competitors during this year's Concorso d'Eleganza can be found here. Bonus: Vintage Watch Spotting At the Concorso d'Eleganza Rolex Pre-Daytona reference 6238 in yellow gold. 1940s Breitling chronograph with Venus calibre 170. Rolex Submariner reference 6200. 1960s Rolex reference 6234 "Underline." Patek Philippe Calatrava. Omega Speedmaster. The Longines Nonius reference 8271 on the wrist of Valentino Balboni, Lamborghini's first chief test driver. Valentino Balboni. Patek Philippe reference 1463 in yellow gold with Tiffany dial. For your mobile reading pleasure, with years of archived watch content plus new stories, breaking news, and access to great new features like HODINKEE Live, download the HODINKEE mobile app, free on iOS.