It was 1929 when the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este car show was held for the first time on the banks of the glamorous Lake Como. Since then, the automotive extravaganza has grown into the world’s leading event for showcasing rare and historic vehicles, its stylish spirit and old-school hedonistic charm as vibrant as ever.

German watchmaker A Lange & Söhne began backing the show in 2012 as an official partner, a little more than a year after its current CEO, Wilhelm Schmid, took the reins of the Glashütte brand. As part of the event’s annual awards ceremony, the watchmaker presents the winner of the “Best of Show” category with a trophy and a special-edition one-off timepiece.

At this year’s contest, which runs from May 19-21, the company will present the victor with a unique iteration of its 1815 Chronograph. Spun in white gold, the 2023 Concorso Edition of the 1815 – the first pure chronograph from the brand since 2004 – is driven by Lange’s manufacture calibre L951.5.

The 1815 Chronograph is powered by Lange’s manufacture calibre L951.5, which comprises 306 parts

As with every Lange watch, the 306 parts of this manually wound movement have been finished with the greatest care and even assembled twice to meet the highest of standards. Linking this classic watch with classic cars, the calibre also boasts a column-wheel control, a snail for the precisely jumping minute counter, and refined flyback function.

The caseback features a stunning relief of the Concorso crest

But that’s not all. What truly makes the new 1815 unique is the Concorso crest relief, which has been painstakingly hand-engraved on its hinged cuvette over nine days. Complete with a pink gold dial, the resulting watch is quite the visual marvel, boasting beautiful aesthetics and artisanal complexity in equal measure.

‘Like the works of art on wheels exhibited here, the timepiece combines classic design with masterful mechanics,’ explains Schmid, who will present the winning watch at the awards ceremony on Sunday evening. ‘It is a sign of our admiration for automotive works of art that were way ahead of their time, and their owners, who passionately take care to preserve the timeless elegance of the mechanics.’

POA; alange-soehne.com