Where: Lake Como, Italy
Watch: A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Chronograph
When: 1:50 p.m.
Every May since 1929, car lovers, collectors, and enthusiasts have motored over to the the glamorous Villa d’Este, tucked on the shores of Lake Como. They come for the annual Concorso d'Eleganza, where about 50 world-class automobiles dating from the 1920s to the 1970s are judged on their beauty, design, and rarity. This was my first Concorso, and as a classic car fan I could not have been happier.
For the last seven years, German watchmaker A. Lange & Söhne has been a major sponsor of the event, awarding the "Best of Show" each year with a very special one-of-a-kind, hand-engraved watch. In Como for the Concorso this week, I was delighted to wear their 1815 Chronograph. Its black dial and white gold case has a classic design paired with advanced technology. I photographed my 1815 on the gearbox of one of this year's winners, a 1976 Lamborghini Miura, and the thoughtful and beautiful design of each made it a match made in heaven. The chronograph’s stopwatch would certainly have also come in handy if I'd had the chance to take this original, unrestored Miura for a lap around the track. Well, maybe another time...
'Time and Place' is Matt Hranek's regular dispatch on the latest watches from around the globe for Condé Nast Traveler. #watchwednesdays @wmbrownproject