Eight Watches That Capture the Magic of Vintage Motorsports

On July 17, the historic Peking to Paris Motor Challenge came to a close in the City of Light. Originally staged in 1907, the legendary 8,500-mile race—which begins at the Great Wall and winds through Mongolia, Russia, Belarus, and Western Europe—was restarted in 1997 by the Endurance Rally Association. This year’s event marked the fifth modern reenactment and the second since Swiss watchmaker Frederique Constant signed on as sponsor and official timekeeper. But the Geneva-based firm is hardly the only Swiss brand preoccupied with vintage motorsports. From Chopard’s longtime affiliation with the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique to Richard Mille’s partnership with the Le Mans Classic, high-end watchmakers are besotted with a bygone automotive era, and they have created a slew of timepieces bearing racing stripes, perforated straps, and classic insignia to commemorate their collective nostalgia. Here, RobbReport.com surveys our favorites.