The year 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of prestigious Grand Prix Automobile of Monaco edition 1968 and the 10th anniversary of Ateliers deMonaco, the haute-horlogerie brand originated in Monaco.
Now based in Switzerland, Ateliers deMonaco marks these historical milestones by creating a bespoke watch named « Grand Prix de Monaco 1968 » inspired by the official poster of this Grand Prix signed by Michael Turner.
The official poster of Grand Prix de Monaco 1968 edition featured the image of 1967’s winner, Denny Hulme driving his Babham-Repco.
Major highlight of this special watch is its hand engraved dial realized by master-engraver Mr Bernard Ditzoff. The masterpiece’s dial is composed of three different plates made of 18K white gold. Applied on each other, this construction allows for an impressive relief effect.
The first plate represents the Grand Prix of Monaco 1967’s winner, Denny Hulme driving his Babham-Repco, he is closely followed by Graham Hill and his Lotus turning the gasworks hairpin. On the second plate lays the prestigious Monaco harbour and surrounding buildings. Lastly, the third plate is dedicated to the French Riviera’s partly cloudy speckled sky. To sublime the dial, dauphine shaped hands sweep by small lozenge indexes, the iconic symbol of Ateliers deMonaco.
The watch has a hand-brushed, hand-polished and hand-assembled 18K white gold 44mm diameter case. The sapphire case-back offers the view of the dMc 700 Ateliers deMonaco manufacture movement. This self-winding mechanical movement includes 26 rubies, has a frequency of 28’800 vibrations per hour and a 40-hour power-reserve.
What distinguishes this movement is the delicate finishing such as a 22k hand-engraved gold rotor representing the crown of the Principality of Monaco, hand-decorated bridges: Gear-train bridge, balance-cock and barrel-bar are magnified by a circular-graining. The automatic device bridge is decorated with lozenge forms, the Ateliers deMonaco signature.
The hand-stitched alligator leather strap and its 18K white gold folding buckle bring a refined finish to this unique piece.
Technical details
Model: Bespoke – Grand Prix de Monaco 1968
Reference: dMc-MC-GP3-WG
Movement
Automatic dMc-700 caliber
28800 vibrations per hour (4 Hrz)
40-hour power reserve
26 jewels
Hand decoration on all bridges
Circular graining, lozenge pattern engraved
22K gold hand-engraved rotor
Silicium escape wheel
Functions
Hours, minutes, center seconds
Case
18K white gold
Ultra-light titanium core
Diameter 44 MM
Height 13.1 MM
31 parts
Brushed, polished and assembled by hand
Multi-layered anti-reflection coating on front and back sapphire crystal
Case back secured with 4 screws
Water-resistant up to 3 ATM
Dial
3 layers 18K white gold applied by hand
Hand-engraved dial showing poster of Grand Prix of Monaco1968
Hands: Dauphine
Strap
Hand-stitched alligator leather
18K white gold and titanium folding buckle
Edition
Unique piece
