By Breguet Blog
June 13th, 2021
We declare that the splendor of the world has been enriched by a new beauty: the beauty of speed. A racing automobile with its bonnet adorned with great tubes like serpents with explosive breath… a roaring motor car which seems to run on machine-gun fire, is more beautiful than the Victory of Samothrace.
—Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, The Futurist Manifesto (1909)
THE LONDON CONCOURS is a luxurious automobile exhibition hosted and presented by Montres Breguet every year right in the heart of the City of London. Some of the world’s most precious cars gather in the garden square of The Honourable Artillery Company Headquarters, a five-acre oasis of green close to Bank. This year the event took place from Tuesday 8th to Thursday 10th June beginning with a VIP preview day of the nearly 100 rare and iconic luxury cars of all ages, especially curated and arranged by theme thanks to the editorial panel of Octane Magazine.
Apart from a rich display of motor transport, guests were able to view luxury brands and artisan goods from fine jewellery to bespoke suits over the course of the three-day event and enjoy entertainment including a delicious selection of food and beverages.
Breguet, as the main presenter, had a wonderful marquee by the main steps into the gardens. On display were Breguet’s new Marine watches available in contemporary titanium, rose and white gold, ranging from rubber to full bracelet to alligator straps. The Breguet Marine Équation Marchante ref. 5887 wristwatch is the masterpiece of the new collection available in rose gold or platinum featuring a running equation of time, perpetual calendar and tourbillon. This watch is graced with a slim, platinum peripheral rotor set in harmony against the bridges which carry an elaborate engraving of a French 19th century ship, Royal Louis.
Other watches on display included the Grande Complication Tourbillon Extra-Plat in celebration of the 220th year of the Tourbillon Regulator patented by Breguet on 26th June 1801. These elegant wristwatches are available in rose gold or platinum with either enamel or guilloche dials. The Tourbillon Extra-Plat is complimented by a number of new models in the Classique range such as ref. 5177, 7137 and 7337 – watches that exude a timeless elegance now and far into the future.
Breguet’s current collection of the Type XXI and XXII pilot chronographs were also on display. Prospective clients may be pleased to know that some exciting new releases are due shortly for the Type XXI.
A second marquee was dedicated to ladies watches and Breguet displayed a number of superlative new additions to the Reine de Naples collection. One of the shining stars in the new collection is ref. 8918 in 18-carat white gold with white “grand feu” enamel and beautiful blue Breguet Arabic numerals. Other models in this range come with exquisite mother-of-pearl dials and all of them feature a diamond fabulously set at six-o’clock in an oval-shaped window. Many other brilliant models adorn the Reine de Naples collection, including the Reine de Naples Jour/Nuit refs. 8999/8998 as well as 8978 and 8973, two stunning Grande Complication wristwatches in white gold with hour strike and alarm on/off indicator set with one diamond.
The Cars
Now for the moment we have all been waiting for. Breguet Blog presents a selection of cars from the VIP preview on Tuesday 8th June:
As is the case every year, the cars are judged by experts led by members of the London Concours Steering Committee, who award an overall winner and a winner in each class. These are the winners:
Great Marques – Lotus, sponsored by Lotus – Lotus Eleven LM50
Great Marques – Porsche – Porsche 356 Carrera Coupe
200MPH Club, sponsored by Cover Car – Ferrari F40
The Italian Berlinettas, sponsored by Moss Automotive – Maserati Ghibli
The Young Timers – Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC Koenig Special
The Kustom Klass, sponsored by Vintage Hot Rod Association – 1941 Ford Coupe
The Lost Marques, sponsored by Montres Breguet – AC Ace
Best in Show – Lotus Eleven LM50Chairman’s award – Ferrari 250 SWB / Comptezione Sefac Hot Rod
For more information and a full breakdown of the days’ events, please visit: https://londonconcours.co.uk.
Breguet Blog would like to thank Montres Breguet for hosting us and for presenting another world class annual event. The London Concours 2021 was outstanding in every respect and blessed with magnificent sunshine every day. Car connoisseurs as well as admirers of high horology were in their element and for those that could not make it this year, we hope to have captured some of the spirited excitement for you in this article. Au revoir et à l’année prochaine!
Acknowledgements
We would like to offer a sincere debt of gratitude to Montres Breguet for presenting one of the most unique automobile shows in the world and The Honourable Artillery Company for providing this very special venue including all the dedicated staff who make this event happen with such esprit.
Photographs © Breguet Blog. All rights reserved
Article © BreguetBlog.com 2021. All rights reserved