Baume & Mercier to be Official Timekeeper for Historic Grand
The passion for engines unites Italy almost as much as the national soccer team, if not more. This enthusiasm reaches beyond modern machinery and adopts historic cars, whether they are Gran Turismo models or competition vehicles. The Gentleman magazine experienced the fervor first-hand last weekend as a guest of the Historic Grand Prix of Italy, an event that revived the history of auto racing at the Mugello circuit in Tuscany.
Timekeeping at the Tuscan Circuit
Baume & Mercier served as the official timekeeper for the gathering, aligning itself with a universe of legendary vehicles and historic eras. The brand’s designation as official timekeeper for the 2026 edition of the Historic Grand Prix of Italy connects two worlds: precise chronometry and the preservation of tradition. Organizers, HVM Racing in collaboration with Ferrari Corse Clienti, brought together iconic race cars, celebrated drivers, collectors, and enthusiasts at the Tuscan circuit.
The Saturday schedule was packed, beginning in the afternoon. This era is often called the Golden Age of the Cavallino Rampante, a decade defined by Michael Schumacher’s five World Championship titles. The machines completed three demonstration laps before forming a parade in front of the grandstand, where fans in red shirts filled the seats. The numbers from the organizers speak of about 30,000 tickets sold on Saturday alone.
Former Ferrari drivers were behind the wheels, including René Arnoux, Giancarlo Fisichella, Mika Salo, Stefan Johansson, Eddie Irvine, and Luca Badoer. The afternoon continued with a grid walk before the Masters Racing Legends race, featuring F1 cars from 1966 to 1985. Attendees could see and touch legendary machines such as the McLaren driven by Niki Lauda, the Williams of Jody Scheckter, and the iconic black-and-gold JPS Lotus.
Read Also: Italian NPL Servicers Crisis Prompts Legal Sector Evolution
Sound and Speed of a Bygone Era
The day concluded with a cocktail party on the autodrome terrace, where guests, car owners, teams, and drivers mingled under the Tuscan sky.
To honor this connection, the watchmaker introduced two limited-edition timepieces born from a shared passion for precision and Italian motorsport tradition: the Riviera 10897 and the Classima 10898.
The chronograph Riviera 10897 features a distinctive 12-sided case. Its 41 mm steel housing alternates between polished and satin surfaces and frames a white opaline dial. Green sub-dials contrast with red chronograph hands, creating a graphic composition that mirrors the colors of the Historic Grand Prix of Italy. The dial displays “Official Timekeeper GPSI,” confirming the link to the event. A sapphire case-back reveals the customized back and the heart of the watch: an automatic Valjoux 7753 movement, operating at 4 Hz with a 48-hour power reserve. The piece includes a black rubber strap with a woven pattern and is water-resistant to 10 bar.
The Classima 10898 expresses the spirit of the event through its details. The 42 mm polished steel case has a thickness of 6.2 mm thanks to the quartz movement inside. The black dial shows a satin sunburst finish, Roman numerals, and leaf-shaped hands. A red “60” at 12 o’clock serves as a motorsport reference. The customized case-back bears the name of the Historic Grand Prix of Italy, while the black calf-leather strap features a carbon-effect finish and red stitching. The Classima 10898 is also equipped with a system of interchangeable bars that allows the strap to be replaced without tools.
