Luxury watches have 3 major defining groups or styles: those designed for aviation, diving and motor racing. The Chopard Jacky Ickx obviously falls into the 3rd category as a living testament to the eponymous living Belgian hero. Undoubtedly a master of endurance, he completed 6 separate 24 hour Le Mans events – a grueling test of physical and mental stamina, as well as 25 podium finishes in formula 1.
Streets ahead of any other racing watch on the market
Jacky was part of the old school of racing car drivers, back when the ordinary number of drivers for a Le Mans competition was 2. Now, for driver safety reasons, the minimum number of drivers is 3 and no driver is allowed to drive for more than 4 hours. Whilst this is certainly advancement in the safety of the race, it’s just a small insight into the determination it took to compete before such a rule was in place. Drivers like Eddie Hall even tried to complete the race solo planning to save time by not stopping to change drivers. This watch represents that old toughness with its classically handsome aesthetic and rugged, shock resistant, reliable design
This watch captures the definitive style of the classic racing watch so effortlessly as to make it look easy to outside observers. The racing red of two of the counters and the second hand are just a small stylistic nod to the image of high-speed racing. The watch also includes the world’s first 24 hour counter – a tribute to the sporting career of Ickx himself. The chronograph buttons are both shaped like pistons, a detail small enough to go unnoticeable if you were to just glance at the watch.
In the sport of motor-endurance time is everything; accuracy, efficiency and energy conservation are what can make or break any race and this watch reflects that sense of time management with its flawless precision. The 42.5mm steel case is also available in rose gold, which is not a trait is has in common with most sports cars. However, Chopard have always been the front-runners when it comes to racing watches and with another excellent model like this it’s easy to see why.