Cars & motorsport
Exclusive Video: A. Lange & Söhne Highlights from the 2026 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este
As a relative newcomer to the classic car concours world, my trip to the season-opening event in sunny Italy last week was full of thrilling twists and turns. In more ways than you might expect, as you will see.
By Ash Longet
Director
I have attended a couple of classic car concours events in my time at Watchonista, but I have to assume that my recent trip to the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, hosted by its partner, A. Lange & Söhne, is setting the bar very high for any I might be lucky enough to attend moving forward.
Last weekend presented picture-perfect Italian Lake District weather and breathtaking scenery at the elegant grounds of the Villa d’Este estate and Villa Erbe park, where exquisite craftsmanship meets undeniable beauty – in both the classic automotive and haute horological worlds.
Deep Thoughts on Cars and Timepieces
I am particularly grateful to have spent some time interviewing A. Lange & Söhne CEO Wilhelm Schmid, who told me he began collecting classic cars at the tender age of 17. His insights in the video below not only helped orient me to the concours world but also helped me understand the important connections between fine timepieces and fine automobiles.
Collectors in both world’s share less of a sense of proud ownership and more of a sense of honored custodianship. According to Schmid, words like engineering and emotion or tradition and innovation are not mutually exclusive in this profound intersection. Enjoy the video!
Best of Show
In addition to our interview, I was delighted to tag along with the CEO on a “private tour” of some of the vehicles in the field that he thought were particularly impressive. As the CEO of a German watchmaker, he proudly brought me over to a rare-but-influential 1938 BMW 328 “Bügelfalte” racing roadster (the nickname means “trouser crease” in English, referring to the car’s prominent center bonnet seam).
At the time, I don’t think Schmid had too many hopes for how this car would ultimately perform in the judging, but the fact that this vintage BMW ended up winning the coveted Best of Show prize that weekend is a testament to his skilled eye and unmatched taste.
The German car’s Italian owner, Stefano Matinoli, who is no stranger to the concours circuit, took home the “Trofeo BMW Group – Best of Show” trophy. But that’s not all he got.
Per Lange’s show tradition (this marks the watchmaker’s 15th year of partnership with the Villa d’Este concours), he was also presented with an exquisite, one-of-a-kind, white-gold 1815 Chronograph “Como Edition” timepiece with a solid pink-gold dial and hinged, cuvette hunter-style caseback with a manually engraved Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este coat of arms.
“Thanks to A. Lange & Söhne, we have been able to offer our competition entrants a special highlight every year since 2012: the presentation of the winner's watch. We are proud of our long-standing partnership, which is characterized by a shared commitment to tradition, craftsmanship, and innovation,” Helmut Käs, Head of BMW Group Classic and President of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, said at the presentation.
Life is a Cabaret
As an added first-for-Villa d’Este bonus, Lange also debuted a stunning, unexpected Cabaret Tourbillon Honeygold limited edition timepiece novelty in concert with the concours.
Since its debut, we’ve seen this marvelous timepiece garner a great deal of attention from collectors and the industry press this week, not only for its impressive design and high watchmaking details, but also for the rebirth of its sophisticated rectangular form.
Introduced in 1997, and unvisited since 2013, the 29.5 by 39.2mm timepiece is an object-lesson reminder of how not only in how masterfully the watchmaker’s unmistakable DNA can harmoniously integrate into a non-circular case design, but also how well its alluring, warm-hued, proprietary honey-gold alloy can add unique visual punch and understated elegance to a timepiece.
Buckle Up
The maison’s concours partnership plans this season include the regal Concours of Elegance Hampton Court Palace in the UK, September 4 to 6, and the US’s always exceptional Audrain Concours & Motor Week running October 1 to 4 in Newport, Rhode Island. I, for one, can’t wait to see the exciting results.
To learn more about A. Lange & Söhne’s special commitment to classic cars, visit this dedicated page.