Depancel shifts gears with Allure Manual Chronograph British Racing Green

Press release

September 2024

The young French watch brand created this limited edition as the official watch partner for ‘Masters Historic Racing’ at the Silverstone Festival 2024. With the recognition garnered from its products, the company is now charging ahead to expand partnerships and rethinking its distribution strategy.

Depancel shifts gears with Allure Manual Chronograph British Racing Green

Press release

September 2024

Depancel shifts gears with Allure Manual Chronograph British Racing Green

ow many motorsport enthusiasts have dreamed of hearing the race official give this command over the loudspeaker above the pits at Silverstone? This magical moment always precedes the start of the six Masters grids at the Silverstone Festival.

On the starting grids, legends of the track align. Rare, high-performance single-seaters, polished to perfection, represent the pinnacle of the golden age of Formula 1. As over 150,000 fans hold their breath, the atmosphere crackles like the live wire of a Grand Prix starting line. Nearly 1,000 cars, with seasoned pros but also passionate amateurs at the wheel, throb with the heartbeat of pure competition.

Far from just a spectacle, these six races are fiercely competitive from the moment the flag drops, with lap times contested to the tenth of a second. This makes precision timekeeping as crucial today as it was in the 50s and 60s when drivers and team managers depended on their mechanical chronographs.

To ensure the performance of the drivers, Masters Historic Racing places its trust in Depancel for this major event in the international historic racing calendar. The young French watch brand, founded by Clément Meynier from jura in 2018, has been given the prestigious role of Official Sponsor of the Masters series.

For enthusiasts of fine mechanics and the roar of powerful engines, Silverstone is more than just a circuit bridging the counties of Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire near Oxford, in the heart of England. It’s a place where time and space converge to celebrate the history of motorsport.

As electrifying today as in its storied past, the magic of motorsport at Silverstone is palpable: a fusion of raw emotion, wild imagination, and cutting-edge technical innovation. Just a stone’s throw from the track, in the expansive industrial area, the research and development centres of top F1 teams are ceaselessly innovating, pushing today’s race cars to their limits.

The track itself, a converted Royal Air Force base first used for racing in 1948, hosted the inaugural Formula 1 race on May 13, 1950. Known as the permanent home of the British Grand Prix - an iconic stop on the F1 world championship circuit - Silverstone also plays host to numerous other events, including the vintage-focused Silverstone Festival each August.

For every motor racing enthusiast, Silverstone represents a hallowed playground where emotions run deep and genuine. Strapping into a historic single-seater, whether from the 1960s or the early 2000s, means embracing the legends of the past and becoming one with motorsport history. Feeling the wheels grip the scorching asphalt of this historic track, one is transported through time, tracing the tyre tracks of legendary drivers like Stirling Moss, Lewis Hamilton, Jim Clark, Nigel Mansell, Michael Schumacher, and Alain Prost, who have all contributed to Silverstone’s rich legacy.

This profound connection is why collectors, recapturing the unbridled joy of their youth, don genuine racing suits just as they once put on pretend gloves and strapped on a pretend helmet – and embrace a narrative they proudly claim as their own. For any racing enthusiast, a pilgrimage to Silverstone is a must-do at least once in a lifetime, and way up there on the bucket list.

Depancel, steadfast in its commitment to preserving the spirit of classic sport, honors this tradition – and not only by employing advanced timekeeping technology for the event. Indeed, The French watchmaker will be rewarding the victors at Silverstone with a custom Allure British Racing Green watch, personalised as a tribute to the enduring spirit of Masters Historic Racing.

A timepiece with a bold character, the Depancel Allure Manual Chronograph in British Racing Green epitomises the brand’s philosophy. Modern in its finish and reliability, this watch is powered by the manual winding Seagull ST1901 chronograph movement, assembled by French watchmakers at Depancel, and offers an ample 45-hour power reserve. It is a proud addition to the Allure collection.

Stylistically, the watch stands out with its distinctive ‘mono-eye’ dial design.

To ensure instant readability, especially while driving, Depancel has equipped the watch with colour-differentiated sub-dials that harmonise with the dial’s hues while providing striking contrasts. Ideally positioned at three o’clock, the minute counter of the chronograph is black with yellow markings, while the small seconds counter at nine o’clock is in British Racing Green with white markings. Crafted for race car drivers and motorsport enthusiasts alike, the chronograph is encased in a stainless steel body with a 39mm diameter.

This size resonates deeply, reflecting the spirit of the sporty chronographs worn by professional drivers in the 1960s and 70s. Attention to detail is paramount. A closer look at the dial reveals that every feature has been designed to reflect the philosophy of this sporty piece, reminiscent of the golden age of racing – a time of boldness and carefree attitudes, creativity, discovery, and experimentation. The automobile represented freedom. Facing danger, drivers exhibited remarkable courage. As famously summed up by Jackie Stewart, one of the greatest F1 drivers, “It was a time when sex was safe and motor racing was dangerous.”

A period during which Britain was already recognised as a hub for motorsport. Although the first ever automobile race took place in France, the British were pivotal contributors. Fearless and passionate about mechanical innovations, they participated in all the major events. Innovative manufacturers and daring drivers left a lasting impression, etching an indelible green mark in the imaginations of F1 enthusiasts. Indeed, the first world championship Formula One race, the 1950 British Grand Prix, took place at Silverstone Circuit.

Its storied past dates back to the Gordon Bennett Cup. Established in 1899, this pioneering motor racing competition first unfolded in France, with drivers representing their national colours. In a gallant gesture on the occasion of the 1903 edition in Ireland, the British team adopted the host country’s traditional “Shamrock Green”, a choice that would stick. By 1905, national colours were officially adopted and remained standard up until the Second World War. British Racing Green – ’BRG’ to those in the know – emerged as the favoured, though not obligatory, shade for British racers, dominating the scene until the late 1960s.

This deep, sophisticated, and richly evocative green serves as the ideal hue for the dial of the new Depancel Allure Manual Chronograph. Specially crafted for the Silverstone festival, this exclusive timepiece is part of a limited edition created for the Masters Historic Racing at Silverstone festival, with only 150 pieces produced. This dedication to uniqueness mirrors the overarching philosophy of the brand.

For vintage car enthusiasts, Depancel has become the watch brand of choice, merging everyday functionality with a style that echoes their passion. Whether participating in road rallies, track races, or classic car concours, owners can depend on their Depancel watches as effective and reliable instruments.

Depancel’s ethos extends beyond mere performance; it embraces a profound appreciation for automotive history. The brand name, an acronym created from the names of three major French car manufacturers Delage, Panhard, and Facel Vega - reflects a deep-rooted affection for this technical and aesthetic heritage. This legacy is more than symbolic; it has defined freedom and societal transformation, bringing joy and a multitude of technical and stylistic advancements to millions throughout the 20th century.

These meaningful themes are particularly significant to Clément Meynier. Raised with a deep-seated love for automotive culture, the founder of Depancel was driven to extend his creative vision into developing his own watch brand. “As an engineer, I’ve always been captivated by the elegance of mechanics and had a dual passion for automobiles and horology,” states Clément Meynier. “Originating from the Jura region, the cradle of fine Swiss watchmaking, my passion for horology was nurtured from a young age. Driven by curiosity and a desire to delve deeper, I trained as a watchmaker alongside my engineering work at the CERN research lab in Geneva.”

Empowered by this rich background, Meynier developed his unique watch concept and established Depancel in 2018, with a distinct mission: “I set out to create an alternative brand that would make fine mechanical watchmaking more accessible, not just financially but also from an educational perspective. The goal was to offer watches that represent the best possible value for money.” This commitment is underscored by an unwavering dedication to excellence, with each Depancel watch crafted with meticulous attention to detail and quality, guaranteeing both reliability and precision

Depancel’s innovative designs are distributed across two distinct collections that serve as the pillars of the brand: the prestigious Série-R and the sporty Allure family.

The Série-R, with its robust square casing, confidently displays its automotive heritage. The design inspiration is drawn from car grilles, and the dials are both refined and evocative. They incorporate decorative effects, colour stripes, and automotive-specific finishes such as engine turning - often used on pre-war Grand Prix car dashboards - capturing the essence of this realm and appealing to enthusiasts.

The Allure chronograph family not only celebrates a storied legacy and pays tribute to legendary drivers and iconic races but also offers a contemporary option for gentlemen drivers seeking a functional and effective piece for their driving adventures. The design brief requires adherence to specific standards, especially in terms of dial readability and counter visibility, enhanced by a domed glass. This feature, reminiscent of sporty chronographs from the 50s and 60s, is not only a nod to history but also provides proven technical benefits.

This philosophy of action allows Depancel to continually refine the models within the Allure family, much like race cars that evolve in design and technology over the seasons, while maintaining the distinct identity of each maker.

This year, a major novelty joins the Depancel stable: the Allure Mécaquartz Integrated. This new addition bolsters the classic Allure chronograph line-up, featuring a redesigned case that accommodates the brand’s first integrated metal bracelet.

The sporty timepiece is adorned with vibrant colours. The red and orange hues found on the three subsidiary dials and the tachymetric scale, designed for motorsport, are quintessentially 1970s. These distinctive colours perfectly match the bold philosophy and assertive design of this tri-compax chronograph, easily imagined on the wrist of a driver from that era.

The 1970s were a decade of modernist creativity and stylistic innovation. It was also a time of unbridled technical daring, not just in motorsport but in horology as well, with the new levels of precision offered by quartz technology.

Depancel couldn’t overlook the technological contributions that define this era, and naturally, Clément Meynier opted for a mecaquartz movement.

Blending the best of traditional watchmaking with scientific research, the mecaquartz system combines the traditional mechanical gear trains with the perfect regulation provided by the consistent oscillation of quartz crystal. A relevant solution that was embraced by the most prestigious manufacturers in the 1970s and early 1980s. Today, Depancel proudly revisits this hybrid of two techniques in its neo-vintage Allure Mécaquartz Integrated chronograph.

Depancel, a brand created by a true enthusiast for discerning aficionados, has united a passionate community of watchmaking and automotive culture lovers. In tune with the specific demands of this niche, Depancel is now gearing up to accelerate its development. The young watch brand is taking several strategic turns, not only by expanding its range of partnerships, but also by rethinking its selective distribution approach.

As demonstrated by the limited edition created for the Silverstone Master Series, Depancel is powering up its partnerships. Originally, the brand drew legitimacy for its early collections from the classic ethos of automotive giants from the 1930s to the 1950s. Much like racing cars have continually evolved in form and performance, Depancel constantly challenges itself to go further, now embracing new forms of partnerships and initiatives, as evident from its presence at significant collector and enthusiast events like Rétromobile Paris - one of Europe’s most important shows - and Epoqu’Auto in Lyon. Depancel is also the official sponsor of the GPX racing team, which fields 10 drivers across 5 cars in the Masters Historic Racing championship.

Clément Meynier wants his watches to reflect his dedication and to serve as a conduit for sharing his passions with a wider audience.

In 2018, to enhance accessibility, Clément Meynier made strategic choices regarding production and distribution, focusing on limited editions to ensure exclusivity and increase desirability, and adopting a contemporary distribution model inspired by the ’drop’ system in fashion, primarily through online pre-orders. This targeted and agile approach aligns well with the young brand’s ethos.

Thanks to the legitimacy now garnered by Depancel’s models, and the brand as a whole, exemplified by its role as the Official watch Partner for the Masters Historic Racing at the Silverstone Festival, Clément Meynier has not shied away from rethinking his distribution strategy and setup.

Given that human interaction holds a pivotal place in horology, as it does in motorsport, he seeks to rebalance his approach by leveraging an expanded network of watch retailers. The brand was already not solely digital, as 20% of its sales came through qualified watch retailers. The aim now is a more refined mix that encourages more interaction and sharing through physical retail points, “because humanity, sharing, and passion are at the very heart of creating a brand destined for an increasingly international presence,” as Clément Meynier points out.

In 2024, with new innovative models, an enhanced presence, expanded partnerships, and a reimagined and robust distribution approach, Depancel is more than keeping pace, it’s setting the pace.

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