Classic Racing Superfast Chrono Split Second © Chopard
Chopard has for many years been paying tribute to the world of historical cars. The latest release, the Classic Racing Superfast Chrono Split Second, demonstrates extreme attention to detail. Everything about this timepiece is reminiscent of motor sports. Chronometer-certified by the COSC, its split-second chronograph movement enabling measurement of intermediate or “split” times makes it an indispensable dashboard instrument for all aficionados of fine mechanisms.
Passion is an excellent guide, as Chopard once again proves with the new Classic Racing Superfast Chrono Split Second. This elegant and sporty model enriches the Classic Racing collection that pays homage to the automobile world. The House is a longstanding and faithful partner of several classic races, including the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique and the “Corsa più bella del mondo”, better known as the Mille Miglia.
Everything about the new Classic Racing Superfast Chrono Split Second evokes the distinctive world of period car races, starting with the famous Dunlop Racing strap featuring a design reflecting the tread of the eponymous 1960s racing tyres. It is made of natural rubber and fitted with a folding clasp. The dial evokes the counters on vintage racing cars, while the minute markers on the flange are reminiscent of the numerals adorning the rev counters and speedometers. Every last detail of this model - including the tiny racing steering-wheel in DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) blackened steel appearing on the rubber-moulded screw-locked crown, the grooves engraved on the sides of the lugs, as well as the cooling vents and the Allen screws on the bezel inspired by those used on wheel rims - represents yet another reference to venerable competition cars.
The functions of the Classic Racing Superfast Chrono Split Second are equally impressive. Housed in a 45 mm-diameter DLC blackened steel case, the self-winding movement chronometer-certified by the COSC powers the hour and minute hands, small seconds at 9 o'clock, as well as a pointer-type date display in a subdial at 3 o'clock - an increasingly rare but attractive function. But the real star of this watch is the split-second chronograph, an entertaining complication that is in fact one of the most technically demanding of them all. It enables measurement of either a split time or of two events that begin at the same time but with different durations. When the mechanism is activated using the pusher at 2 o'clock, the perfectly superimposed red sweep-second hand and the white split-second hand begin running simultaneously. In the first case, the split-second hand may be stopped by means of a pusher at 8 o'clock moulded in red rubber - another new feature. In the second, once the split-second is immobilised, another press on the pusher at 2 o'clock stops the sweep-second hand. Two measurements are thus visible - with the minutes and hours read off on counters at 12 and 6 o'clock - before the mechanism is reset by means of the 5 o'clock pusher.
Like a masterpiece signed by the hand of the artist, the case-back is engraved with the inscription “Superfast Split Second”. The Classic Racing Superfast Chrono Split Second is issued in a limited edition of 1,000.
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Case:
DLC (diamond like carbon) blackened steel
Total diameter 45.00 mm
Thickness 15.38 mm
Water resistance 100 metres
Black rubber-moulded crown in DLC blackened steel with steering-wheel logo
Glareproofed sapphire crystal
Case-back with Superfast Split Second engraving
Steel bezel with tachometer secured by 8 visible screws
Movement:
Mechanical self-winding chronograph
Total diameter 30.40 mm
Number of jewels 27
Power reserve 42 hours
1 barrel
Frequency 28,800 vph
Chronometer-certified (COSC)
Dial and hands:
Black dial
Superluminova-enhanced metallic black hour and minute hands and hour-markers
Red sweep-second hand with arrow tip
White split-second hand with arrow tip
Red pointers on hour and minute counters
Rhodiumed pointers on seconds and date subdials
Functions and displays:
Central hour and minute display
Small seconds at 9 o'clock
Chronograph
Split-second
30-minute counter at 12 o'clock, 12-hour counter at 6 o'clock
Pointer-type date display at 3 o'clock
Tachometer
Strap and buckle:
Black rubber strap (1960s Dunlop Racing tyre-read motif)
Black polished steel folding clasp
Ref. 168542-3001 - 1,000-piece limited edition
