Following the various questions and debates about the Mido EB watch that will be on sale by Stanislas Machoïr on April 17, 2021, it is possible for us to give the following facts concerning this piece:

• The case N ° 261492 is indeed that of Ettore Bugatti's personal watch.
• The watch originally had a leather strap like all other Mido EB watches. Michel Bugatti, son of Ettore Bugatti replaced it with a gold bracelet.
• We also note that the dial has since been cleaned and that the original straight hands have been replaced by a bluish steel set in the Mido spirit.
• The back of the case has been debossed and polished.
• My father, Michel, sold this watch at auction in Paris in 1986. Photos of the watch before its sale by Michel above.
• It was sold by its purchaser to a Japanese collector in 1989.
• Then it reappears in an auction in New York at Antiquorum on December 11, 2008. Last known trace before it was put on sale by the Stanislas Machoir auction house.

Caroline BUGATTI - Cyril GAUTIER

Thanks to Mrs Daniel LAPP and Jaap HORST www.bugattipage.com for their collaboration.

Original statement in French

---- End of statement -----

Thus, it can be concluded that the casing of this watch belonged to Ettore Bugatti himself; as for the mechanism; in 1986 the number of the mechanism was not recorded. Thus, it can not be proven that the mechanism is the same as in the watch of Ettore Bugatti.

Mido Bugatti watches that have been on offered, including this one:

• 17-4-2021: Watch with case no. 261492, mechanism number: 3733 (probably), Original owner: Ettore Bugatti, Estimate: €80 - 150k, Link to the auction

• 28-10-2020: Watch with case no. 261502 (Silver), mechanism number: unknown, Original owner: unknown, Estimate: €2000 - 3000 (result not known), Link to the auction

• 18-9-2016: Watch with case no. 200740, mechanism number: 4108, Original owner: Unknown, Sold at €12,605, Link to the auction

• 8-2-2013: Watch with case no. 220128, mechanism number: 2784, Original owner: Albert Divo (to commemorate his victory in a Bugatti at the Targa Florio of 1928), Sold at: €35,702 , Link to the auction

• 4-2-2011: Watch with case no. 307218, mechanism number: 8306, Original owner: unknown, Sold at €24,227, Link

• 8-2-2009: Watch with case no. 307218, mechanism number: 8306, Original owner: unknown, Estimate €15,000 - 25,000 (no result, not sold?), Link

• 11-12-2008: Watch with case no. 261492, mechanism number: 3733, Original owner: Ettore Bugatti (not known at the time of the auction), Sold at €10,084, Link to the auction

• 15-8-2008: Watch with case no. unknown (Modified case?), mechanism number: 8306, Original owner: unknown, Sold for: $55,575 , Link

• 24-6-2005: Watch with case no. 200782, mechanism number: 4099, Original owner: Elizabeth Junek, Estimate € 30,000 - 32,000 (result not stated), Link to the auction

• 12-2-2002: Watch with case no. 220142, mechanism number: unknown, Original owner: "Close family friend", Sold at: €17,625, Link to the auction

• 12-4-1997: Watch with case no. 261493 (Different watch-face), mechanism number: unknown, Original owner: Ernest Friderich, Sold for: CHF 11,500 , Link

• 15-12-1990: Watch with case no. unknown, mechanism number: unknown, Original owner: Louis Chiron (as a souvenir of winning the Klausen hillclimb, in Switzerland, in 1927, 29 and 30, the case states 1928 in error), Sold for: 8.9 M Yen (approx €65.000) , Link

  Others: We know that 261490 belonged to Dreyfus, and 307215 was that of Jean Bugatti.
  Other watches were given to Mr. Le Prandieres: coach builder for Bugatti in Paris, and Col. W. Sorel, British representative for Bugatti.

Mido records confirm that the first of the four series of Bugatti watches they produced, was a batch of 54 pieces with serial numbers 200736-200789 inclusive, produced in 1925-26.
Then three later series, two in gold and one in silver, were produced between 1929 and 1932, and were each of twelve pieces, the 2nd series was 261484-261495 (gold), while the silver series contained the number 261502. the last series (gold) contained the numbers 307215 to 307218.

However, looking at all the watches sold over the last decades, there must have been at least one more series, as 220128 and 220142 also exist. Assuming that these are from the same series, this series consisted of at least 15 watches.

Of the 90 watches produced, fewer than 20 examples are believed to have survived to the present day (10 of which are listed above). These watches were commissioned by Ettore Bugatti from Mido and given as gifts to his racing drivers and later to principal members of his factory staff.

Movement of these watches: Mido 15 jewels, (3) adjustments, Swiss made, manual wind, stem wind, stem set.

By the way, the radiator watch was not Ettore Bugatti's idea, as the Mido advert on the right shows!

Very interesting video made by John Staveley

This is a short biography of William Grover, a works Bugatti driver, illustrated with period photographs from a number of sources including The Bugatti Trust and private collections. The photographs were chosen for their historical content rather than quality.

Throughout his career he was supported by the lovely Yvonne who later presented “The Williams Trophy” to the Bugatti Owners’ Club.

Go here to see the video

Don't forget to switch to full screen!

For just €10,074!

Small detail: It's 1:4 scale ...
However, from the Photographs you would not know it's not the real thing. Not even the engineers at Bugatti would see the difference!

The fastest, most powerful and exclusive production super sports car in Bugatti’s history at the time of its launch, the Chiron was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2016. Master-minded by Achim Anscheidt, every element of the Chiron was designed to be a combination of reminiscence to its history, taking its name from Bugatti racing legend Louis Chiron, and the most innovative technology. The result was a unique creation of enduring value, and breath-taking automotive accomplishment. Its sophisticated design, innovative technology, and iconic, performance-oriented form made it a unique masterpiece of art, shape and technique, pushing boundaries beyond imagination. The Chiron was an attempt to create something very different from contemporary engine manufacturers, such as Ferrari and McLaren with their leanings towards hybrid technology.

At the heart of the Chiron was its quad-turbocharged eight litre W16 engine. This unique masterpiece generated an incredible 1,578 hp and 1,600 Nm of torque, with four high-performing turbochargers worked in a two-stage controlled configuration. A remarkable 60,000 litres of air were pumped through the engine every minute whilst, simultaneously, 800 litres of water per minute circulated through its core, guaranteeing the cooling of the engine to generate the extraordinary power. A new titanium exhaust system with reduced gas back pressure and lightweight materials, such as carbon fibre, maximised power and performance. The intelligent air intake management significantly improved aerodynamics and enhanced the cooling efficiency for engine and brakes., whilst the distinctive quad LED headlights also served as air intakes to the front brakes.

The first engine model Amalgam has made since the early 2000s, this very highly detailed and meticulously finished example of the Chiron’s immense W16 engine echoes the same large 1:4 scale model previously made of the Ferrari 049 engine that powered the F1-2000. Measuring in at 44cm (18in) long and 22cm (9in) high, each individual material in the engine has been carefully and artfully reproduced at scale using special finishes as befits the Bugatti Chiron design. The accurate replication of the actual engine has relied heavily on Amalgam’s close relationship with the Bugatti design team. With some 1,040 individual parts, this 1:4 replica shows every visible detail of the engine right down to the numerous parts labels and barcodes.

The Bugatti Chiron Engine and Gearbox is limited to only 99 pieces.

The "Berline de Voyage" has made the voyage to its new home, back in Europe

The Blackhawk Collection has sold its Bugatti Royale, the famed “The Berline de Voyage” that was hidden from the Nazis during World War II, to a European collector, and at a price that a person involved in the sale says is the most ever paid for a pre-war automobile.
Editor: strangely; this Berline de Voyage was reported sold to Korea, already in 1995... Probably Don Williams was involved in the current sale.

The transaction was reported on Facebook by former collector car auctioneer Rick Cole after the car arrived in Europe from its previous home in the museum collection in northern California. Don Williams of the Blackhawk said Cole “was a teammate” in the sale.

While the price paid for the car has not been shared, Cole indicated it certainly was more than the previous highest amount paid for any pre-war automobile, which was the $22 million spent in 2018 for the 1935 Duesenberg SSJ roadster formerly owned by actor Clark Gable at the Gooding & Company auction at Pebble Beach.
Supposedly, the sale of the Bugatti Atlantic to Peter Mullin was more; reports state $32 million

Ettore Bugatti planned a run of 25 of his largest vehicles and dubbed them the Royales with the intention of selling them to kings and princes. But the Great Depression limited sales and only seven cars were constructed, and Bugatti sold only three of them. One was destroyed in a crash. A new chassis was built to replace this, but received the old chassis number 41100. Thus: 7 chassis built, of which one re-build

Chassis 41150 was probably one of the earliest Royales built, though the exact order is unknown. 41150 received it's chassis number not until the time of the sale, after the war, and after Ettore had died.. It stretches about 21 feet in length and weighs around 7,000 pounds. Like the others, it has a huge 12.8-liter straight-8 engine.

The Berline de Voyage was among the cars that did not sell initially and was kept by Bugatti and, with 41100, the “Coupe Napoleon,” was kept at the Bugatti home in Ermenonville, France. After the war, both cars were purchased from Bugatti’s daughter, L’Ebe, by American sportsman and racer Briggs Cunningham.

Cunningham spent several thousand dollars to have the cars restored in France and finally brought them to the US in early 1951. A year later, he sold 41150 to early car collector Cameron Peck, and the car later became part of the famed Bill Harrah Collection in Reno, Nevada.

When the Harrah Collection went to auction in 1986, the Royale was purchased by Texas real-estate developer Jerry Moore for a then-record price of $6.5 million. Moore, whose car collection included more than two dozen Duesenbergs, kept the car for more than a year, then sold it for more than $8 million to Domino’s Pizza founder Tom Monaghan.

Don Williams and business partner Ritchie Clyne, who together owned the car collection showcased at the Imperial Palace hotel in Las Vegas, bought the car from Monaghan in the early 1990s.

Williams noted that people might consider themselves to be the owners of cherished collector cars, but they really are just temporary caretakers.

“There’s a time in our lives when we get to take care and have fun with the cars we like,” he told the ClassicCars.com Journal of the sale of the famed Bugatti. “We’re all just caretakers.” But, he added, “The legacy of the cars is the good friends we make along the way.”

Source: Larry Edsall, journal.classiccars.com, Top photo: Rick Cole

Volkswagen in talks with Rimac over Bugatti joint venture

Volkswagen Group boss Herbert Diess has confirmed plans to spin off Bugatti into a joint venture between Porsche and EV specialist Rimac – but has denied reports it could sell the brand outright.

• VW is currently transferring the responsibility for Bugatti to Porsche
• Porsche has increased its stake in Rimac from 15.5 percent to 24 percent
• It is yet unclear whether Porsche and Rimac would take an equal share in the proposed Rimac-Porsche joint venture to control Bugatti

As we reported earlier, Volkswagen would consider selling a controlling interest in the French hypercar maker to Rimac as part of a financial deal that involved Porsche increasing its investment in the Croatian firm. Porsche recently increased its stake in Rimac from 15.5 percent to 24 percent in a deal worth £60.4 million.

During the Volkswagen Group's annual media conference, Diess said that responsibility for Bugatti is currently being transferred to Porsche, which would then discuss a possible joint venture with Rimac. "Transferring Bugatti to Rimac isn't true," said Diess. "Porsche is currently preparing a partnership that's going to be under discussion with Rimac, and Porsche will be taking care of that.”

"The whole thing isn't yet finalised. What we want to do is transition responsibility of Bugatti to Porsche, and Porsche in all probability will establish a joint venture with Rimac, with a minority share of Porsche." It's not clear whether any potential Bugatti joint venture would involve Porsche and Rimac taking an equal share.

Diess added that the decision to move responsibility for Bugatti within the Volkswagen Group to Porsche is because "we believe that Bugatti will get an environment that's stronger than being here in Wolfsburg in the volume segment." He elaborated,: "We have more synergies between Bugatti and Porsche over there, such as carbonfibre bodies and high-performance batteries."

Diess' comments come just weeks after Porsche CEO Oliver Blume said Bugatti and Rimac were a good fit. Blume also said that various scenarios were being discussed for Bugatti and that he believed a solution would be reached within the first half of 2021.

Sadly, any tie-up between Bugatti and Rimac will likely mean the 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W-16 Bugatti currently uses to power its cars will be phased out at the end of the Chiron's product cycle, currently estimated to be around 2024.

Although VW Group has not yet committed to a fixed date for the end of the internal-combustion engine, the automaker aims to be the global leader for electric vehicles by 2025 at the latest. With Bugatti being a halo for the company, it makes sense the hypercar brand will also be electric by this date.

Bring a Trailer online auction, March 4, 2021, USA

• Bugatti Type 55 Gangloff replica project
  Known as 55209R, chassis number 49531, engine: C & G replica
  Highest bid: $120,000, reserve not met

Bonhams' Legends of the Road auction London, UK, February 19, 2021

• 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Corsica Roadster, chassis 57503, Estimate: € 5,700,000 - 8,000,000: Sold for € 4,676,000 (£4,047,000) inc. premium

• Bugatti T57/57S Rear tower, Sold for £ 3,187 (€ 3,684) inc. premium
• Bugatti Brescia 16 Valve Engine Block, Sold for £ 1,020 (€ 1,179) inc. premium
• Bugatti T57/57S Engine Block, Sold for £ 2,550 (€ 2,947)
• Bugatti T57/57S Gearbox with component parts, Sold for £ 24,000 (€ 27,743)

All results

Artcurial “Parisienne 2021” Auction, February 5, 2021

• 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Roadster by Vanvooren, Chassis 55204, Engine n°5. Estimate 4,000,000 - 6,000,000 €: Not sold

Five automotive masterpieces from Molsheim were the five most valuable vehicles sold at auction internationally in 2020. Despite the pandemic, historic Bugattis broke records at the auction houses Bonhams and Gooding & Company: never before have the five most expensive cars sold at auction been produced by one single manufacturer.

Bugatti automobiles have always been exclusive. But as their age increases, so does their value – as shown by an analysis carried out by Classic Analytics, a company specialising in international market analysis and valuation of classic cars worldwide. “Bugattis from the Ettore and Jean Bugatti era, especially in their original condition and with a history of racing, have always been among the most expensive classic cars on the market. This trend has held steady and in fact even increased despite the general decline in interest in pre-war vehicles,” says Frank Wilke, Managing Director of Classic Analytics. Classic Analytics belongs to the Hagerty Group, the largest classic car service provider in the USA. The top ten ranking is based on an internal auction database in which all international classic car auctions over the course of a year are observed and evaluated.

“This year certainly presented challenges, but it opened the door for Gooding & Company to create new opportunities to maintain our connection with our automotive community and enthusiasts around the world,” says David Gooding, Gooding & Company President and Founder. We held our first-ever UK sale which set many new records that include selling the most expensive Bugatti at public auction and selling the top two most valuable lots of 2020; the 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports and the 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante.”

“We were honoured and extremely proud to have been entrusted with these exceptional and historic Molsheim masterpieces,” said James Knight, Chairman of Bonhams Group. “Both represented superb Type 55's – one a special coachbuilt convertible by Figoni, the other the iconic artistry of the Jean Bugatti Super Sport roadster. As one would expect, both cars attracted multiple bidders. Not surprisingly, the Bugattis won the accolade as the most valuable motorcars sold at their respective auctions. and both also achieved the highest results at auction during Paris Rétromobile 2020 and the 2020 Amelia Car Week respectively.”

1st: Bugatti Type 59 Sports (Chassis 57248)
A 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports with the chassis number 57248 was auctioned for USD 12,681 million at Gooding & Company in London in September 2020. This makes it one of the most expensive Bugattis ever to come under the hammer at a public auction. The Bugatti Type 59 Sports was created as a racing car for the Bugatti Grand Prix factory team and won the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, later finishing third in the Monaco Grand Prix. Some of the most famous and successful Bugatti racing drivers were at the wheel of this car – including Robert Benoist, Louis Chiron, René Dreyfus, Achille Varzi and Jean-Pierre Wimille. After the successful racing season, Bugatti converted the Type 59 into a sports car. King Leopold of Belgium purchased it in 1937. The vehicle remains in its original, unrestored condition to this day. It is powered by an 8-cylinder in-line engine with a capacity of 3.3 litres and a supercharger. The power output was around 250 PS; other engine variants reached up to 380 PS in the Type 59, which was built until 1936.

2nd: Bugatti Type 57S Atalante (Chassis 57502)
A sum of EUR 10.44 million was paid by the buyer of a rare and highly desirable 1937 Type 57S Atalante with the chassis number 57502 at the Gooding & Company auction in London. It is a genuinely distinctive model that was purchased by British racing driver and Bugatti enthusiast Earl Howe in 1937. The Bugatti Type 57S Atalante is one of only 17 cars that Jean Bugatti fitted with his sensational Atalante body. The power unit is a turbocharged 3.3-litre eight-cylinder engine that delivers an output of up to 175 PS in the Type 57S.

3rd: Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport Roadster (Chassis 55220)
A 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport Roadster with a factory body designed by Jean Bugatti fetched USD 7.1 million at Bonhams’ Amelia Island auction in March 2020. Bugatti produced a total of just 38 Type 55 Super Sport chassis up until 1935. Eleven of the 14 roadster-bodied vehicles built by Jean Bugatti are still in existence today. Victor Rothschild, later the third Baron Rothschild, purchased the Type 55 as a new car and kept it in his collection for many decades. In 1985, Boston professor Dean S. Edmonds Jr. acquired this Bugatti with the chassis number 55220 for GBP 440,000. This made it the most expensive car ever sold in Britain at the time. In Edmonds’ ownership, the Bugatti was restored and won first place in its class at Pebble Beach in 1993.

4th: Bugatti Type 35C (Chassis 4871)
A Bugatti Type 35C Grand Prix dating from 1928 fetched USD 5.23 million at a Gooding & Company auction in London – a record for the Type 35. This car with the chassis number 4871 was originally built for the Targa Florio 1928. The first private owner was Jannine Jennky, a French racing driver who drove it to overall victory in the first ever Coupe de Bourgogne in Dijon. Now more than 90 years old, the vehicle had only four owners after 1932. It remains in its original, unrestored condition. Up until 1930, Bugatti produced the Type 35C with an 8cylinder in-line engine and a capacity of two litres. With the help of a Roots-type supercharger, the power unit delivers an output of 125 PS, enabling a top speed of over 200 km/h more than 90 years ago.

5th: Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport (Chassis 55221)
A Bugatti enthusiast paid USD 5.07 million for a 1931 Type 55 in Paris last February. This made the vehicle with the chassis number 55221 the most expensive car to be sold at one of the Rétromobile 2020 auctions. This is an outstanding vehicle: Louis Chiron and Count Guy Bouriat-Quintart co-drove it as a factory racing car in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1932. The later owner had a unique Figoni body put on the chassis. With this body, the Type 55 remained in the family for over 60 years. Its 2.3-litre 8-cylinder supercharged engine produces an output of some 160 PS.

And, what were the next?
6: 1955 Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 9D – $4,946,666
7: 1954 Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 7 – $4,946,666
8: 1953 Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 5 – $4,946,666 (- Collectively, the fantastic three totaled an auction high of 14 million)
9: 2001 Ferrari 550 GT1 Prodrive – $4,290,000
10: 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV Speciale – $4,257,007

With the presentation of the Bugatti Bolide last autumn, the French luxury brand Bugatti unveiled its most extreme car to date. Now the Bolide has been officially voted the most beautiful and aesthetic hyper sports car in the world. The Bugatti Bolide won the "Hypercars" category at the prestigious Festival Automobile International in Paris. An expert jury voted the experimental vehicle from Molsheim the most beautiful hyper sports car of 2020 by a substantial margin from a total of four finalists.

In its 36th year, the Festival Automobile International gave awards to cars from a range of categories according to their beauty, aesthetics, form and design. The expert judging panel was made up of 14 judges, chaired by the architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte and Anne Asensio, Vice President of Design Experience at Dassault Systèmes.

The jury selected a winner in each of a total of 15 categories.
Since 1985, the Festival Automobile International has celebrated the automobile in its most beautiful, creative and exciting forms. The industry itself as well as the changes taking place within it are examined, and the trends analysed. The Festival is also committed to shining a spotlight on those men and women who make the car what it is each and every day, who transform it and adapt it to meet changes in society, environmental requirements, economic upheavals and geopolitical challenges. Each year, the Festival judges reward not only major innovations but also the bold ideas and talent of those involved in the automotive field.

“We are extraordinarily proud that the Festival Automobile International judges were as enthusiastic about the design of the Bugatti Bolide as Bugatti fans all around the world. The experiment to demonstrate the brute force of our W16 engine in a lightweight and high-performance car has resulted in a driving experience akin to riding on a cannonball. My thanks goes to the entire Bugatti team, who have once again demonstrated with this incredible car the full extent of their creativity and technological expertise,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti. “Our focus has always been on innovation and aesthetics from the very beginning. Receiving this award is an affirmation of our work.”

With the presentation of the Bolide in October 2020, Bugatti introduced the most extreme, uncompromising, fastest and lightest vehicle concept in the company’s recent history. The French luxury car manufacturer designed an ultra-lightweight shell around the iconic 8.0-litre W16 engine with up to 1,850 PS. Weighing just 1,240 kilograms, the Bolide achieves a phenomenal weight-to-power ratio of just 0.67 kilograms per PS. The top speed has been calculated at well over 500 km/h – without sacrificing maximum handling and agility.

“The Bugatti Bolide has been both the greatest joy and the greatest challenge of my 17-year career in Bugatti Design,” says Achim Anscheidt, Design Director at Bugatti. “Combining the extreme aerodynamic and thermodynamic requirements into a complete and integral expression of Bugatti's unique DNA is the clearest demonstration of our motto ‘Form follows performance’. The fact that this sequential iteration between technical development and design has been recognised by the jury on a stylistic level is a source of enormous pride for the Bugatti design team, and we are extremely grateful for that.”

Also read the article in the Volume 26, Issue 1 of the Bugatti Revue on the design of the Bugatti Bolide.

This one is chassis 57512, and there are some differences of course: This car is fitted with a supercharger, thus it is a T57SC; experts differ in opinion about if the car was fitted with one at the factory in 1939, or at some later date.
Obviously there's a difference in the body, notably the different wings.
And there's a difference in condition, where 57503 is largely unrestored, has not been driven for half a century and was also recently re-discovered, and now for the first time since ages on the open market. 57512 seems to be perfectly restored, and has been on offer for a while now, for example on PreWarCar.com, but also in a RM Sotheby's Auction at Amelia Island on March 8-9, 2019 (Estimate: $6,000,000 - $7,500,000) and at the Mecum Auctions Monterey, on August 17, 2019, but failed to sell so far.

Thus: Take your pick of a low-slung Bugatti Corsica Roadster! Or, this is you chance to acquire both, and put them in the same stable!

More about this car and the auction in the Events section

• Mido for Bugatti, Ettore Bugatti's personal watch, Estimate was: 65000 - 68000 EUR, now increased to 80,000 - 150,000 euro
• Bugatti T49 Cabriolet, Chassis 49481, Estimate on demand
• Bugatti 4-cylinder Diesel engine, head only. Estimate: 800 - 1000 EUR (on the right)

Bugatti T49 Cabriolet, Chassis 49481, 1930
Following the Bugatti 44, the most produced with 1,095 units, the type 49 was released in 1930. It is the last of the single cam 8-cylinder in-line engines, started with the Type 30. It is therefore equipped with an 8-cylinder 3.3L with 3 valves per cylinder and a single camshaft.

The Type 49 was produced in 470 units until 1934, under various body models: closed similar to the Type 44, 4-seater convertible or roadster. Most of the Type 49 cars are bodied by GANGLOFF, the Bern coachbuilder, who bought Widerkehr in Colmar. The type 49 is renowned as one of Ettore Bugatti's best achievements, it was a great commercial success after its presentation at the Paris Motor Show in October 1930.

It has the advantage of having two sides of use, quiet in town or sporty on the road.

The presented car was acquired more than 20 years ago by our collector from Tarn, a remarkable amateur. This car, with its elegant bodywork produced by Gangloff, is in remarkable condition. All the elements testify to sobriety and refinement, color, interior. An icon of radiant France from the 1930s. Estimate on request.

Mido for Bugatti, Ettore Bugatti's personal watch

Ettore Bugatti's personal watch / yellow gold grille on yellow gold bracelet n ° 261492, circa 1930

Original watch ordered by the owner of the eponymous automobile brand Etorre Bugatti and which was produced by the jeweler Pierre Blanc in Paris. He gave these extremely rare watches to his best pilots and mechanics of the time as well as to his son Jean.

All the watches were on leather straps, there is only the one from "Ettore" which has a yellow gold strap.

750 thousandth yellow gold case in the shape of a horseshoe grille typical of Bugatti automobiles.

Brand logo and stylized winding crown in radiator cap at 12 o'clock, 6-screw caseback. Patinated gold dial and painted Arabic numerals, blackened steel lance hands.

750 thousandths yellow gold bracelet with adjustable jewel clasp.

Movement: Mechanical manual winding caliber.

Dim. 22.5 x 34 (with crown) mm. Condition: Good condition (Case reported) (Gross weight: 27.20 g)

By the way, the same watch was sold in 2008 for €10,058, but then it was not yet Ettore's personal watch....

Statement by Caroline Bugatti and Cyril Gautier on this watch - 9-4-2021

More info from the auctioneer

• Saluting the centenary of the immortal 1-2-3-4 finish for Type 13s in the 1921 Brescia Grand Prix
• Remarkable clean-sweep spawns Bugatti’s famous ‘Brescia’ designation
• Special display of Molsheim marvels added to must-see event’s ‘Evolution of Design’ theme
• Support from the Bugatti Owners’ Club and The Bugatti Trust
• Book with confidence for fully Covid compliant, outdoor event – advance tickets now on sale offering significant savings.

“It was the Brescia and its deified four-car sweep at the finish of the 1921 Brescia Grand Prix that really put Bugatti on the motoring map,” confirmed Mark Woolley, Show Director. “That was the game-changing result that really cemented Ettore’s reputation for building incredible cars with outstanding performance on road or track… and thus a major centenary in automotive history that we are delighted to be toasting at The London Classic Car Show.”

To ensure this remarkable centenary is honoured in style, the special display in Syon Park is being organised in conjunction with both the Bugatti Owners’ Club and The Bugatti Trust – both are understandably enthusiastic to be supporting the celebration.

Nick Upton, Chairman of the Bugatti Owners’ Club, is delighted to be given this prestigious opportunity of exhibiting a parade of Bugatti Brescias from within the Club Members’ ownership.
“We will be displaying a real box of chocolates complete with hill climber, rally, the Parisian gentleman and the amateur racer cars. So originality, competition and design will be at the centre of the Bugatti Owners’ Club pavilion.”

Hugh Conway, chairman of The Bugatti Trust Museum and Study Centre, enthused: “The Bugatti Trust, the centre of research into the history of Bugatti, is delighted to join into the celebration of the centenary of the Bugatti 4-cylinder Type 13’s race victory at Brescia in 1921 in which it took the first four places. It and its longer wheelbase derivative thereafter have been known as ‘The Brescia’ and was one of Ettore Bugatti’s most successful models, 2000 being made in the years to 1926.”

More info
The organisers have kindly agreed a discount code for Bugatti Trust members.