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Francesca Fearon

Every two years, Swiss luxury watchmaker Richard Mille takes over the magnificent Chateau de Chantilly, just north of Paris and the home of one France’s most famous racecourses.
However, it is horsepower of a different kind that draws the watch brand’s founder, Richard Mille, to this place. There he shares his passion with thousands of other classic sports car owners by sponsoring the Chantilly Arts & Élégance Richard Mille weekend.
This is the auto world’s fashion catwalk where owners show off the finest vintage racing cars and modern concept supercars. On a sunny Sunday this September, the event’s main Concours d’Élégance competition highlight drew 28,000 enthusiasts from Paris and the region.
The chateau is also famous for its art collection, second only in size and quality to the artworks in the Louvre. Amid these precious masterpieces, Richard Mille hosted a grand masquerade ball on the eve of the event, inviting guests – loyal customers of some of the world’s priciest watches – to embark on a unique itinerary for the weekend. That ranged from the ball to a morning on the track driving McLaren supercars around Mortefontaine circuit, followed by lunch at the polo club and culminating the following day at the Concours itself.

Guests from around the world – 220 in all – attended, with a couple from Taiwan, whose collection includes white his and hers RM 11-03 (an automatic flyback chronograph) and RM 07-01 watches, describing the experience.
“This is the second event we’ve attended, the first being the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix, and we really feel the warmth and atmosphere Richard Mille creates as a family brand,” said the husband. “This location is very special, and we’ve enjoyed the exclusive experiences they’ve arranged, like the track day with McLaren, as well as the little details like the Maison Michel boaters with our initials and having our watercolour portraits painted. This has been unique for us.”
There is also the camaraderie among the brand’s guests, with people discussing the watches they are wearing and trying each other’s on. “It’s about sharing the experience,” he enthused.

“They are sharing a passion,” said Amanda Mille, Richard Mille’s daughter and the company’s brand and partnerships director, of the trying-on of each other’s of timepieces. “It’s very organic, these watches are made to be lived in, to see how they feel on the wrist. From the beginning, dad wanted to have a watch that is very comfortable to wear, and we work very hard on that.”
Nevertheless, apart from those on the wrists of their clients, there were no Richard Mille watches on display. “You will never see any showcases [of watches], that is not the way that we do it. We use the event to enjoy quality time with the people that we love [the clients]. It is important you don’t forget to thank the people that have helped you,” Mille added.

Richard Mille has partnered with the event since it was launched in 2014 by Patrick Peter, founder of motorsport event organisation Peter Auto. Originally an annual affair, it is now held every two years, alternating with the Le Mans Classic which Richard Mille, himself a keen vintage car collector, also sponsors. “This is dad’s passion,” says Mille. “I would say he probably loves cars more than watches in the end, but there is a similarity between cars and watches in the development and technical aspects.”
The location of the Concours at the Chateau de Chantilly also has a poignancy as Mille remembers how she and her brothers were brought up in nearby Lamorlaye, the French home of showjumping, and that her first passion was horse riding.

However, while Chantilly is renowned for dressage and horse racing, it was the 900 beautiful classic and concept cars that were the big attraction, with a prize-winning supercar Bugatti Tourbillon, a Bugatti T35C from 1928, a Lamborghini Countach and an Alpine Zagato jostling for attention with 40-year-old Lancia rally cars, and several Ferraris and Porsches from the 1960s. All these cars are clearly prized by their owners as much as luxurious Richard Mille watches are by theirs.


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Chantilly Arts & Élégance Richard Mille is biannual event showcasing classic and concept cars, starting with an exclusive ball for the brand’s watch customers

A Bugatti Tourbillon on display during the 2024 Chantilly Arts & Élégance Richard Mille event, a biannual weekend showcasing classic and concept cars. Photos: Handout

The Chateau de Chantilly where the Chantilly Arts & Élégance Richard Mille event is held every two years

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Classic cars abound at the Chantilly Arts & Élégance Richard Mille event in Chantilly, France

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Guests share their passion for elegant watches and are joined by the wider public to admire the exotic cars at the Concours d’Élégance ‘fashion’ show


Guests share their passion for elegant watches and are joined by the wider public to admire the exotic cars at the Concours d’Élégance ‘fashion’ show.


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Richard Mille

Luxury brands

France

Chantilly Arts & Élégance Richard Mille is biannual event showcasing classic and concept cars, starting with an exclusive ball for the brand’s watch customers

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Guests share their passion for elegant watches and are joined by the wider public to admire the exotic cars at the Concours d’Élégance ‘fashion’ show

Guests share their passion for elegant watches and are joined by the wider public to admire the exotic cars at the Concours d’Élégance ‘fashion’ show