Inside the Classic Newport Car Show Beloved by New England's Preppy Elite

Hello, fellow watch nerds!

It’s Chris Rovzar, here with some dispatches from the road.

First, I wanted to direct you to an essay I wrote for Bloomberg Weekend about my recent trip to Paris, where I got to go into the Louvre while it was closed to see the installation of an incredible clock made by Vacheron Constantin. This giant invention—which was part automaton, part music box—is called La Quête du Temps. I found it to be astounding in both its technical achievement and its old-fashionedness. It really got me thinking about our mechanical watches and what they represent.

Source: Vacheron Constantin Source: Vacheron Constantin — La Quête du Temps, a clock created by Vacheron Constantin in tandem with L’Epée 1839 and automaton maker François Junod.

On that same trip, I took the train to Geneva and got to have dinner at the Vacheron manufacture in honor of the brand’s 270th anniversary. It was a wild experience. They scattered musicians throughout the factory floors and had them playing in the dim night light while watchmakers demonstrated some of their work. I’d never seen anything like that.

A floutist performs behind a watchmaker at the Vacheron Constantin manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland. Photographer: Chris Rovzar — A flutist performs behind a watchmaker at the Vacheron Constantin manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland. Because why not?

There were also 20 métiers d’art watches released at the event in honor of the anniversary, which I believe all sold out while we were there—despite a price tag of something like a half-million dollars. You can read Hodinkee’s good write-up on those watches here.

Rolliefest Up in the Sky

A week or so back, I also got the chance to attend Rolliefest, the annual meeting of vintage watch collectors in New York City. Hosted at the top of 1 World Trade Center, behind a sign that advertised only a “Marine Biology Conference,” the luncheon was a smorgasbord of delights for those of us who love old, beautiful and weird timepieces.

Hosted by Sotheby’s global head of watches, Geoff Hess, who founded Rolliefest in 2019, it brought in enthusiasts from around the world. Attendees just dropped fat leather rolls of watches onto huge long tables, and people crowded around and oohed and aahed. The vibe was very positive, encouraging and friendly—any watch was welcome and admired.

My favorite watches from Rolliefest 2025. Photographer: Bloomberg — My favorite watches from Rolliefest 2025, top row from left: Ben Clymer’s gold Rolex Daytona, Phil Toledano’s Patek Philippe horizontal Ellipse and Paige Reddinger’s candy pink Rolex. Bottom row from left: two Cartiers I absolutely loved and a funky Audemars Piguet Cobra.

I learned a lot, and I had a blast. And you can read novelist Gary Shteyngart’s recap of his experience for Bloomberg Pursuits here: For Watch Nerds, There’s Nothing Like Rolliefest.

Inside the Audrain Concours d’Elegance

Then, this past weekend, I spent a couple of days in historic Newport, Rhode Island, at the Audrain Concours and Motor Week. It’s not exactly a timepiece event, but because the headlining sponsor is German watchmaker A. Lange & Söhne, there were a lot of good watches to be seen.

The lawn at the Audrain Concours d’Elegance is filled with classic cars from the past hundreds years and more Photographer: Chris Rovzar/Bloomberg — At the Audrain Concours d’Elegance, the front lawn of the Breakers is filled with classic cars from the past hundreds years.

The whole week is organized around the town’s Audrain Auto Museum and includes panels, dinners, a costume gala and an auction by Bonhams—where the headlining Bugatti Chiron SuperSport 300+ coupe sold for $5.73 million. On Sunday the concours d’elegance took place on the front lawn of the Breakers, Newport’s most famous “cottage,” once the family summer home of the Vanderbilts.

It was an absolutely stunning venue, and I had the best time checking out the autos (and the watches) and talking to their owners. There were a lot of people from my home state of Maine, because this is one of the only major classic car events in New England. Some incredible entrants showed up that had never shown at bigger events such as the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Amelia Island or Villa d’Este. It felt like more of an “if you know, you know” event, where low-key preppy people knew they could have a relaxed good time.

An absolutely rad Tiffany blue Ford Mustang bought by a collector named Adam, who told me he got it for himself for his graduation—and restored it on its own! Photographer: Chris Rovzar/Bloomberg — An absolutely rad Tiffany blue Ford Mustang bought by a young collector named Adam, who told me he got it for himself for his graduation—and restored it on its own.

At a concours such as this, collectors enter their cars into a wide array of categories including prewar Alfa Romeo, American muscle and Ferrari. There was even a 30 under 30 category for entrants under the age of 30 who had spent under $30,000 on their cars.

There’s common ground between classic car people and the folks who collect watches from a small and niche brand like A. Lange & Söhne, according to the watchmaker’s managing director, Wilhelm Schmid. Which is why he decided to get involved three years ago.

“A car is out on wheels, and a watch is on our wrists, but the common denominator is that they are both mechanical art,” he says. “That’s very different to, let’s say, musical, art or paintings or sculptures.”

I got to try on the new A. Lange & Söhne Saxonia Thin, which debuted at the concours. This is the version in 950 platinum with an onyx dial. There’s also one in the brand’s proprietary honeygold. Both are limited to 200 versions and are price upon request.

Photographer: Chris Rovzar/Bloomberg

A concours is a good fit for an “if you know, you know” watch brand such as Lange, which makes only about 5,000 highly priced and extraordinarily meticulous watches every year, because “there’s a certain clientele that is really into cars and into the details and not into the big brands,” Schmid says. “These events are meant to bring these two worlds together. If you only spend your entire time in the watch world, then you only talk to people from the watch world.”

I also got the chance to speak with Jay Leno, who is a master of ceremonies at Audrain and its major celeb booster. He happens to be a big-time collector of Lange watches. (He has seven!) He calls them a symbol of “stealth wealth,” much like the Audrain concours.

“They market here because they dazzle gradually. You’ll see Langes everywhere on the field, people have five, six,” he says. “The thing I like about A. Lange is you’ve got classical traditional watches, but using the highest techniques and technology available still by hand.”

Watch next: How to Shop for a Classic Car, With Jay Leno

Jay Leno wearing his A. Lange &amp; Soehne Lange 1 watch. Photographer: Chris Rovzar/Bloomberg — Leno wearing his A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 watch.

“I don’t get the Richard Mille thing,” he continues. “The opposite of luxury is vulgarity. I mean, it looks like a bathroom scale on your hand. You know? I don’t get it. I’m sure it’s very nice. It’s just a different kind of look.”

Leno says the fun thing about his Langes is that he can wear them to a high-profile event and only a few people will realize it’s anything special. “Maybe one guy go will go up to you and say, ‘Oh, you’re in the club,’” he says.

What’s up your sleeve?

I did indeed see plenty of Langes and other interesting watches around the event, so for this month’s “What’s Up Your Sleeve?” I present my favorite watches from the Audrain Concours. (First names only, for discretion!)

An attendee named Zach said he found this Lotus watch on Poshmark for about $35 after he bought himself a 2010 Evora. Photographer: Chris Rovzar/Bloomberg — An attendee named Zach (@car_zach on instagram) said he found this Lotus watch on Poshmark for about $35 after he bought himself a 2010 Evora.

Brian’s Cartier Crash glinted to me from all the way across the lawn. Photographer: Chris Rovzar/Bloomberg — Brian’s Cartier Crash glinted to me from all the way across the lawn.

A Lange 1 Moonphase worn by Bloomberg’s own Barry Ritholtz! This is not Barry’s first appearance in “What’s Up Your Sleeve” — and I doubt it will be his last. Photographer: Chris Rovzar/Bloomberg — A Grand Lange 1 moonphase worn by Bloomberg’s own Barry Ritholtz! This is not Barry’s first appearance in “What’s Up Your Sleeve?”—and I doubt it will be his last.

Jill was thrilled that I asked for a pic of her delightful WInnie the Pooh watch. (It is not the only one she owns.) Photographer: Chris Rovzar/Bloomberg — Jill was thrilled that I asked for a pic of her delightful Winnie the Pooh watch. (It’s not the only one she owns.)

Jonathan’s rose gold Patek Philippe Grande Complication Perpetual Calendar Chronograph was quite a sighting. But it was nothing compared to his canary yellow 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB. Photographer: Chris Rovzar/Bloomberg — Jonathan’s rose-gold Patek Philippe Grande Complication Perpetual Calendar Chronograph was quite a sighting. But it was nothing compared to his canary yellow 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB, pictured in the background.

Kyle said he got himself this Chopard Alpine Eagle for his recent wedding. He was also pushing a baby stroller as I talked to him. Good job Kyle! Photographer: Chris Rovzar/Bloomberg — Kyle said he got himself this Chopard Alpine Eagle for his recent wedding. He was also pushing a baby stroller as I talked to him. Good job, Kyle!

Brad was wearing this Bentley Flying B Jump Hour watch by Breitling, which from afar I thought was a Daniel Roth. He was sitting with his wife Sharon, who said the whole family has Breitlings. “All our children have them,” Sharon told me. “We had to stop getting them for our sons and daughters in law, because when they’d get divorced, they’d keep the watches!” Long live Brad and Sharon. Photographer: Chris Rovzar/Bloomberg — Brad was wearing this Bentley Flying B Jump Hour watch by Breitling. He was sitting with his wife, Sharon, who said the pair gives the whole family Breitlings. “All our children have them,” Sharon told me. “We had to stop getting them for our sons- and daughters-in-law, because when they’d get divorced, they’d keep the watches!” Long live Brad and Sharon.

This is Sam’s Rolex Daytona. Adam was there with his son, Adam, who was the proud owner and restorer of the Tiffany blue Mustang featured above! Adam was wearing a Rolex Datejust. “He bought the car with his own money,” dad Sam told me. “But I bought him the Rolex.” Photographer: Chris Rovzar/Bloomberg — This is Sam’s Rolex Cosmograph Daytona. Sam was there with his son, Adam, who was the proud owner and restorer of the Tiffany blue Mustang featured above. Adam was wearing a Rolex Datejust. “He bought the car with his own money,” dad Sam told me. “But I bought him the Rolex.”

That’s it for this month! Please email us your own reader watches—and any questions—at watchclub@bloomberg.net. And thanks for reading!

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