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Calibre11
·A couple of years ago this watch was offered for sale from Argentina, with the claim that it belonged to a retired Formula 1 driver.
The watch was discussed over at OTD and the reasonable conclusion was that it was unlikely to be a genuine Ferrari-issued watch, due to the somewhat "agricultural' way that the Ferrari logo was engraved.
But now 3 years later the watch is offered for sale again, and this time we have a drivers name- Jose V. Bianchi, who bought the watch in 1979 and has his name on the original Heuer guarantee card. This seller doesn't claim a Formula 1 connection.
Bianchi (no relation to Jules), runs a driving school in Buenos Aires. His website says that he moved to England in 1979 (the same year the watch was purchased) where he attended the famous Jim Russell Driving School and then raced in Formula Ford. While he raced in a variety of categories over the years, including F2, there is no mention of him driving in Formula 1..or for Ferrari. Having said that, it's a very brief bio, so it certainly doesn't rule out a connection with Ferrari.
But why and when the Ferrari logo was added is still a mystery, although it does appear as though the watch did once belong to Bianchi. You can check out the watch in the auctions board here.
The watch was discussed over at OTD and the reasonable conclusion was that it was unlikely to be a genuine Ferrari-issued watch, due to the somewhat "agricultural' way that the Ferrari logo was engraved.
But now 3 years later the watch is offered for sale again, and this time we have a drivers name- Jose V. Bianchi, who bought the watch in 1979 and has his name on the original Heuer guarantee card. This seller doesn't claim a Formula 1 connection.
Bianchi (no relation to Jules), runs a driving school in Buenos Aires. His website says that he moved to England in 1979 (the same year the watch was purchased) where he attended the famous Jim Russell Driving School and then raced in Formula Ford. While he raced in a variety of categories over the years, including F2, there is no mention of him driving in Formula 1..or for Ferrari. Having said that, it's a very brief bio, so it certainly doesn't rule out a connection with Ferrari.
But why and when the Ferrari logo was added is still a mystery, although it does appear as though the watch did once belong to Bianchi. You can check out the watch in the auctions board here.
Edited:
