The Baltic Tricompax Tour Auto 2024, with a Cool Rally Timer Set

Long passionate about cars and watches, the team behind Baltic (Frenchmen Etienne, Paul and Clément) has, last year, finally materialized these shared passions in a cool project, the Tricompax watch and the partnership with Peter Auto and the legendary Tour Auto race. Just ahead of the 2024 edition of this vintage car rally, and as Baltic will be the event’s official timekeeper again, the French brand just released yet another brilliant set comprising a racing wrist chronograph, a rally timer with two dash instruments and everything to use it in a car, and multiple accessories… And not only it’s cool, but it’s also fairly accessible. Meet the Tricompax Baltic x Tour Auto 2024.

A true monument to motorsport, the Tour Auto is the historic reincarnation of the Tour de France Automobile, created in 1899 by the Automobile Club de France. It was on this race that some of the finest pages in motorsport were written, seeing prestigious brands such as Ferrari, Porsche, BMW and Jaguar, and legendary drivers like Maurice Trintignant, Stirling Moss, Phil Hill and Bernard Darniche battle it out on open roads.

Taking to France’s most beautiful roads and stopping off at iconic racetracks, it’s now the turn of over 250 competing crews to drive their cars across France, to the delight of themselves and their spectators. For the second year running, Baltic will take on the role of Official Timekeeper and accompany the competitors from Paris to Biarritz. To celebrate this event, 500 Tricompax have been specially produced in the historic colours of the Tour Auto, each accompanied by a Rally Timer (stopwatch and dash clock). And Baltic will not only time the event, but the team will be there to test these watches and dash clocks in the wild, with a couple of cars registered for the race. (Spoiler alert: make sure to check out our Instagram page next week, we might have some cool things to show you…)

With the Baltic x Tour Auto 2024, we’re looking at a new edition of the brand’s already successful Tricompax watch, a nicely proportioned and finished racing chronograph inspired by 1960s models. Vintage-looking through and through, it follows the model presented in 2023 (back then with black and orange accents), and just like this previous limited edition, there’s more than a watch to be offered… It’s an entire set dedicated to rally timing that Baltic introduces.

Let’s first talk about the centrepiece, the Tricompax wrist chronograph. Classic in design and modern in execution, this new edition, just like the standard editions, measures 39.5mm in diameter, with reasonable thickness (13.5mm crystal included) and length (47mm). As such, it has presence on the wrist but remains quite compact for a racing chronograph, only enhancing the vintage feel on the wrist. It is completed by a double-domed sapphire crystal on top and a caseback engraved with the logo of the Tour Auto 2024.

What changes compared to the regular versions are the colours of this Tricompax Baltic x Tour Auto 2024. First, the fixed bezel with a tachymeter (a bit original as it can measure speeds from 200 to 50kph) now has a brushed aluminium insert in blue with a lightly gilt track. Also, the dial has been revamped according to the official colours of the Tour Auto (light blue, dark blue and red), as seen on multiple accents on the sub-dials. The base of the dial is a charmful matte beige tone, with bold black rings around the counters and stylized Arabic numerals. All the hands related to the chronograph functions are also coated in blue. It’s an appealing blend of modern and vintage touches, and the colours of this year’s edition are spot-on.

Inside the case is a hand-wound chronograph movement by Sellita (SW510-M) running at 4hz and storing 63h of power reserve. A classic calibre based on Valjoux architecture, it is reliable, easy to service and precise enough, considering the price range. As said, the brand offers the Tricompax Baltic x Tour Auto 2024 as a complete set, starting with a flat-link steel bracelet with a folding clasp and a blue Alcantara strap. Both come with quick-release system and the large presentation box also includes a screwdriver for adjustment and a push pin tool also included.

Open the box and you’ll see something even cooler. Just like last year, two dashboard instruments are included (please excuse the 2023 printing on these early prototypes…), starting with a beige-toned stopwatch powered by a Hanhart hand-wound movement with a flyback function. Made to measure lap times on the circuit or special stage times in rallying, the flyback function offers a highly practical reset and simultaneous start of a new countdown. Also included is a black-toned dash clock powered by a hand-wound Seagull ST3600 (Type 6497) movement, for an immediate reading of the time – also important for rally timing. And the all-important plaque to attach them on the dash of your Jaguar or Alfa Romeo is also included in the set… How cool is that?

Availability & Price

The Tricompax Baltic x Tour Auto 2024 will be available as of April 22nd, 2024 at 4PM (Europe time), to coincide with the start of the race. It is a limited edition of 500 sets, never to be reproduced. Deliveries are expected from mid-May 2024 and the price is EUR 2,100 (excl. VAT)… for the watch, the dash clocks and everything we’ve mentioned above. Clearly what we’d call a value proposition.

For more details, please visit baltic-watches.com.