For the third year running, the Belgian manufacture is renewing its partnership with the Zoute Grand Prix, and releasing three limited editions timepieces.

There’s a longstanding tradition of luxury watchmakers attaching themselves to motorsports. Sometimes the connection is a bit of a stretch, but the idea is simple: try to capitalize on the connections between man and mechanical machines of every sort.

For Belgian brand Lebeau-Courally, partnering with the local and prestigious Zoute Grand Prix seems like a natural fit, especially if you ask Joris Ide, the brand’s Managing Director:

“This is a Belgian prestige event with international influence; we also have those two characteristics, as a Liege-based manufacture whose timepieces are all Swiss Made. We too champion the same values of luxury, refinement and heritage.”

The special motoring event will be taking place from October 6, 2016 onwards. And for the first time in its association with this event, the brand will produce three limited editions of prestige timepieces. It will include two ladies’ models – one jewelled and one non-jewelled - and a men’s model, each limited to just 25 pieces.

For the ladies, the Dauphin Zoute model demonstrates the simplicity of timeless design. With its 38 mm diameter, the watch sports a minimalist white dial and a contrasting flange with red lining spanning a 20-minute section. The sporty feel of the watch is helped by the white topstitching on the red crocodile strap.

And for the first time since the beginning of the collaboration, a dressier jewellery option of the watch will also be available.

For the gents, we have the Le Baron Zoute chronograph in a distinctive 43 mm black DLC-treated steel case. Powered by a Swiss-made caliber, the watch has a similar sporty character, featuring the same flange with red graduations and overstitching like the ladies’ model. The colourway is mirrored in the chrono pusher at 2 o’clock and on the hands.

I’m a fan of all three timepieces. But I especially like the fact that the brass at Lebeau Courally has decided to release two ladies’ watches to celebrate the Grand Prix and only one men’s model. Motorsports are usually strongly linked with men’s watches by brands, and as small as it is, this is a welcome change of pace for the industry.