Today I am wearing a Festina chronograph that was gifted to me some years ago by a very, very good friend. I hadn’t worn this for years and changed its battery yesterday. I always liked the colour of the dial and it was an inspiration which led me to buy my burgundy Kamasu later in time! It also reminds me of the golden era when Festina group were heavily involved in cycling and Tour de France 🇫🇷. And of course the huge doping scandal known as “affaire Festina” in 1998 which led to the dismantling of Festina’s racing team after all of the team’s cyclists admitted they had taken anabolic steroids! Good or bad, history is history and it’s useful to remember it. Have a relaxing Sunday my friends.
21 comments
Sort by
Watchguard
My name is Kostas. I love going hunting for watches, finding information, exploring new models and discovering unknown affordable gems. I am getting particularly excited when I manage to find and make...
Belgium
Member since
Last active: 5 hrs ago
8.50” / 21.60 cm
Very cool watch with an interesting story Kostas. It is definitely a statement piece. Happy Sunday mate ☕️
Very cool watch with an interesting story Kostas. It is definitely a statement piece. Happy Sunday mate ☕️
Thank you very much my friend 🙏
Yeah. Great looking watch Kostas. Good or bad memories, you'll always have a watch with a history behind it. I used to enjoy watching the various Tours but like most sports nowadays, I'm afraid I'm disheartened with it all. It seems money and politics are ruining everything.
Beautiful watch Kostas, nice back story!
Yeah. Great looking watch Kostas. Good or bad memories, you'll always have a watch with a history behind it. I used to enjoy watching the various Tours but like most sports nowadays, I'm afraid I'm disheartened with it all. It seems money and politics are ruining everything.
Thanks a lot John🙏
Exactly, nothing is pure anymore! The investors, the sponsors, the media and the fans are pushing for better results, more and more victories and 1st places. I really miss the time sports were just fun and healthy competition!
Beautiful watch Kostas, nice back story!
Thank you very much Danilo 🤝
I guess Lance Armstrong didn't learn from Festina's shenanigans....
I guess Lance Armstrong didn't learn from Festina's shenanigans....
Well he started his winning record in 1999! That’s one year later than when the Festina scandal became known. Maybe he was meditating in an isolated island at the time 😂. I read somewhere that 14 out of the recent 25 Tour de France winners have either failed tests or have confessed to have used steroids! Does anybody ever learn?
Great story! Makes the wearing fun ✨💪
Great story! Makes the wearing fun ✨💪
Thanks David 🙏
Sometimes you need a good story to appreciate a good watch 🎯
Presumably it runs faster than other watches 😉
Great looking watch and it’s DNA is all racing!
I love cycling and it’s a reality of the sport unfortunately. I just put my head down and turn that crank! 🚵🏻♀️
Beautiful dial!🥰
Presumably it runs faster than other watches 😉
It is a dope watch 🙄
Great looking watch and it’s DNA is all racing!
I love cycling and it’s a reality of the sport unfortunately. I just put my head down and turn that crank! 🚵🏻♀️
Thank you my friend 🙏
Yep cycling is a nice sport, especially when you live in a country full of paths and roads for cyclists! Have a nice day 🍻
Beautiful dial!🥰
Thank you Jordi 👍
That dial sure pops, very cool watch! Thanks for sharing the backstory. Affaire Festina must have been a tough blow for Festina 🫣
Smoke Show!
That dial sure pops, very cool watch! Thanks for sharing the backstory. Affaire Festina must have been a tough blow for Festina 🫣
Thank you Lorenzo 🙏
I think especially from the moment the scandal was uncovered - when they caught one of their cyclists in the Belgian-French borders with a car full of steroids in 1998 - That was just 3 days before the start of Tour de France. Until 2000-2001 when the trials concluded, Festina’s reputation must have been destroyed! I am not sure though how far that spread to their customers base. Many people even nowadays have never heard or were aware of the scandal. Especially the ones who don’t follow international cycling. I have the feeling though that this did have had an impact on the Festina group and their prestige in the watch industry
Thank you Lorenzo 🙏
I think especially from the moment the scandal was uncovered - when they caught one of their cyclists in the Belgian-French borders with a car full of steroids in 1998 - That was just 3 days before the start of Tour de France. Until 2000-2001 when the trials concluded, Festina’s reputation must have been destroyed! I am not sure though how far that spread to their customers base. Many people even nowadays have never heard or were aware of the scandal. Especially the ones who don’t follow international cycling. I have the feeling though that this did have had an impact on the Festina group and their prestige in the watch industry
I think you're right about that. Most of the negative focus would be on the team and the individual cyclists. I don't remember if Jaguar, Lotus, Candino and Calypso existed in 98, I'm quite sure that at least Lotus existed, but these sub brands would probably be more or less isolated from the scandal 🤔 Very interesting 🤝
I think you're right about that. Most of the negative focus would be on the team and the individual cyclists. I don't remember if Jaguar, Lotus, Candino and Calypso existed in 98, I'm quite sure that at least Lotus existed, but these sub brands would probably be more or less isolated from the scandal 🤔 Very interesting 🤝
Yes Lotus existed and if I am not mistaken the team was called Festina-Lotus at the time the scandal became known. Weirdly though it became viral as the “Festina affair” like Lotus was never part of it. Indeed very interesting 🧐