Borna Bosnjak
Born in the days when drivers didn’t wear seatbelts, in hopes of being ejected from the burning wreckages of their petrol-filled bathtubs on wheels, the Mille Miglia was an iconic open-road endurance race. Much like the similar Mexian Carrera Panamericana, the Italian grand touring spectacle claimed many lives throughout its history, eventually ceasing operation in 1957. These days, the race lives on through the Mille Miglia Storica, and is an opportunity for vintage, multi-million dollar marvels on wheels to stretch their legs, and the drivers to depress immaculately machined aluminium pedals to the proverbial metal.As long-time sponsors of the race, Chopard also showed in full strength, introducing no less than five new references for the occasion of the race. The first four, regular-production Mille Miglia Classic chronographs sport a new 40.5mm Lucent Steel case, but the real treat is the highly sought-after Mille Miglia GTS Chrono Limited Edition Italy, with only 100 pieces available from Italian retailers, all of which have long sold out.The raceHeld over five legs taking you to Remini, Rome, Parma and back to the starting point in Brescia, the 41st re-enactment of the race saw hundreds of pre-1957 cars vying for the title of victor. The crown eventually went to the 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 in the hands of six-time winner Andrea Vesco and three-time winner Fabio Salvinelli, taking the crown for the fourth year in a row.Team Chopard, headed by petrolhead and motorsport enthusiast Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, brought a enviable line-up of cars including a white Porsche 356 Speedster driven by Romain Dumas and co-piloted by Zhu Yilong. Not to be outdone in his 35th outing in the race, Scheufele teamed up with Grand Prix legend Jacky Ickx in a Mercedes 300 SL – arguably the most beautiful car ever made.Mille Miglia GTS Chrono Limited Edition Italy 2023And now – the watches. As a token of gratitude towards each driver that enters the race, Chopard provides a Mille Miglia watch, the honour this year given to the aforementioned GTS Chronograph. Its colourway suggests that it was designed by petrolheads, as the cream and green combination just seems to suit beautiful cars so well, with red accents that match the classic 1000 Miglia?insignia surrounding the date wheel.The 44mm Lucent Steel case allows for a large, legible dial and oversized hour and minute totalisers of the 6-9-12 chronograph layout. The COSC-certified movement is derived from a Valjoux 7750 ebauche, which means automatic winding, 4 Hz, and a 48-hour power reserve.Finally, a part of the proceeds from the sales of this limited editions are to be dedicated to the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, experiencing tragic floods that claimed numerous lives and displaced tens of thousands.BrandChopardModelMille Miglia GTS Chrono Limited Edition Italy 2023Reference Number168571-3015Case Dimensions44mm (D) x 13.79mm (T)Case MaterialLucent SteelWater Resistance100 metresCrystal(s)SapphireDialCream with grained finishStrapBrown perforated calfskin with black rubber lining and Lucent Steel claspMovementValjoux 7750-derived chronograph, automaticPower Reserve48 hoursFunctionsHours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronographAvailabilityNowPrice8,610Mille Miglia Classic ChronographFor those who missed out on a Mille Miglia drive or simply wish for a smaller chronograph, Chopard has you covered. The 40.5mm Lucent Steel (and ethical gold) Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph is available with the classic Nero Corsa engine-turned black dial that, depending on the light, looks like a vintage aluminium dashboard, but also three other colourful variants.The most eye-catching of those is undoubtedly the cherry red, or Rosso Amarena, execution, with a circularly brushed sunburst dial, azurage sub-dials and white highlights in the applied indices, hands and tachymeter scale.A little more subtle is the Verde Chiaro with its pistachio vibes – a shade that seems to have become a popular option with the rise of the green dial. Despite all the different colour variations, Chopard has colour-matched the date wheel, positioned in the oft-debated 4:30 position.For a classier take on the Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph, Chopard paired a steel blue colour with ethical 18k yellow gold accents for the rounded bezel and knurled pushers and crown, a hue not dissimilar to that of the Alpine Eagle, though with a more subdued finish.Apart from the case size, the Classic Chronograph models differ from the GTS variant in the movement department, too. The smaller diameter and reduced height are thanks to the ETA A322-11, an upgraded variant of the 2894-2 modular chronograph calibre. This means the watches feature a 54-hour power reserve and chronometer certification, running at 4 Hz.BrandChopardModelMille Miglia Classic ChronographReference Number168619-3001 (Nero Corsa)168619-3003 (Rosso Amarena)168619-3004 (Verde Chiaro)168619-4001 (Grigio-Blu)Case Dimensions40.5mm (D) x 12.88mm (T)Case MaterialLucent SteelLucent Steel and ethical 18k yellow goldWater Resistance50 metresCrystal(s)SapphireDialEngine-turned black, cherry red, pistachio green, steel blueStrapCalfskin leather with Lucent Steel buckleMovementETA A322-11, automatic chronographPower Reserve54 hoursFunctionsHours, minutes, date, small seconds, chronographAvailabilityNowPrice9,580 (Nero Corsa)9,800 (Rosso Amarena, Verde Chiaro)11,600 (Grigio-Blu)
02.07.23