Dolce Vita on the Wrist – Chopard’s Mille Miglia Race Edition

A More Relaxed Take on Car Inspired Watches

Watches and sport have a relationship that spans almost as long as horological marvels have been in existence. You can tell who won a race by looking at who crosses the finish line first, but it is impossible to know by how much, without some sort of timekeeping system. Timekeeping, for this reason, plays a critical role in any competitive length of time. And one of the few brands that specifically focus on the timing of motorsports is Chopard.

30 Year Long Relationship

Chopard has served as a supporting patron of one of the most important classic car rallies in Europe for over 30 years – the Mille Miglia. It is a race that runs from Brescia to Rome and back, and was first completed in 1927. In the modern iteration of the race, the cars allowed to enter must have been produced between 1927 and 1957, making it a visual feast of some of the finest vintage cars on the globe. In addition to this spectacle, every year Chopard manufacture a limited edition watch, in an eponymous series that pays tribute to the race, and to the tradition of motorsport watches.

Watches and cars have lot in common. Not only are they both technically interesting from a mechanical engineering standpoint, but they attract communities of enthusiasts to them from around the world. Nice cars, just like nice watches, are about as far from a basic necessity as you can get, meaning these communities are formed around a deep passion for their respective archaisms, not around necessity. It is this passion that is shared by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, the Co-President of Chopard, and sees him personally competing in the Mille Miglia rally each year.

The Chopard Mille Miglia 2019 Race Edition is a chronograph that coherently embodies a classic racing watch with almost a century of pedigree. This year there are two versions available – in steel and rose gold (limited to 250 pieces), and in steel (limited to 1000 pieces).

Chopard’s Mille Miglia

In both editions, the case curves gently, reminiscent of fenders from the forties, with contours that looked fast not matter if they were parked or roaring along a country road. Additional design cues from the automotive space are instantly noticeable. The crown has the tri-spoke of a vintage steering wheel pressed into it, the caseback is emblazoned with a chequered flag and the symbol of the 1000 Miglia, and the cognac coloured leather strap is perforated in the style of racing leather with a rubber underside imprinted with a vintage tire tread motif.

Beyond these tasteful nods to the race so beloved by Chopard, the dial features a tri-compax layout, with subdials at 6, 9, 12 and a date aperture at 3 o’clock. To add to the vintage feel of the piece, the date is amplified with a Cyclops magnifier on the sapphire crystal. The dial also carries the emblem of the race on it, an ever-present visual reminder of the significance of the timepiece.

In a departure from the vintage tone of the piece, but in the name of practicality, both editions are sized at 44m to ensure that only a glance away from the road is required to read them. The engine powering this edition is the Chopard automatic chronograph calibre, a movement that runs to COSC certified accuracy standards, and has a 48-hour power reserve. Another practical feature is the use of a screw-down crown to protect the movement from moisture, and gives the watch a 100m water resistance.

The 2019 edition of the Miglia 1000 has just been run and won, this year by a stunning Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 SSA from 1928. In a reflective moment of life imitating art, the rich burgundy of the winning vehicle matches nicely with the tips of the chronograph hands and race emblem on the dial. With this small connection, the watch is made perfect as a homologous expression of Mille Miglia motorcar rally. As edition numbers are limited, the Chopard Mille Miglia 2019 Race Edition will quickly find owners who have a passion for objects produced to quicken the pulse.