Surrounded with a tachymetric scale, the dial revives the aesthetic of vintage dashboards and ensures maximum readability thanks to its large numerals and luminescent hands. Inspired by leather car-bonnet tie-down straps, its beautifully weathered strap in Suportlo® calfskin echoes the legendary spirit of the Italian competition that Chopard has been serving as partner and official timekeeper since 1988.

The powerful historical ties binding Chopard and the Mille Miglia

The story began in 1988, when Chopard became partner and official timekeeper of the famous Mille Miglia classic car rally. The now inseparable ties between Chopard and the world of classic racing were born from the personal passion for collector’s cars and the automobile universe of Chopard co-president, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele. This shared love of fine mechanics and sports performance inspired a much sought-after watch collection: the Mille Miglia timepieces by Chopard. These virile watches with their sleek sophisticated designs and high-precision mechanisms embody the spirit of the legendary Italian competition featuring a blend of elegance, performance and sporting prowess. Each spring, the prestigious rally nicknamed the “corsa più bella del mondo” by Enzo Ferrari sees 430 teams competing on a one thousand-mile (1,600 km) route winding through the magnificent scenery between Brescia and Rome. For each new edition of this annual event reserved exclusively for vehicles having competed in the historical Mille Miglia, Chopard presents a dedicated limited-series watch.

The vintage spirit of a great Chopard classic

A generously sized retro-style timepiece issued in a 1,000-piece stainless steel edition, the Mille Miglia 2016 XL Race Edition is inspired by the design codes of the cars that took part in the historical race between 1927 and 1940. Water-resistant to 50 metres, its sturdy 46 mm-diameter case makes it the largest of the Mille Miglia wrist chronographs created by Chopard. Its classic and refined lines are enhanced by two traditional pushers and a fluted crown. The perfectly readable black dial is enlivened by wide Arabic numerals and luminescent hands, while the bright red sweep-seconds hand stands out clearly to count off the precious seconds of the race. These legibility-enhancing attributes are essential in a timepiece dedicated to competition in any conditions.

Topped by a tachymetric scale, an indication that is useful in calculating average speed which is a decisive factor in endurance racing, the satin-brushed dial displays snailed anthracite and black counters reminiscent of car dashboards. Echoing the sweep-seconds hand, the “Rossa Corsa” red arrow-shaped Mille Miglia logo appears both at 12 o’clock on the dial and around the rim of the exhibition case-back.

In a final nod to the world of classic racing, this performance-driven watch is fitted with a finely weathered strap in “Suportlo®” calfskin, whose waterproofness and superbly supple feel recall the leather tie-down straps on the bonnet of a racing car.

New Chopard chronograph movement

A true partner for drivers, the Mille Miglia 2016 XL Race Edition is equipped with a high-precision watch ‘engine’, chronometer-certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). Entirely developed, designed and assembled in the Chopard workshops, the Chopard Calibre 03.05-C is a new mechanical self-winding movement equipped with a column wheel. It powers the hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph and aperture-type date functions, while ensuring a comfortable 60 hours of operating autonomy.

Delivering a perfect blend of precision, comfort and elegance, this watch is the ideal ally of passionate drivers speeding across the Italian roads, from the picturesque countryside of Emilia-Romagna to the most beautiful reliefs of Lombardy and Roma, the “city of seven hills”.