The Downsized 2023 Chopard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph (Live Pics)

Chopard has been the official sponsor and timekeeper of Italy’s Mille Miglia since 1988, and co-president Karl-Friedrich Scheufele has participated in every race from 1989, covering over 30,000 competition miles. In fact, this has been the longest partnership in history between a watchmaker and a major motorsports event, and 35 previous watches in the Mille Miglia collection consolidate this link. The latest Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph models were inspired by the event’s classic cars with distinctive features on the cases, dials and straps. The watches are also smaller for 2023 and produced in a new, exclusive material. 

Unlike prior models, like the 42mm Mille Miglia 2020 Race Edition, the new models have a more compact design at 40.5mm in diameter and 12.88mm in height (slightly thicker than the 2020 model’s 12.67mm). It also comes in anti-allergenic, brushed and polished Lucent Steel A223, an exclusive alloy that took four years to develop. It has a luminous appearance (hence the name) and is fifty per cent harder than regular steel, and also REACH-certified as it’s responsibly produced.

Three models have the bezel, crown and pushers in this material, while the bi-material (two-tone) piece uses ethical 18k rose gold. The pushers feature a knurled pattern to represent brake pedals, while the crown has deeper notches for better grip. There’s an AR box sapphire crystal protecting the dials for a retro vibe, and the 50m water-resistant case has a sapphire exhibition caseback displaying the automatic movement.

There are four dial colours to choose from, again inspired by race cars, and include Verde Chiaro (light green) and Rosso Amarena (cherry red) with a Zapon-varnished satin-brushed finish, Nero Corsa (racing black) with an engine-turned finish and Grigio Blue (grey blue) on the bi-material model (18k rose gold and Lucent Steel A223) with a satin-brushed finish. All dials have white tachymeters and minute tracks, while Grade XI Super-LumiNova is used on the Arabic numerals and rhodium-plated, baton-style central hands. The chronograph seconds hand has a red tip, matching the 1000 Miglia logo below 12 o’clock. The tricompax chronograph layout has small seconds at 3 o’clock, a 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock and a 30-minute counter at 9 o’clock, while an angled date window sits between 4 and 5 o’clock. 

Powering the new collection is a COSC-certified automatic chronograph with 37 jewels, a beat rate of 28,800vph (4Hz) and a 54-hour power reserve for the central hours, minutes and chronograph seconds, 30-minute counter, 12-hour counter, small seconds and date. The movement is based on the ETA A322-11, which is a COSC-certified and upgraded modular ETA 2894-2. Decorations include perlage and Côtes de Genève. 

The straps come in two varieties: a black rubber strap mimicking the tread on 1960s Dunlop racing tyres (on the Nero Corsa model) or a vintage brown perforated calfskin leather strap representing driving gloves. The pin buckles are Lucent Steel A223. Pricing on this 36^th edition of the Mille Miglia collection is to be confirmed. For more information, please visit Chopard’s website.