The New Chopard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph Sporting French National Colours

The connection between classic cars and Chopard isn’t to be demonstrated anymore. Beyond the brand’s co-CEO passion for vintage automobiles, the brand has been associated with the emblematic Mille Miglia race since 1988. In the frame of this partnership, Chopard developed a dedicated collection of racing chronographs, with now 35 years of history under the hood. Now, in the context of one of the largest classic car shows in Europe, Rétromobile, Chopard presents its latest creation, the Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph French Limited Edition.

The Mille Miglia, an iconic open-road endurance race spanning approximately 1,500km from Brescia to Rome and back, was established in 1927 by Count Mazzotti and Count Maggi. Legend has it that their dissatisfaction with the relocation of the Italian Grand Prix from Brescia to Monza spurred the inception of this legendary event. In 1988, Chopard lent its support to the revived (since 1977) Mille Miglia race for cars constructed between 1927 and 1957, and introduced the Chopard Mille Miglia Chronograph for participants. Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Co-President of Chopard, has personally participated in the race every year since 1989, and Chopard has annually released timepieces embodying the essence of the racing spirit, with only two exceptions: a key ring in 1989 and cuff links in 1992. Noteworthy among these creations is the 1990 steel split-seconds pocket chronograph, equipped with a mechanical movement, as other Mille Miglia editions up to 1997 were powered by quartz. It’s worth noting that since 2000, all Mille Miglia movements received COSC chronometer certification. Chopard began offering a limited edition annual series to the general public in 1997, expanding accessibility beyond competitors and guests. The Mille Miglia collection has evolved over the years, incorporating the latest trends in materials and design techniques.

In the past year, Chopard introduced an updated Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph featuring a more compact design crafted from Lucent Steel A223 – an exclusive, responsibly produced alloy.

Adding a surprising twist to this model, Chopard has just unveiled an exclusive Mille Miglia French Limited Edition with a tri-colour dial on the occasion of the 2024 Salon Rétromobile (you can check a photo report of the 2020 edition here), a significant event for vintage car enthusiasts held annually in Paris since 1976. Happening from January 31st to February 4th, the Salon Rétromobile is a dedicated annual show for classic cars, providing a platform for enthusiasts to engage with artists, manufacturers, clubs, federations, spare parts and miniatures sellers, restorers, and car dealers. The Rétromobile event offers a comprehensive experience for its visitors, featuring over 1,000 vehicles on display at Port de Versailles. With Chopard’s deep-rooted connection to the automobile world and Karl-Friedrich Scheufele being a noted vintage car collector, it’s only fitting that the brand has a presence at the Salon. Moreover, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele personally conceptualized the design of the Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph French Edition, drawing inspiration from the French flag’s colours, as Chopard reported. Here’s what we know about this new timepiece.

The latest Chopard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph French Edition has a 40.5mm diameter and 12.88mm height case, with a lug-to-lug measurement of 49mm and a lug width of 20mm. Crafted from anti-allergenic, brushed and polished Lucent Steel A223 – an exclusive REACH-certified and responsibly produced alloy – the case exudes a captivating luminosity. It boasts a durability that’s fifty per cent greater than regular steel. The bezel, crown, and classic chronograph pushers are all fashioned from this same material, each with contrasting finishes. Notably, the pushers’ tops feature patterns that resemble brake pedals, while the crown has deeper notches for enhanced grip and is adorned with the vintage steering wheel image. Adding to its retro appeal, the glassbox-style sapphire crystal protecting the dial evokes a nostalgic charm. The 50m water-resistant case features a sapphire exhibition caseback that showcases the automatic movement.

The tricolour silver-toned dial, adorned with a circular satin finish, sports the signature Mille Miglia Chronograph series retro typeface. The tachymeter track, printed in white on the dark blue flange, enhances functionality and motorsport connection. Grade X1 Super-LumiNova illuminates the Arabic numerals and dot indices at 3, 6 and 9 and the rhodium-plated, baton-style central hands, ensuring clear visibility even in low-light conditions. The layout features recessed and snailed subdials for small seconds at 3 o’clock, a 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock, and a 30-minute counter at 9 o’clock. All chronograph hands, including the central baton-type chronograph seconds hand, are accentuated with a striking red colour, perfectly complementing the Mille Miglia logo just above the centre. Red accents continue as numerals, marking 5-minute intervals on the minutes track. At 4:30, a small date window seamlessly blends with the dial’s overall visual harmony.

Driving this watch is a COSC-certified automatic chronograph with a beat rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour and an adequate 54-hour power reserve. This movement originates in the ETA A322-11, an upgraded modular version of the COSC-certified ETA 2894-2. Adorned with decorations such as perlage, Côtes de Genève, and blued screws, the movement delivers precision and aesthetic appeal.

The caseback of the Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph French Edition is engraved with indications of its limited edition status and unique number, the 1000 Miglia motif, and a distinctive touch that reinforces the French connection. The tricolour design on the dial didn’t exude enough of a distinctly French flair, so the sapphire crystal section of the case back proudly features two crossed flags – a black and white chequered racing flag and the other unmistakably bearing the French national colours.

The timepiece is paired with a perforated blue calfskin strap reminiscent of traditional driving gloves. The pin buckle, crafted from Lucent Steel A223, ensures a secure fit. The price for this 100-piece limited Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph French Edition series will be EUR 10,400. More information at chopard.com.