BASELWORLD 2019: Chopard Mille Miglia 2019 Race Edition

In 2018, Chopard celebrated three decades of partnership with the Mille Miglia race, “la corsa più bella del mondo” which is raced over a 1,600 km loop running from Brescia to Rome and back. This unique alliance in the world of classic motorsport, which reflects Chopard Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele’s passion for classic cars, continues this year with the Mille Miglia 2019 Race Edition. Available in a 1000-piece limited edition in stainless steel or 250-piece two-tone limited edition in stainless steel and 18-carat rose gold, this distinctive, sturdy and accurate chronograph reflects a tradition of watches made for contemporary gentlemen and imbued with an inimitable vintage spirit for speed-loving drivers… who never skimp on style!

Since 1988, Chopard has been a key partner to this legendary competition. These ties are notably expressed through the Mille Miglia watch collection, which has taken a prominent place among the Maison’s timepieces thanks to its resolutely sporty character tinged with deliciously retro accents, much like the rally that inspires it. The GTS line perfectly embodies this osmosis through resolutely current vintage watches capable of incorporating historical codes within a contemporary and uncompromising timepiece. The Mille Miglia 2019 Race Edition model vividly illustrates this approach in the two versions on offer. The 250-piece steel and 18-carat rose gold version evokes a more peaceful sporting experience in which obsession with speed gives way to the importance of movement is every bit as striking as the racy, intrepid looks of the 1000-unit version with a stainless steel case designed for gentlemen drivers who approach life like a hairpin bend.

In both options, the Mille Miglia 2019 Race Edition watch is first and foremost a watch designed for racing, a veritable horological speed machine. Alongside its obvious robustness and durability, it features a generous 44-mm case with a screw-in back and water resistance guaranteed to 100 metres. The case-back is also engraved with the Mille Miglia logo on a black PVD-treated checkerboard pattern reminiscent of the race commissioner’s flag. This efficient high-performance model is powered by a self-winding chronograph movement whose accuracy is certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) and with a full two-day power reserve. Operating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, this distinctive ‘engine’ ensures eighth-of-a-second measurement of short times, perfectly adapted to old-timers’ road-going exploits. For those accustomed to eating up the miles the tachymeter scale engraved on the blackened aluminium insert of the bezel serves to calculate the average speed during the race. An essential piece of information for drivers, given that an endurance event such as the Mille Miglia race is won by regularity.