Chopard Presents the 2023 Mille Miglia Editions: A Classic Chronograph Collection and a GTS Chrono Limited Edition
Mille Miglia (‘thousand miles’ in Italian) is one of the world’s most significant open-road motorsport endurance races. It has been an annual affair since 1927. Every year, Chopard releases new model/s dedicated to the race. After all, the celebrated brand is a key sponsor and official timekeeper for the race. This year too, without deviating from the launch tradition, the timepiece maker has released a limited edition of the GTS Chronograph, along with a Classic Chronograph collection.
As the name suggests, drivers have to manoeuvre 1,000 miles or roughly 1,600 kilometres during the race, starting and finishing in Brescia, Italy. The 1947 edition was the longest, clocking in 1,132 miles or just over 1,800 kilometres.
Let’s now look at the Chopard Mille Miglia watches on offer this year.
Chopard Classic Chronograph Collection
This new Mille Miglia collection comes in a 40 mm case. It is made of Lucent Steel™, which is 50% more resilient than regular steel; it also uses materials recycled from medical, aerospace, car and watch industries. The new dial options include Rosso Amarena (cherry red, Ref. 168619-3003), Verde Chiaro (light green, Ref. 168619-3004), and Nero Corsa (racing black, Ref.168619-3001).
Lucent Steel™ can also be found on the lugs (which are welded separately and are not integrated), the bezels, the crowns with engraved steering wheel motif and the knurled pushers resembling brake pedals on the three models. The dial of each of these models includes a white minute track, a tachymeter scale, and Arabic hour markers. You can also find a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, a 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock, a 60-second counter at 3 o’clock, and a date window at 4:30. The rhodium-plated, baton-shaped hour, minute hands are coated with white Grade XI Super-LumiNova. There is a red-tipped central second hand as well.
Each dial also includes a red ‘1000 Miglia’ logo below the Chopard one at 12 o’clock. Powering the collection is the automatic, self-winding chronograph movement with 54 hours of power reserve. Turning each of these watches over showcases the exhibition caseback with the ‘1000 Miglia' route marker motif around the circumference.
Mille Miglia GTS Chrono Limited Edition Italy 2023
The timepiece maker has also unveiled a new 44 mm (Ref. 168571-3015 ), 100-piece limited-edition GTS Chrono in Lucent Steel™. The earnings from the watch sales will be donated by Chopard to support the victims of the recent floods in Emilia Romagna in northern Italy. This model comes with a green tachymeter scale on the bezel. Lucent Steel™ can also be found on the larger integrated lugs, the crown, and the chronograph pushers.
The dial is in beige and features grained finishing, baton-type hour, minute hands and hour markers, and a red-tipped central seconds hand. You can spot a 30-minute counter at 12 o’clock, a 60-second counter at 9 o’clock, a 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock, and a date window at 3 o’clock. Powering this model is an automatic, self-winding movement with 48 hours of power reserve. Turning the watch over showcases the Lucent SteelTM caseback, bearing the ‘1000 Miglia’ motif. This model is finished on a brown perforated calfskin strap with black rubber lining and a Lucent SteelTM triple folding clasp.
Image Credits: Chopard