The story of the Mille Miglia is one of longevity sustained by passion; for the rally itself, which was founded in 1927, suspended thirty years later and relaunched in 1977, and for Chopard, which has been the main partner of the event since 1988. Among the classic car enthusiasts who flock to the race that Enzo Ferrari considered “the most beautiful race in the world” is Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, co-president of Chopard, whose involvement doesn’t stop at merely representing the sponsor company. He has taken the wheel himself around 30 times, completing the 1,000-kilometre circuit between Brescia and Rome alongside co-pilots chosen from among his friends and family. This year, his daughter Caroline-Marie rode shotgun in his Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing.
Mille Miglia 2019 Race Edition
As tradition dictates, the 2019 automobile adventure brings its own new watch, the Mille Miglia 2019 Race Edition chronograph, an appropriate addition to the retro-inspired sports watch collection, the Mille Miglia GTS. Available in a 1000-piece limited edition in steel with an anthracite dial, or a 250-piece steel and 18K rose gold version, this 44mm chronograph with tachymeter scale is equipped with a new COSC-certified automatic movement with 48-hour power reserve.
Price: steel & rose gold version: 9950 € / steel version: 6800 €
Mille Miglia GTS Power Control
Chopard also unveiled three further watches, including the Mille Miglia GTS Power Control. Like the Mille Miglia 2019 Race Edition, it comes in either steel or two-tone steel and 18K rose gold, but both are 500-piece limited editions, and the dial colours are different – blue and anthracite respectively. The timepiece’s affiliation with the “gentleman driver” aesthetic, and the Italian rally, can be seen in the date window illustrated with the Mille Miglia logo, the 60-hour power reserve indicator reminiscent of a fuel gauge, and the strap’s rubber lining, which is printed with the tread of a 1960s Dunlop tyre. At the heart of the elegant 43mm chassis lies the COSC-certified automatic calibre Chopard 01.08-C.
Price: steel & rose gold version: 8910 € / steel version: 6290 €
Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph Zagato 100th Anniversary Edition
As its name suggests, the Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph Zagato 100th Anniversary Edition celebrates the centenary of Zagato, the celebrated Italian coachbuilder. While Andrea Zagato, the grandson of the man who founded the company in 1919, and Carl-Friedrich Scheufele, who represents the 4th generation of a family of jewellers and watchmakers, and is co-president of a firm founded in 1860, have many things in common, it was the Mille Miglia rally, in which both are regular participants, that cemented their friendship. The 42mm chronograph created for the Zagato centenary is made of steel, and Chopard has chosen the Italian designer’s signature colour to accent the dial and three counters, and the initial Z as the background motif. Designed to be worn by racing drivers, the watch comes on a sturdy black leather bund strap, recalling not just the cuffs that racing drivers of yesteryear would wear over the top of their overalls, but also the leather luggage straps of vintage cars.
Like the other Mille Miglia timepieces presented above, the back features a decoration specific to this model (the Mille Miglia logo and the inscription “Brescia-Rome-Brescia” for the first two, plus the Zagato logo). The automatic chronograph movement of this 100-piece limited edition is COSC-certified and has a 48-hour power reserve.
Price: 6330 €
