Since becoming the 1000 Miglia‘s principal partner and official timekeeper in 1988, Chopard has produced a new Mille Miglia timepiece every year. Over the decades, these have come to be highly sought-after collectors’ items, as much for their rarity – all are made in strictly limited numbers – as for the way they perfectly express the inextricable link between the worlds of classic cars and mechanical sports watches. A chronograph is an essential piece of operational equipment for any serious rally contestant, and every team taking part in the 1000 Miglia is presented with the Mille Miglia Race Edition chronograph before they arrive at the start line. The Chopard Mille Miglia 2020 Race Edition is issued in two versions powered by a chronometer-certified movement: 1,000 in bead-blasted DLC-treated stainless steel and 250 in two-tone bead-blasted DLC-treated stainless steel and ethical 18-carat rose gold.
The Mille Miglia 2020 Race Edition revisits the full-black theme with a bead-blasted, Diamond-Like-Carbon (DLC)-treated case, a matt black varnished dial and contrasting ‘vintage yellow’ markings. The combination adds up to a retro look that appears entirely at home at the steering wheel of a classic automobile, yet which works equally well for regular day or evening wear and is sure to appeal to younger enthusiasts becoming increasingly involved in events such as the 1000 Miglia.
Indeed, as Chopard Co-President, avid classic car enthusiast and 31-time Mille Miglia competitor Karl-Friedrich Scheufele explains: “We had our younger clients in mind when we created this year’s watch. Younger generations are increasingly interested in classic cars, and we’re seeing newly married couples as well as father-and-son tandems taking part in events such as the Mille Miglia. This year’s watch is very much intended for them.”
Functionality meets legibility and comfort
Partly inspired by the satin black and ‘gunmetal’ finishes often seen on vintage cars, the DLC finish gives the 42-mm, bead-blasted stainless steel case a highly attractive appearance that is also scratch-resistant and non-reflective. Comfort and a perfect fit are assured by the use of short strap lugs, while the practical nature of the timepiece is demonstrated by the extreme legibility resulting from the strong contrast between the matt black dial surface and the vintage yellow minute track and tachymeter scale.
These features make this timepiece ideal for the type of speed and distance calculations often called for during special rally stages. The Arabic numerals, also in vintage yellow, are filled with ultra-bright Super-LumiNova®enabling the watch to be more easily read in low-light conditions, while the counter subdials are clearly marked to show 60 seconds, 30 minutes and 12 hours. A bold date window is located between the 4 and 5 o’clock positions, while a hint of red on the tip of the seconds’ hand – together with the subtle inclusion of the famous red 1000 Miglia direction arrow – are the indications on the dial side that this chronograph pays tribute to what Enzo Ferrari called ‘the most beautiful race in the world.’
One watch, two versions
Two versions of the Chopard Mille Miglia 2020 Race Edition will be available: an all-black model in a 1,000-piece limited series, plus a further run of 250 fitted with bezels made from contrasting bead-blasted 18-carat ethical rose gold. Both of them are powered by a chronometer-certified mechanical movement with automatic winding enabling a comfortable 42-hour power reserve.
Turning the watch over reveals a sapphire crystal case-back bordered by the 1000 Miglia logo and the unique edition number of each piece while the perfect finishing touch is set by a black, perforated leather strap with tone-on-tone stitching and a rubber lining featuring Chopard‘s signature tread pattern based on that of a 1960s Dunlop racing tyre.
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Chopard Mille Miglia 2020 Race Edition Technical Specifications
Ref. 168589-3028 – in beadblasted DLC-treated stainless steel with a black calfskin and rubber strap, 1,000-piece limited edition
Case
- Beadblasted DLC-treated stainless steel
- Total diameter: 42.00 mm
- Thickness: 12.67 mm
- Water resistance: 50 metres
- Screw-lock crown in bead-blasted DLC-treated stainless steel
- with steering wheel motif 7.50 mm
- Bezel in bead-blasted DLC-treated stainless steel
- Glare-proofed sapphire crystal
- Beadblasted DLC-treated stainless steel pushers
- Exhibition back secured with screws and featuring the 1000 Miglia logo around the circumference – tinted glass
Movement
- Mechanical movement with automatic winding
- Chronograph
- Total diameter: 28.60 mm
- Thickness: 6.10 mm
Number of jewels: 37 - Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
- Power reserve: 42 hours
- Chronometer-certified (COSC)
Dial and hands
- Matt black-varnished dial with vintage yellow transfers for the minute track and tachymeter scale
- Red 1000 Miglia logo at 12 o’clock
- Super-LumiNova®-painted vintage yellow Arabic numerals
- Black-varnished counters at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock
- Facetted metallic black hours and minutes hands
- Metallic black counter hands at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock
- Metallic black red-tipped centre sweep-seconds hand
Functions
- Hours, minutes, seconds
- Small seconds at 3 o’clock
- 30-minute and 12-hour counters
- Date window between 4 and 5 o’clock
- Tachymeter scale
Strap and buckle
- Black calfskin strap with tone-on-tone stitching
- Perforations inspired by driving gloves
- Black rubber lining inspired by 1960s Dunlop racing tyres
- Folding clasp in bead-blasted DLC-treated stainless steel
Price
- CHF 6,700 / $6,700 / £5,850 / 6.500 € / ￥770,000 / CN￥ 51,000
Ref. 168589-6002 – in bead-blasted DLC-treated stainless steel and ethical 18-carat rose gold with a black calfskin and rubber strap 250-piece limited edition
Case
- Beadblasted DLC-treated stainless steel
- Total diameter: 42.00 mm
- Thickness: 12.67 mm
- Water resistance: 50 metres
- Screw-lock crown in bead-blasted DLC-treated stainless steel with steering wheel motif 7.50 mm
- Bezel in bead-blasted ethical 18-carat rose gold
- Glare-proofed sapphire crystal
- Beadblasted DLC-treated stainless steel pushers
- Exhibition back secured with screws and featuring the 1000 Miglia logo around the circumference – tinted glass
Movement
- Mechanical movement with automatic winding
- Chronograph
- Total diameter: 28.60 mm
- Thickness: 6.10 mm
- Number of jewels: 37
- Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
- Power reserve: 42 hours
- Chronometer-certified (COSC)
Dial and hands
- Matt black-varnished dial with vintage yellow transfers for the minute track and tachymeter scale
- Red 1000 Miglia logo at 12 o’clock
- Super-LumiNova®-painted vintage yellow Arabic numerals
- Black-varnished counters at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock
- Facetted metallic black hours and minutes hands
- Metallic black counter hands at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock
- Metallic black red-tipped centre sweep-seconds hand
Functions
- Hours, minutes, seconds
- Small seconds at 3 o’clock
- 30-minute and 12-hour counters
- Date window is between 4 and 5 o’clock
- Tachymeter scale
Strap and buckle
- Black calfskin strap with tone-on-tone stitching
- Perforations inspired by driving gloves
- Black rubber lining inspired by 1960s Dunlop racing tyres
- Folding clasp in bead-blasted DLC-treated stainless steel
Price
- CHF 8,400 / $8,400 / £7,330 / 8.150 € / ￥960,000 / CN￥ 64,000
