The most beautiful race in the world is now well on its way to Brescia, Italy, and Chopard has once again taken pole position.
This year marks the 36th time that the esteemed Swiss watchmaker and luxury good manufacturer founded in 1860 has served as the 1000 Miglia’s World Sponsor and Official Timekeeper, a passion that is very personal for its co-president Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, who will compete in the race for the 35th time in the iconic ‘metallic raspberry’ Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing.
Close followers of the race will know its history—the car first debuted back in 1989, as Scheufele paired with six-time Le Mans 24 winner Jacky Ickx in the navigator’s seat. This year, the pair will reunite for the five-day affair (a day increase from the historic length dating back to 1927), racing against 404 others through the race’s new section from Parma to Milan all the way to Brescia on the race’s final day, Saturday June 17.
Joining them will be Chopard Ambassadors Zhu Yilong, the acclaimed Chinese actor, and Romain Dumas, the celebrated endurance racing driver, who will also under the ‘Team Chopard’ banner in a 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster.
For watch enthusiasts, let’s not bury the lede, shall we? Even if you’re unable to attend this year’s race, you can still take home an iconic piece of the proceedings , with Chopard unveiling five new timepieces that are sure to become valued collector’s items, after debuting on the wrists of the racers themselves earlier today.
What are they, you ask? Well, there’s four Mille Miglia Classic Chronographs, plus an additional, very special ‘Italian Limited Edition’ of the Mille Miglia GTS Chronograph – some of the proceeds from which will be donated to victims of the recent Emilia-Romagna flood disaster.
Chopard’s latest Mille Miglia timepieces: A closer look
The new Chopard timepieces set to debut at this year’s 1000 Miglia race are both functional and eye catching, inspired by the timeless appeal of classic motor racing.
The Mille Miglia Classic Chronographs, which come in a robust 40mm size, are crafted in Chopard’s exclusive Lucent Steel. This material is 50 per cent more resilient than regular steel and incorporates recycled material from a variety of industries, including medical, aerospace, automotive, and watchmaking. The watches can be paired with either a signature rubber strap – its design reminiscent of a ‘60s Dunlop race tyre – or a rich brown calfskin leather strap, harkening back to traditional driving gloves.
These chronographs stand out for their unique dial colours, each one inspired by the paint hues and interior finishes typically found on pre-1957 cars – the type eligible for the 1000 Miglia race. The dial colour options are Rosso Amarena (cherry red), Grigio-Blu (grey blue), Verde Chiaro (light green) and Nero Corsa (racing black), all seen above. Each watch also carries a miniature ‘1000 Miglia’ route marker on its dial and case back, a 36-year tradition that adds an extra touch of authenticity.
The Mille Miglia GTS Chrono Limited Edition Italy is a special offering, with only 100 pieces made. Like the Classic Chronographs, it’s crafted from Lucent Steel™, but it’s larger at 44mm. This model features an olive green bezel adorned with the green and red colours of Italy, and carries a tachymeter scale, useful for speed and distance calculations. It is also equipped with substantial ‘mushroom’ pushers and a large diameter crown, ensuring a firm grip and ease of use on the road. Importantly, part of the proceeds from each sale will be donated to victims of the recent Emilia-Romagna floods.