In the world of historic car races, the style and atmosphere of the glamorous past are conveyed as much as the competition on the track, and few races exhibit this principle as vividly as the Mille Miglia in Italy. Originally held as a 1,000-mile public road rally from Brescia to Rome and back through the heart of Italy from 1927 to 1957, the modern Mille Miglia is more of a celebration of car manufacturing and the Italian countryside, with an annual four-day journey through major Italian landmarks in some of the world's most popular classic cars.
Chopard has been part of the revived Mille Miglia history since 1988, and in honor of 2021, when the event kicks off on June 16, the brand announced the release of two new limited editions of the Mille Miglia chronograph, inspired by the old times. With graphic touches inspired by vintage Italian road signs and an abundance of unique and intriguing finishing elements, both versions of the new Chopard Mille Miglia 2021 Race Edition create an exquisite and charismatic retro-modern feel.
Like many other Mille Miglia models, the 44mm case of the Chopard Mille Miglia 2021 Race Edition, judging by the first images, has a bold presence on the wrist. Available in stainless steel or a two-tone combination of stainless steel and ethically sourced 18k rose gold, the narrow tachymeter bezel and significant 13.8mm thickness contribute to a wide and impressive overall stance. Nonetheless, the widely spaced short lugs should help soften this size on the wrist somewhat. Despite the sportiness and simplicity of the overall form, the design of the Mille Miglia 2021 Race Edition truly shines in the details.
The main case is fully matte, allowing the polished surfaces of the crown, wide-knurled pushers, and the bezel (in the two-tone model, all in rose gold) to stand out sharply. The polished black ceramic bezel insert adds a healthy dose of individuality, and the lacquered tachymetric scale with a light round font is taken directly from mid-20th-century Italian road signs.
Although these touches do not exactly match the 50s era that the Mille Miglia event recalls, they give the more modern profile of the Mille Miglia 2021 Race Edition a warm nostalgic charm. The etched solid case back continues this graphic style: the text “Brescia > Roma > Brescia” frames an engraved checkered flag and the Mille Miglia logo. The Mille Miglia 2021 Race Edition watches have a water resistance of 100 meters, which should be more than sufficient for sporting events.
Both versions of the Chopard Mille Miglia 2021 Race Edition feature the same low-contrast “reverse panda” dial design, with pointed applied hour indices, baton hands, and chronograph hands with red tips, made of stainless steel or rose gold, depending on the model.
The dial design echoes the rounded retro font of the bezel, and the numerals on the rehaut, chronograph subdials, and text on the dial are done in a vintage Italian style. However, perhaps the most interesting design element of this dial is the dial surface itself. This muted graphite-gray surface, treated with a galvanic process, has a deep radial matte finish. Although radial brushing has become a popular alternative to sunray finishing in recent years, the Mille Miglia 2021 Race Edition watches stand out from the crowd with their execution.
Instead of placing the radial matte finish at the center of the dial under the main hand, the matte finish extends outward from the running seconds indicator at the “9 o'clock” position. This asymmetric look immediately attracts attention in images and skillfully continues the azurage pattern of the subdial itself. It is an interesting and individualistic choice that goes against the conventional practice among chronograph dials based on the 7750 movement to maximize focus on the running seconds indicator.
Chopard does not provide details on the powertrain of the Mille Miglia 2021 Race Edition watches, other than that it is an automatic chronograph movement and has COSC chronometer certification for accuracy. However, judging by the subdial layout, likely dimensions, and speed, it is more than likely that this movement is the ETA/Valjoux 7750 or one of its many derivatives. The 7750 movement is a true workhorse of the watch industry, used in chronographs by numerous brands since 1974. Despite its age, the 7750 platform remains reliable and accurate, providing a 48-hour power reserve at a frequency of 28,800 beats per hour in this case. However, some purists may be put off by the use of this movement in this price range, where many competitors use proprietary chronograph movements. Chopard equips the Mille Miglia 2021 Race Edition watches with a black rally-style calfskin strap with red or black contrast stitching and a textured rubber inner lining with a pattern inspired by Dunlop racing tires from the 50s.
Thanks to unique finishing, vintage graphic touches, and the cool white-gray color of the Mille Miglia chronograph, the limited Chopard Mille Miglia 2021 Race Edition series represents a beautiful and expressive tribute to one of the most stylish races in the world. Only 1,000 pieces of the Chopard Mille Miglia 2021 Race Edition in stainless steel will be produced, and the two-tone model in steel and 18k ethical rose gold will be limited to 250 pieces.
The Chopard Mille Miglia 2021 Race Edition watches are available now from official dealers for $7,610 in a stainless steel case and $11,000 in a two-tone case. More information can be found on the brand's website.