In their seventh collaboration, the famous racing driver and six-time Le Mans winner Jacky Ickx and Chopard co-president Karl-Friedrich Scheufele have created a watch that not only honors the racing legend but also celebrates their 36-year friendship, steeped in mutual love for motorsport and exquisite watches.
Inspired by the distinctive blue helmets that Ickx has worn since 1972, the new Mille Miglia chronograph once again captures the essence of the series.
The new Chopard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph JX7 model continues to refresh the collection inspired by classic cars, adding several distinctive features introduced in 2023. It is available in two chronograph versions: one made of Lucent Steel, and the other - from Lucent Steel with ethical 18-carat yellow gold elements.
The case diameter is 40.5 mm, thickness - 12.88 mm, water resistance - 50 m. The chronograph pushers have knurling reminiscent of brake pedals, and the large crown with notches is adorned with a vintage steering wheel motif.
In the two-tone version, the bezel, crown, and pushers are made of ethical yellow gold, giving the watch a luxurious appearance. The case is complemented by a box-style sapphire crystal, imparting a vintage aesthetic.
On the midnight blue lacquered dial of the Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph JX7, adorned with circular satin finishing, there is a black tachymeter scale applied on a silvery-white flange, as well as a minutes/seconds track with white markings.
Arabic numerals in the signature font and dot indices at 3, 6, and 9 are coated with Grade X1 Super-LumiNova for enhanced visibility in low light conditions.
The recessed and snap-in subdials for the small seconds hand at the “3 o'clock” position, 12-hour counter at “6 o'clock,” and 30-minute counter at “9 o'clock” stand out with white rings with heads. The red Mille Miglia logo draws attention, echoing the red tip of the central chronograph seconds hand.
All hands are rhodium-coated or gold-plated in the two-tone version; the hour and minute “stick” hands are coated with Super-LumiNova luminescent material. The flawlessly legible and balanced dial's functional features are complemented by a small date window located at 4:30. In tribute to Jacky Ickx's six victories in the “24 Hours of Le Mans” race, the date numbers 6 and 24 are highlighted in red.
The exhibition case back of the watch features the midnight blue two-window “owl” helmet of Jacky Ickx, and the words “Time Attack” and the driver's name are printed on the sapphire crystal. On the metal part, the Mille Miglia logo is engraved, and it is noted that the series is limited - Chopard will release 250 pieces in Lucent Steel and 50 in Lucent Steel with yellow gold accents.
The Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph JX7 is equipped with a COSC-certified automatic modular chronograph movement (based on ETA A322-11) with 37 jewels. It operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations/hour and has a significant 54-hour power reserve.
The new Chopard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph JX7 is complemented by a midnight blue rubber strap with a 1960s Dunlop tire tread pattern, matching the dial. The strap is secured with a pin buckle. The JX7 comes in a special presentation box with a miniature reproduction of the legendary helmet.
The all-steel version costs 11,100 euros, while the steel and gold variant is 13,000 euros. More detailed information can be found on the chopard.com website.