Today marks the start of the 44th historic reconstruction of the famous Mille Miglia race.
More than 400 classic racing cars will start in Brescia and finish this Saturday in Rome. Although the spectacular figure-eight route is no longer a true race, the event remains of high interest for several reasons. It is a unique spectacle to watch a long line of legendary cars from past eras speed by. Usually, such cars can be seen only in museums or not at all, as they are hidden behind closed garage doors. Another reason for the interest in Mille Miglia is the new watch model released specifically for the race. The Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Grigio-Blu - 2026 Racing Edition is limited to 250 pieces. The main feature of the model is a vintage blue-gray dial.
History and Significance of the Mille Miglia Collection by Chopard
It all began in 1988 with the reference 8141 model. These were the first Mille Miglia watches - a quartz mono-chronograph with a diameter of 33 mm. Thirty-eight years later, the Chopard brand is once again presenting a new model in honor of the race. The main initiator of the collaboration between the race and the watch brand is Chopard's co-president Karl-Friedrich Scheufele. Since 1988, Chopard has been the official sponsor and timekeeper of Mille Miglia, reflecting Scheufele's personal passion for classic cars. He not only realized his love for vintage cars in the partnership but also created the Mille Miglia watch collection, which became the brand's trademark and a benchmark for automotive watches. For the start of this year's race, the Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Grigio-Blu - 2026 Racing Edition (€7,940 / US$8,350 / £6,730 / CHF 6,900) is presented.
Design and Features
The Mille Miglia race is a celebration of vintage cars. Nevertheless, Chopard respects traditions by releasing a modern model with a dynamic design - the Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Grigio-Blu - 2026 Racing Edition. The limited edition of 250 pieces is a modern and sporty chronometer with a 43 mm case and massive crown protection. The Grigio-Blu (blue-gray) dial with a soft hue is inspired by the dashboards of classic racing cars, connecting the watch to the cars participating in the Mille Miglia. This year, 77 cars that participated in the original high-speed race from 1927 to 1957 - the last year Mille Miglia was a true test of speed - are taking part.
Unfortunately, on May 12, 1957, near the town of Guidizzolo, a Ferrari driven by Spanish aristocrat Marquis Alfonso de Portago lost a tire. At a speed of about 250 km/h, this led to disaster: the car flew off the track into a crowd of spectators. As a result, Portago, his co-driver Edmund Nelson, and nine spectators, including five children, were killed. The Italian government was forced to stop holding the race in its former format. However, in 1977, Mille Miglia was revived as Mille Miglia Storica. Over time, this event has become an annual celebration for car enthusiasts around the world.
Technical Specifications and Features of the Model
The GTS (Gran Turismo Sport) line, debuting in 2015, represents the most modern series of watches under the Mille Miglia brand. The GTS Power Control model is equipped with a "fuel consumption" indicator of the mechanism, mimicking the analog fuel gauge of classic sports cars. The case diameter is 43 mm, with a moderate thickness of 11.43 mm. Thanks to the short downward-curved lugs, the watch sits comfortably even on a smaller wrist.
Chopard, being a passionate fan of cars with internal combustion engines, also cares about the environment. This is confirmed by the use of the proprietary Lucent Steel, made of 80% recycled materials. The bright alloy is finished with a combination of matte and polished surfaces. Another detail is the protected screw-down crown engraved with a steering wheel. To maintain a vintage style without excessive modernity, the bezel with a 60-minute/second scale is made with a thin black aluminum insert - the material is chosen instead of ceramic for a warmer and more authentic look.
Color and Inspiration of the Dial
A year after the Mille Miglia race was banned, Italian singer Domenico Modugno released the hit "Nel blu, dipinto di blu" (world-famous as "Volare"). This song is associated with summer in Italy, good pasta, and possibly a favorite Italian sports car. The Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Grigio-Blu dial reminds us of this song. "Nel blu, dipinto di blu" translates as "in the blue, painted blue." This is exactly the shade - a pleasant blue-gray with a fine texture - that the dial of the model received.
Inspired by the dashboard of a classic car, the dial looks elegant and timeless, ideally suited for watches dedicated to the automotive theme. The classic color harmonizes with applied Arabic numerals and large hands. A special touch is the historical road sign indicating the Brescia-Rome route, which serves as the date pointer at the "3 o'clock" position. This is an almost playful but successful design move.
Mechanism and Technical Details
Unlike the Ferrari 250 GT Boano with a 240-horsepower V12 engine participating in the race, the watch is equipped with the automatic caliber 01.08-C, produced at the Chopard manufacture in Fleurier. The COSC-certified mechanism is visible through the transparent case back, operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz). The power reserve is an impressive 60 hours. The mechanism features a stop-seconds function for precise time setting. The caliber's finish is industrial-style: decorated bridges, polished chamfers, and a skeletonized rotor.
Strap and Finishing Touches
The Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Grigio-Blu - 2026 Racing Edition comes with a black technical textile strap measuring 21 mm, featuring a signature rubber lining with a tire tread pattern. The strap fastens with a deployant clasp made of Lucent Steel. The blue-gray dial of this watch evokes associations with the smell of hot asphalt, rubber, gasoline, and oil - the atmosphere of a real race track. This model is perfect for the summer season.
Technical Specifications of Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Grigio-Blu
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Model | Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Grigio-Blu |
| Dial | Blue-gray with grainy texture, Arabic numerals and indexes with black Super-LumiNova, black flange with blue-gray markers, power reserve indicator with red "E", date window with black disc, faceted hands with Super-LumiNova, central seconds hand with red tip |
| Case Material | Lucent Steel with matte and polished finish |
| Case Dimensions | Diameter 43 mm, thickness 11.43 mm |
| Crystal | Sapphire with anti-reflective coating |
| Case Back | Lucent Steel and sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, secured by eight screws |
| Movement | Chopard 01.08-C: automatic with manual winding and hacking function, frequency 28,800 vph, power reserve 60 hours, 251 components, 40 jewels, COSC-certified |
| Water Resistance | 100 meters |
| Strap | Black textile (21 mm) with tire tread pattern on rubber lining, Lucent Steel deployant clasp |
| Functions | Time (hours, minutes, seconds), date, power reserve indicator |
| Price | €7,940 / US$8,350 / £6,730 / CHF 6,900 |
| Special Features | Limited edition - 250 pieces |