What could be cooler than drifting through the central Italian countryside in a pre-’60s vintage car, rubbing shoulders with former racers and celebrities? We certainly don’t think so, and neither does Chopard apparently. The historic Swiss watchmaker has been an official partner of the road race since 1988, and during that time has produced dozens of automotive-inspired watches specifically for the historic rally.
Chopard will release two limited-edition Mille Miglia watches in 2020, the GTS Azzurro Chrono and GTS Azzurro Power Control, which feature two of the most common racing complications, a chronograph and a power reserve. Both pieces have been transformed in Azzuro Blue, mimicking the waters of the Mediterranean, something you’re unlikely to see during this mostly in-house race. Either way, they look damn good.
Mille Miglia GTS Azzurro Chrono
As you’d expect, the chronograph model is the larger of the two, with a steel case measuring 44mm in diameter and 13.79mm thick. The case shape is similar to other Mille Miglia of the past, with thick shoulder lugs and a piston-thin ring bezel.
As you’d expect, there are plenty of nods to classic racing, with the Azzurro blue bezel featuring a tachymeter scale, while the pushers are big, mushroom affairs to ensure they can be used with driving gloves on. The date window at 3 o’clock is engraved with the logo of the historic race, while the ring-shaped subdials and chunky sword-shaped hands give the dial depth.
Inside the Chrono you have the ETA 7750, a reliable chronograph movement with a power reserve of 48 hours. The engraved caseback features the race route from Brescia to Rome and back again, along with the production number and a large Mille Miglia graphic.
Mille Miglia GTS Azzurro Power Control
Perhaps the more interesting of the two, the Power Control comes in a slightly smaller 43mm stainless steel case with 18-karat gold accents on the inner and outer bezels and crown. The gold works well, breaking up the line between the Azzurro blue on the dial and bezel, while the only numbers displayed are large 12 and 6, which are rendered in a vintage-style font. Again, you have the Mille Miglia logo around the date window, but on the other side of the dial you have a fuel gauge-inspired power reserve indicator, with a flashing red color to let you know when you’re running low.
Powering this 60-hour reserve production watch is Chopards in-house 01.08-C automatic movement. Both watches come on a blue stipple leather strap with a rubber tread pattern on the inside, making it comfortable for those long road trips. Both will also be available in limited quantities, 750 pieces for the chronograph and 500 pieces for the power reserve, only at Chopard authorized dealers.
Price and Specs:
Brand: Chopard
Model: Mille Miglia GTS Azzurro
References: 168571-3007 (Chrono); 168566-6002 (Power Control)
Case/Dial: 44mm x 13.79mm, steel case (Chrono); 43mm x 11.43mm, steel and gold case (Power Control)
Water Resistance: 100m (10 bar)
Movement: Chronograph (Base 7750), automatic, COSC-certified (Chrono); Caliber Chopard 01.08-C, automatic, in-house, COSC-certified (Power Control)
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, date and chronograph (Chrono); hours, minutes, seconds, date and power reserve indicator (Power Control)
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power Reserve: 48 Hours (Chrono); 60h (Power Control) Strap:
Blue calfskin with blue rubber lining
Price/Availability: €7,360, limited to 500 pieces (Chrono); €9,640, limited to 750 pieces (Power Control)
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