Chopard Releases a New Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph in Lucent Steel™

A brand new model with an updated design has been added to Chopard’s iconic Mille Miglia collection. The 40.5 mm case is crafted from the brand’s exclusive Lucent Steel™, made with a recycling rate of at least 80%; it houses a dial inspired by a black-and-white chequered flag marking the arrival of a motor-race winner. The dial is also known as La Gara, the Italian word for race, emblematic of a competitive spirit. Adding to its appeal is the new ‘glass-box’ crystal ensuring optimal opening onto the dial and hence, maximum legibility.   

Chopard’s long-standing relationship with automobile racing began in 1988 when the Maison became the world sponsor and official timekeeper for Italy’s celebrated 1000 Miglia race. Chopard’s Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele has personally taken part in the 1000 Miglia every year since – covering more than 30,000 miles since 1989 – echoing his family’s passion for classic car races. The partnership stands to be one of the longest in history between a watchmaker and a motorsports event and has now seen the creation of 36 watch editions in the Mille Miglia collection.

Chopard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph in Lucent Steel™: The Details

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The 40.5 mm case is meticulously constructed and finished. The proportions ensure utmost comfort to the wearer while driving. Crafted from the brand’s exclusive Lucent Steel™, the alloy is of surgical quality and naturally anti-allergenic, ensuring it is dermo-compatible and pleasant to wear. It is also 50% harder than conventional steel, thus making it more than capable of handling the knocks, bumps and scrapes of competitive driving. Lucent Steel™ is also REACH-certified as being responsibly made with a recycling rate of at least 80%.

The bezel, the crown and the pushers are also in the aforementioned material, enhanced with contrasting polished and satin-brushed finishes. The pushers are knurled to evoke brake pedals, while the notched crown guarantees optimal grip. The lugs are welded while the pin buckle has been redesigned, compared with previous models, in keeping with the interplay between polished/satin-brushed finishes featured on the case.

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The La Gara dial takes cues from the automotive world. Karl-Friedrich Scheufele imagined a two-tone dial with a circular satin-finish silver-toned base, punctuated by snailed black counters. The colour scheme evokes the chequered flag waved at the end of a motor race to salute the first car crossing the finishing line. The design is also reminiscent of the style of a collector's car dashboards with its three black counters, Arabic numerals, and shape of the hands.

The prominent white minutes track and tachymeter scale serve as essential elements in making speed and distance calculations. The dial markings along with the hours and minutes hands are coated with white Grade XI Super-Luminova^®, guaranteeing a high degree of legibility. The central sweep-seconds hand is red-tipped both for practical and aesthetic purposes as well as to complement the famous red ‘1000 Miglia’ logo applied to each dial.

The glass-box sapphire crystal is secured by a slim bezel. More than just the aesthetic advantage, the glass-box also gives the dial a sense of perspective, maximising the depth of the dial opening.

The caseback is also fitted with sapphire crystal providing an unhindered view of the self-winding chronograph movement certified by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute; it is endowed with a 54-hour power reserve.

As a competitive driver, Scheufele recognised the importance of being equipped with an accurate chronograph while taking part in events such as the 1000 Miglia, where a few fractions of a second can result in either success or failure in a timed stage. During the competition, racers will appreciate the 4 Hz frequency of the movement, the stop-second function, a tachymeter scale as well as the layout of the three 12-hour, 30-minute, and small seconds subdials.

The Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph model featuring the La Gara dial is presented on a perforated black calfskin strap, drawing inspiration from traditional driving gloves and matching the dial counters. Enhanced with ecru bridle stitching, it is secured by a Lucent Steel^TM pin buckle.