Sexy, rally-inspired timepieces aren’t just for fans of classic car racing.
Pedaling on an old race car feels like a step away from the Cannes and celebrity-inspired glitzy world Chopard lives in, especially if the company wears its hat as a jeweler for the rich and famous. But if the Mille Miglia race (Italian for “a thousand miles”), and therefore the annual limited-edition watch that bears its name, is anything to go by, then the desire to drive a classic car on idyllic Italian country roads is as Chopard DNA needs to shine on any glamorous red carpet.
In fact, Chopard’s co-president Karl-Friedrich Scheufele was a lifelong petrolhead who once admitted to having a passion for cars before his obsession with watches. It was his passion for racing that led Schaefer to participate in the 1989 Mille Miglia Classic Car Rally, which in turn inspired him to create the Chopard Mille Miglia Commemorative Watch. At first, the watches were only issued to contestants. (To this day, all participating drivers still receive a Mille Miglia watch engraved with his or her car number.) Of course, it wasn’t long before the commercial run of the Mille Miglia version fulfilled the public’s need for a dynamic and luxurious sports collection.
This year, Chopard cheap continues the annual launch of the collection with the Mille Miglia 2022 Race Edition. With blue and grey cases, the watches are available in 1,000-piece stainless steel, 250-piece bi-metallic stainless steel, and 18k ethical rose gold. Despite the inherent luxury of the new model, evident from its well-constructed case, refined finishes and solid chronograph engine interior, the Mille Miglia 2022 Race Editions have a decidedly retro feel.
The 44mm case of the watch expresses the retro style: a huge stopwatch-style chronograph pump pusher (ethical gold on the bimetallic model), a vintage tachymeter scale on the bezel, and a triple-composite chronograph accumulation with a snailed pattern The watch contrasts with the round brushed grey dial. Between the two variants, we’d go for the all-stainless steel model, as its “cleaner” aesthetic better conveys the sporty spirit of the range. It has to be said, though, that the bi-metallic version’s palatial trim isn’t quite as exaggerated or ostentatious either. fake men watches
Despite years of development, Chopard’s Mille Miglia watches have always been distinguished by two key design hallmarks. The first is its rubber strap with a Dunlop tire pattern printed on it. On these new models with calfskin straps, the pattern appears on the underside of the rubber lining. The second feature is the Mille Miglia’s red arrow logo, which you can find at the three o’clock position next to the date window.
On the screw-in caseback that looks like a tire rim, you can find more race hats. The caseback is engraved with the Mille Miglia logo, the rally’s “Brescia > Rome > Brescia” route, and the watch’s limited number. Although you don’t see it, under the hood is a powerful and precise COSC-certified automatic chronograph movement with a power reserve of 48 hours.
Given its history, the Mille Miglia 2022 Race Edition may have been made for fans of vintage car rallying. Even so, as a manly vintage-inspired chronograph from a well-known brand, this watch has enough quality to get a neutral element.