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CHOPARD reveal Mille Miglia 2017 Race Edition Chronographs

Chopard and the Mille Miglia Race

Mille Miglia 2017 Race Edition Chronograph sketch

Mille Miglia 2016 Winner

Mille Miglia 1927




Mille Miglia 1927

The Mille Miglia 2017 is an extra special event because it is the 90th anniversary of "the world's most beautiful race".

Mille Miglia 2017 Race Edition Chronograph

Chopard has been the official timekeeper and partner of the Mille Miglia since 1988 and even fields some racing cars each year.

The relationship was born from a personal passion for classic cars nurtured by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele. With his personal support, Chopard became the main sponsor of the Mille Miglia and is now associated with the automobile world.

Karl-Friedrich Scheufele and Jacky Ickx at wet Mille Miglia 2016

For Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, the links are entirely natural: “Lovers of fine cars often have a great weakness for precious timepieces and vice versa. Extreme precision and sporting elegance are important in both of these fields.”

Sponsor Team Chopard

For 2017, Sponsor Team Chopard is getting serious and represented by 18 cars among which, 14 are Zagato cars led by Andrea Zagato, an old friend of Chopard.

Karl-Friedrich Scheufele (KFS) has appeared on the driver roster every year since 1988, come rain or shine.

2016 was a particularly wet year, which he discovered with long time friend Jacky Ickx!

Romain Dumas, Double Le Mans Champion

This year, KFS and double Le Mans overall champion Romain Dumas, will compete in a Porsche 550A Spyder RS loaned by the Porsche Museum.

The second Chopard team is composed of Albert Carreras, son of the famous tenor and his friend Jordi Pascual in a Mercedes 500 SL; which may be a car owned by Papa Scheufele - Karl III.

The third will feature friend of the brand and eminent gemologist, David Hu and his son; younger ladies may know his daughter better...Anna Hu the famous jewellery designer.

Finally, Claudio Roddaro, a Monaco driver and well-known classic Porsche collector will be partnered by his "car chick" Macha Vananty in another Porsche 550A Spyder RS. She is a fashion blogger and usually races in "first pass the post" competition. It is her first "regularity race". But she did not study her Race Rule Book, having enjoyed herself too much at the wonderful Chopard Party the night before! She said she would spend 15 minutes in the car reading up.....

Mille Miglia 1957

Brescia - Roma - Brescia

By tradition since 1927, the Mille Miglia route follows a loop from the town of Brescia to Rome and back. It passes through more than 200 cities of northern and central Italy, following a different itinerary each year, to the delight of aficionados. For 2017, the first stage will start on the afternoon of Thursday May 18th and end in Padova. The second stage will take competitors to Rome, enabling them to re-discover the city of seven hills at night fall. On Saturday 20th, they will set off for Tuscany and its enchanting scenery. Finally, on Sunday morning, drivers will return to Brescia, where a crowd of enthusiasts will give them an even warmer welcome because this is the 90th anniversary of the Mille Miglia.

Although the Mille Miglia route varies from year to year, it features two constant factors: the 1000 miles (mille miglia) distance covered; and the Italian-style 'la dolce vita' that is inextricable from the spirit of competition. Enthusiastic drivers attend from around the world to renew their acquaintance with extraordinary cars that collectors and museums have loaned for the race.

Mille Miglia 1957

Mille Miglia 2017 Race Edition Watches

Mille Miglia 2017 Race Edition steel

Chopard produces the Mille Miglia Collection imbued with the racing spirit.

Each year, a limited and numbered series is created.

Mille Miglia 2017 Race Edition steel-gold

The Mille Miglia 2017 Race Edition features an engine-turned dial and counters inspired by historical car dashboards.

It is powered by a high-precision horological ‘engine’, chronometer-certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC).

Throbbing at 28,800 vibrations per hour, this mechanical self-winding chronograph movement endowed with a 48-hour power reserve, drives the hours, minutes, chronograph, tachymeter and date functions.

The high-performance mechanism is housed inside a 44 mm case with a case-back secured by eight screws, engraved with the famous chequered flag that is waved as the cars pass the finish line, along with the arrow-shaped Mille Miglia logo and the “Mille Miglia 1927-2017” anniversary inscription.

Mille Miglia 2017 Race Edition Chronograph

The edition comprises 1,000 watches in stainless steel and 100 pieces in a bi-coloured stainless steel and 18-carat rose gold deluxe variant.

Mille Miglia 2017 Race Edition Chronograph steel

Review

The two case variants are made of stainless steel but the "upmarket" version has 18K rose gold accents for crown, bezel and pushers.
We are immediately drawn to the dial at the first face-to-face meeting. The circular brushed (perlage) patterns are inspired by classic car dashboards.
The Mille Miglia red arrow logo is familiar signage for drivers as are the hour markers in black metal for steel variant and gilded for the bi-coloured version.

Mille Miglia 2017 Race Edition Chronograph steel-gold

The time indicating hands carry the same black or gilded metallic colour codes. The three chronograph hands are highlighted in red.
Whereas the all steel model has a red bezel insert betwixt the black rehaut ring and black tachymeter scale, the bi-coloured model has a 18K rose gold bezel insert.

The numerals' font is as clear as vintage Jaeger or Smiths dashboard instruments.
The pushers are shaped like valve tappets for that old school motoring feel.
Finally, the steel version has rubber straps with Dunlop racing tyre tread pattern and the bi-coloured variant is fitted with a black Barenia calfskin strap; both have Chopard steel folding clasps.

Overall, both Mille Miglia 2017 Race Editions capture the spirit and essence of the original racecars between 1927 - 1957. They are fitting commemorative timepieces that are attractive and affordable. The steel version is a 1000-piece limited edition and the steel-gold variant is a 100-piece limited edition.

If you have more $$$, there is an even more coveted CHOPARD Mille Miglia Chrono XL 90th Anniversary with a L.U.C hand-wind movement inside...the ULTIMATE Mille Miglia Race watch. $43,880

Read about it on a previous REPORT [CLICK].

Good Luck to all competitors at Mille Miglia 2017!

Best wishes to Team Chopard and we hope it is not as wet as last year... 

Regards,

MTF

Mille Miglia 2016

Mille Miglia 2017 Race Edition Technical Details

Mille Miglia 2017 Race Edition Chronograph steel

All Steel Model

Case:
Steel
Total diameter  44.00 mm
Thickness  13.79 mm
Water-resistant to 100 metres
Steel crown   8.00 mm
Steel bezel with black aluminium insert
Steel pushers
Glareproofed sapphire crystal
Case-back stamped with the Mille Miglia logo and “Mille Miglia 1927-2017” inscription

Movement:
Self-winding chronograph movement
Total diameter  30.40 mm
Thickness  7.90 mm
Number of jewels  25
Frequency  28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve approx. 48 hours
Chronometer-certified by the COSC

Dial and hands:
Silver-toned dial with engine-turned finish – black and grey varnished inner bezel ring with white transfers
Galvanic-treated silver-toned snailed counter at 6, 9 and 12 o’clock
Metallic black appliques
Metallic black facetted hours and minutes hands
Red (at 6 and 12 o’clock) or metallic black (at 9 o’clock) counter hands
Metallic black red-tipped central sweep-seconds hand

Functions:
Hours, minutes, seconds
Small second at 9 o’clock
30-minute and 12-hour counters
Date window at 3 o’clock
Tachymetric scale

Strap and clasp:
Rubber strap inspired by 1960s Dunlop racing tyres
Steel folding clasp

Ref. 168571-3002 – In steel with rubber strap
1,000-piece limited edition $6,840.

Mille Miglia 2017 Race Edition Chronograph steel-gold

Steel-Gold Model

Case:
Steel
Total diameter  44.00 mm
Thickness  13.79 mm
Water-resistant to 100 metres
18-carat rose gold crown  8.00 mm
18-carat rose gold bezel with black aluminium insert
18-carat rose gold pushers
Glareproofed sapphire crystal
Case-back stamped with the Mille Miglia logo and “Mille Miglia 1927-2017” inscription

Movement:
Self-winding chronograph movement
Total diameter  30.40 mm
Thickness  7.90 mm
Number of jewels  25
Frequency  28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve approx. 48 hours
Chronometer-certified by the COSC

Dial and hands:
Silver-toned dial with engine-turned finish – black and grey varnished inner bezel ring with white transfers
Galvanic-treated silver-toned snailed counter at 6, 9 and 12 o’clock
Gilded appliques
Gilded facetted hours and minutes hands
Red (at 6 and 12 o’clock) and gilded (at 9 o’clock) counter hands
Gilded red-tipped central sweep-seconds hand

Functions:
Hours, minutes, seconds
Small second at 9 o’clock
30-minute and 12-hour counters
Date window at 3 o’clock
Tachymetric scale

Strap and clasp:
Black Barenia calfskin strap
Steel folding clasp

Ref. 168571-6001 – In steel and 18-carat rose gold on a leather strap
100-piece limited edition $10,100.

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