Larry Seiden
397
Chopard Mille Miglia 2006 -- Gran Tourismo XL
I was in my AD yesterday and I've had an itch for a Gran Tourismo XL for several months. I wasn’t aware that Chopard had release a light silver dial for me, it was love at first sight. One look at the blackened edges of the hands, black date wheel, case size, touches of red, lume, soft Dunlop tire tread strap and overall distinct dial design and I told the salesperson, I'll take it. That spontaneity is very unlike me, I usually research, look at, try on and contemplate before pulling out the AMEX. Not this time.
Not at the time of purchase, since I was in a “showroom haze,” did I notice the slow tick of the seconds hand. Seems to be an issue with all large dialed big watches (same as IWC Big Pilot). Not really an issue for me. But still surprising for a 28.800 bph ETA movement. Still it goes to my theory that there is not a perfect watch
Interesting is the map of the Mille Miglia (Rome to Brescia and back) engraved on the back instead of the display back. This is a limited piece of 2006 pieces (is that truly limited?). I didn't even realize the deployant was double sided until this morning. I thought I just had a tight fit getting it over my hand. This is a great deployant - as thick steel as I've ever seen on a deployant. And I really love the push button release. Quite alot of watch for the money. And, of course, there’s a tire gauge in the box. Ref: 16/8458. I’m still quite taken with the PR model, but until it comes out in the silver dial, this one works for me. 
Thanks,
Larry
(from the Chopard website)
THE " MILLE MIGLIA 2006 GRAN TURISMO XL" WATCH
(Ref. 16/8458)
Case:
· Steel
· Total diameter: 44 mm
· Thickness: 14.25 mm
· Water-resistance: 100 metres
· Glare-proof sapphire crystal
· Screw-lock crown
Movement:
· Calibre: ETA A07.111
· Diameter: 37.2 mm
· Total thickness: 7.9 mm
· Winding mode: self-winding
· Number of jewels: 24
· Power-reserve: approx. 46 hours
· Frequency 28,800 vph
· Stop seconds function during time-setting
· Bridges decorated with straight "Côtes de Genève"
· Chronometer-certified (COSC)
Dial and hands:
· Superluminova hour and minute hands for perfect night-time readability
· Silvered dial with applied indices and numbers (6 and 12) with Superluminova
Functions:
· Hours, minutes, centre seconds
· Date window
Straps and clasps:
· Strap in Barenia leather or rubber (1960s Dunlop Racing tyre-tread motif)
· Polished steel folding-clasp
Two limited and numbered editions: 2006 in steel - Ref. 16/8458 and 250 in rose gold - Ref : 16/1264
