Chopard

Mille Miglia GT XL Rosso Corsa and Mille Miglia GT XL Speed Silver

The original Chopard Racing Colours collection watches are from 2002 / 2003, which were also Mille Miglia chronographs encased in titanium.

In 2002, the Rosso Corsa edition was introduced and the other colours followed as a set in 2003.

They followed the colours originally set for the three Gordon Bennett Cup Races of 1901-1903 with modifications:

Britain had to select a different colour from its national colours of red, white and blue, as these had already been taken by USA, Germany, and France respectively. (Italy did not adopt her famous 'Rosso Corsa' until a red Itala won the Peking to Paris race in 1907).

Reputedly as a concession to Ireland where the 1903 Gordon Bennett Cup race was held (racing was illegal on British public roads at the time), the British adopted shamrock green, which became known as British Racing Green. Another theory is that the winning Napier of 1902 had already been painted olive green, and green was well-established as the colour for locomotives and machinery, in which Britain had led the world.

Subsequently, Germany's success with the Silver Arrows of Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz made them switch to Speed Silver or Silver Racing as their national racing colour.

Present day colours used for the Racing Colours collection were “Vintage Blue” for France, “Rosso Corsa” for Italy, “British Racing Green”, “Speed Yellow” for Belgium and “Silver Racing” for Germany.

Thus, the 2003 Mille Miglia Chrono Racing Colour (Silver) model could be considered the first Chopard "Speed Silver" watch....

2003 Mille Miglia Racing Colors Collection