Among those that covet speed there are certain race tracks and races around the world that have real reverence, the Paris-Dakar, the Le Mans 24hr and of course, the Mille Miglia. The clue to why this race is so revered lives in the name, ‘Mille Miglia’ or ‘thousand miles’, all of this on roads with surfaces that leave a lot to be desired.
The Race
First run in 1927 the race ran from Brescia to Rome and then back to Brescia in a 1000 mile loop that drew millions of spectators until it was cancelled in 1957 due to safety concerns. The sheer determination and endurance needed just to finish this meant that it was a real proving ground for some of the most legendary racers in history. Some of the winners include Sir Stirling Moss and Clemente Biondetti; Juan Miguel Fangio, the legendary Argentinean never won but was still known as one of the masters of this race.
Despite being cancelled in 1957, the Mille Miglia is still run today in the form of the Mille Miglia Storica which takes place each may. The race is now run as a classic car race and entry is limited to cars that were produced no later than 1957 and were registered for the original race. Rather than a genuine competition, the race is now more of a celebration of this incredible race and is run in several stages along a similar route to the original.
Chopard and the Mille Miglia
Since 1988, Chopard have been the official timekeepers of this historic event and help to keep this incredible tradition alive. Chopard have always had close ties to motorsport and have, throughout their history, supported many teams and individuals to racing success.
It seems only logical then that their support of this epic race is one of their most celebrated and proud achievements. Such is their pride at this association that they have even gone to the extent of creating a collection of watches that celebrate and commemorate their involvement.
The Watches
The Chopard Mille Miglia collection display their racing heritage proudly and are all designed specifically for racing and are built with usability in mind. As with all Chopard watches, build quality is impeccable and the technology involved in their manufacture is second to none.
It is the racing touches that make these watches so special, these are evidenced most overtly in the latest addition to this range, the 2015 Mille Miglia limited edition.
Chopard Mille Miglia Limited Edition 2015
27 years after the original Chopard Mille Miglia race edition, the 2015 watch keeps to the tradition of usability and style in beautiful fashion. With Chopard’s Calibre 01.08-C movement encased in a Stainless steel 43mm case, held in place by a ventilated calfskin strap, this watch is all about function. With a bright red dial containing only date and power reserve as additional features, this watch can be seen and understood easily at a glance.
Despite this unbridled functionality, don’t think that Chopard have forgotten to make the watch beautiful. As with all of Chopard’s watches, the Mille Miglia 2015 edition has a classy and stylish aesthetic that would be as at home accompanying a nomex race-suit as it would a tailored suit.
Here at Banks Lyon, we have a range of Chopard watches including several watches from the Mille Miglia collection. For more information on our watches, simply pop in and see us in store or contact us today and our experienced team will be more than happy to help.
{star-snippet}