©Alexandra Pauli for Chopard

Mille Miglia recently celebrated its 90^th anniversary running, along with official timekeeper Chopard. The event is one of the world’s largest races between collectible classic cars, and opened to competing cars from the great race between 1927 and 1957. From May 18 to 21, the annual event saw teams compete against one another on the historic thousand-mile route. Running from Bresvia via Padova to Rome and back via Tuscany, the legendary classic car event welcomed 440 teams in this year’s race. As part of the celebrations, Chopard also unveiled three new watch models: Mille Miglia 2017 Race Edition, Mille Miglia Classic XL 90th Anniversary Limited Edition and Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph.

The Mille Miglia Classic XL 90^th Anniversary Limited Edition is the most exclusive in the new collection. Inspired by the timelessness and elegance of the race, it encompasses a 46mm-diameter, 13mm-thick rose gold case. With intricate piston-inspired chronograph pushers, the watch pays homage to the vintage cars. The sportier counterpart Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph beats at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, with the machinery visible through the sapphire crystal case-back. Lastly, the limited edition Mille Miglia 2017 Race Edition is a stunning timepiece that mixes vintage elements with modern influence. Boasting an engine-turned dial finish along with vintage car dashboard inspired counters; only 1100 of these are available on the market. A thousand pieces will be dressed in steel, while a hundred pieces will be available in a steel and 18-carat rose gold mix. Not to mention, this 44 mm-diameter timepiece is also water resistant to 100 metres.

Upon witnessing the flag off, Chopard co-president Karl-Friedrich Scheufele commented on how “It’s amazing how passionate the Mille Miglia followers are. They are here for the cars every year. It’s so unique.”

© Magali Girardin/ Chopard.

To commemorate their 30-year partnership, Chopard co-president Karl-Friedrich Scheufele participated in the race alongside French pilot Romain Dumas in a Porsche 550A Spyder RS, on loan from the Porsche Museum. This year’s winning team comprised of Andrea Vesco and Andrea Guerini. They clinched first place in a 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Zagato. Second place went to Luca Patron and Massimo Casale on a O.M 665 Superba Sport 2000 CC. Rounding up the podium was Stefania Biacca and Giordano Mozzi in their Alfa Romeo 1500 Gran Sport.

The close ties between Chopard and the Mille Miglia stem from a now inseparable shared history. The initial connection was born from a personal passion for classic cars nurtured by Scheufele. Under his leadership, Chopard became the main sponsor of the Mille Miglia in 1988 and one of the first brands to associate its name with the automobile world. Scheufele states,“Lovers of fine cars often have a great weakness for precious timepieces and vice versa. Extreme precision and sporting elegance are important in both these fields.”

For more information, do visit Chopard and Mille Miglia.