The 11th edition of the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique commenced last week from May 11 to 13, following the same circuit as the Formula 1 Grand Prix. Organized by the Automobile Club of Monaco, this Monte Carlo classic car race takes place every two years.

Luxury brand Chopard is once again serving as sponsor and official timekeeper of the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, as it has since 2002. In lieu of each race, the watchmaker introduces two limited edition timepieces in honor of the event.

Chopard debuts two new timepieces, the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique and Mille Miglia 2018 Race Edition, celebrating the spirit of classic car racing in their design and construction.

Chopard’s co-president Karl-Friedrich Scheufele known to be an annual competitor in the race in his Porsche 550 Spyder RS. This year, the avid car collector will also be joining the Chopard car parade.

“This passion [for cars] was passed on to me by my father, who is a fan of classic cars,” says Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, “In 1987 I went to Italy and discovered the Mille Miglia. I was extremely impressed and realized the fantastic opportunity represented by associating classic racing with Chopard watches.”
The Grand Prix de Monaco Historique hosts eight exciting races featuring various autos from the 1930s through the 1970s, celebrating names as Maserati, Jaguar, Porsche, Bugatti, Alfa Romeo and Aston Martin. The commencing Race D featured Formula Junior cars from 1958 to 1960, and the race concluded on Sunday with Race G, showcasing cars from 1973 to 1976.

The Watches

The new Chopard watches, one in bead-blasted titanium and steel and one in rose gold, titanium and steel, are offered in 250- and 100-piece limited editions, respectively. Each has a 44.5mm case fitted with a screw-lock crown, engine piston-shaped pushers and a caseback marked with the Automobile Club de Monaco logo.

Designed to be ready for action, the timepieces feature Super-Luminova markers for enhanced visibility, and a water resistant case for up to 100 meters. The heart of both models lies a self-winding movement, powered by a COSC certified chronometer, with more than 40 hours of power reserve.

Chopard Grand Prix de Monaco Historique chronographs

First to be unveiled, the blue bezel features a snailed dial of concentric lines, with navy blue chronograph counters with silvered markers. This model also hosts a tachymeter scale, designed ideally for calculating average race times.

The minute track resembles the spokes of a wheel, punctuated with applied arrow-shaped markers. The sweep-seconds rhodium-coated hand come in a sporty bright orange on the titanium and steel version, and in blue on the dressier edition made of 18-karat rose gold — a bright tone aptly chosen for the most precious time increments of the race.

The hollowed counters at 12 and 6 o’clock are galvanic blue. The date window is visible at 3 o’clock. The Grand Prix de Monaco Historique comes with two interchangeable straps — a blue Barenia calfskin strap with orange stitching and a blue NATO strap with orange racing straps. Both sporty straps are fitted with a brushed titanium and steel folding clasp.

Mille Miglia 2018 Race Edition chronographs

Since 1988, Chopard has introduced a new timepiece to celebrate the open-road endurance race. This year’s version of the 42 mm Mille Miglia Race Edition comes with circular-grained “wheels” on the dial, a tachymeter scale, short lugs and a crown resembling a petrol-tank cap.

The dashboard-inspired engine-turned dial features the inverted panda look with it’s contrasting  Azure silver-toned sub-dials. Just below the Chopard name there is the red Mille Miglia logo at 12 o’clock and if features a small date between 4 and 5 o’clock. The strap on the Mille Miglia 2018 Race Edition is perforated in the vein of vintage racing driver bucket seats and is lined with Dunlop racing tyre tread for extra grip on the wrist.

Mille Miglia Collection

This year also celebrates Chopard’s 30-year partnership Mille Miglia, with Chopard driving at full speed ahead for the Mille Miglia collection this year.

Color was key in the Mille Miglia Racing Colors Collection, which are a re-edition of a historical Chopard collection that pays tribute to the national colors of motor racing since  their establishment in 1910. Colors were assigned to identify each racer by their nationality: red for the Italians, green for the British, grey-white for the Germans, yellow for the Belgians, and blue for the French — despite the typical tradition of some luxury automotive makers that uses red for Ferrari red and green for Aston Marti.

The chronographs with tachymeter scales are inspired by the Mille Miglia cars that competed between 1927 and 1940 and the slim cursive fonts and counters are inspired by ‘20s era dashboards.

Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Grigio Speciale

Sporting a vintage look, the new 43 mm Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Grigio Speciale’s oversized numerals are inspired by dashboards in the ‘50s. The latest addition to the Mille Miglia GTS collection launched in 2015, this timepiece comes with a strap made of Cordura—a high-performance fabric used in race driver’s suits—and a power reserve indicator inspired by petrol gauges.

The caseback has a tinted crystal framed by a red gasket that glances into the Chopard movement and oscillating weight. The inscription “Brescia> Roma> Brescia” commemorates the racing route of the Mille Miglia.

Limited Run

The MM GTS Power Control Grigrio Speciale (SGD$12,000) is limited to a 1000-piece run; the Mille Miglia Racing Colors (SGD$8,160), available in five different colours is limited to 300 pieces per colour.

The Mille Miglia 2018 Race Edition will be limited to 1000 in steel (SGD$7,540), 100 in steel and 18-karat rose gold ($10,720).

The Grand Prix de Monaco Historique 2018 Race Edition is limited to 250 pieces in titanium and steel ($9,920) and 100 in 18-karat rose gold ($15,000).