Mille Miglia 2016 XL Race Edition is a finalist in the Chronograph category of the 2016 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève awards
The story began in 1988, when Chopard became partner and official timekeeper of the famous Mille Miglia classic car rally.
It all started with Chopard co-president, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele's passion for collector's cars and the automobile universe, and from then on, the inspired creation of the now highly sought-after watch collection: the Mille Miglia timepieces by Chopard.
Each spring, the motor rally nicknamed the "corsa più bella del mondo" (the most beautiful race in the world) by Enzo Ferrari sees 430 teams competing on a one thousand-mile (1,600 km) route winding through the magnificent scenery between Brescia and Rome.
For each new edition of this annual event, Chopard has presented a dedicated limited-series watch.
This year with the event held from 19 to 22 May, saw the introduction of the generously sized retro-style stainless steel Mille Miglia 2016 XL Race Edition issued in 1,000 pieces, inspired by the design codes of the cars that took part in the historical race between 1927 and 1940.
Water-resistant to 50 metres, its sturdy 46 mm-diameter case makes it the largest of the Mille Miglia wrist chronographs created by Chopard.
Its classic and refined lines are enhanced by two traditional pushers and a fluted crown.
Its black dial features wide Arabic numerals and luminescent hands, as well as bright red sweep-seconds hand.
A tachymetric scale used to calculate average speed in endurance racing, tops off the satin-brushed dial displaying snailed anthracite and black counters reminiscent of car dashboards.
Echoing the sweep-seconds hand, the "Rossa Corsa" red arrow-shaped Mille Miglia logo appears both at 12 o'clock on the dial and around the rim of the exhibition case-back.
The Mille Miglia XL Race Edition comes with a weathered strap in Suportlo® calfskin, waterproofed and supple like the leather tie-down straps on the bonnet of a vintage racing car.
Inside, the Mille Miglia 2016 XL Race Edition is equipped with a high-precision watch 'engine' chronometer-certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC).
Entirely developed, designed and assembled in the Chopard workshops, the Chopard Calibre 03.05-C is a new mechanical self-winding movement equipped with a column wheel. The in-house movement powers the hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph and aperture-type date functions, all on a 60-hour power reserve.
Indeed, the Chopard Mille Miglia XL Race Edition with its sleek sophisticated design and high-precision mechanism embodies the spirit of the legendary Italian competition and makes an ideal companion for passionate drivers speeding across the Italian roads, from the picturesque countryside of Emilia-Romagna to the most beautiful reliefs of Lombardy and down to Roma, the "city of seven hills".
Chopard can be purchased at authorized retailers and the following locations:
Chopard Marina Bay Sands
2 Bayfront Avenue #B1-107/107A The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
Singapore 018972
(65) 6688 7999
Chopard Ngee Ann City
391 Orchard Road #01-03 Ngee Ann City
Singapore 238872
(65) 6733 8111