Mille Miglia 90 years of a dream come true
Published : 08/16/2017 13:29:32
It all started when the Montechiari race track in Brescia lost organisation of the Italian Grand prix in 1922 to the Monza race track near Milan. The city was offended, as were some of its most illustrious residents: Count Aymo Maggi di Gradella and Count Franco Massot, founders of the Automobile Club of Brescia; journalist Giovanni Canestrini; and former race driver and organiser Renzo Castagneto.
The “Four Musketeers”, as they were popularly known, thought of something better, bigger and, above all, more beautiful. Driven by the magic and the innocence of the roaring twenties, they designed a route in the shape of an “8” that traversed half of Italy in a round trip journey between Brescia and Rome, covering a total distance of 1,638 kilometres.
Finally, on 26 March 1927, 77 vehicles departed from Brescia ready
to embark upon what was offcially the first adventure of the “mille miglia”, a dream come true that has come of age and now has 90 years under its belt.
REGULAR, BUT EXTRAORDINARY
Chopard revisits the most vintage aesthetics of the Mille Miglia to presents its new regularly produced chronographs: four models in total (two for men and two for women) inspired by the automobiles that took part in the famous race between 1927 and 1940.
The references for him, which differ only in the colour of the dial, are fitted with a 42 mm polished steel case and feature a classic tri-compax layout on the dial for the chronograph counters, with the seconds sub-dial at 3 o’clock, an hour totalizer at 6 o’clock and
a minute counter at 9 o’clock. These features are coupled with large vintage Arabic numerals, a seconds scale, a tachymeter scale engraved on the bezel and a date window located at half past four.
Both models are attached to a rubber strap evoking the 1960s Dunlop racing tyre tread.
Meanwhile, the two models for her are virtually the same, although with some obvious differences. The “all black” look gives way to a radiant white that is expressed differently on both references: while one has a dial with a sunburst finish, the other features a mother- of-pearl dial accompanied by 51 set diamonds. Both of them have a contained 39 mm diameter.
As for the mechanics, the four new models are equipped the calibre ETA 2894-2, a self-winding movement that beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and builds up a 42-hour power reserve.
A TOP-CLASS BODY AND ENGINE
To commemorate this anniversary, Chopard has also released the Mille Miglia Classic XL 90th Anniversary Limited Edition, the most exclusive piece in the collection so far. Its elegance is reminiscent of the greatest automotive legends that have taken part in the
race over the years: the pro le of a Ferrari 250 GTO, the taut lines of an Alfa romeo 6C, the sensuality of an Aston Martin and the manufacturing quality of a Porsche 550 RS – ingredients that give this stunning automatic chronograph a style that is both sporty and chic.
It is equipped with a rose gold body measuring 46 mm in diameter that is full of details: the push-buttons, inspired by pistons, are indispensable vintage details, as is the large crown, which evokes the shape of a petrol tank cap.
Its dial, in strikingly pure white, is distinguished by the large Arabic numerals and the chronograph counters for hours (at 9 o’clock) and minutes (at 3 o’clock), which are accompanied by the seconds sub- dial located at 6 o’clock. As usual, these features are surrounded by a tachymeter scale that drivers can use to measure speed.
Of course, the legend of great automobiles is not only based on their extreme beauty; it is, more than anything, a question of mechanics. In this regard, the watch has the best engine it could have: calibre L.U.C 03.07-L, a hand-winding movement that the company already used for its L.U.C 1963 model released in 2013 in honour of the 50 years that the Scheufele family had been running Chopard.
It is a flyback chronograph certified by the COSC, crafted in nickel silver and decorated with the Côtes de Genève motif. It has a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and builds up a power reserve of 60 hours. The piece is completed with a brown calfskin strap.