Mille Miglia Classic Patina

Mille Miglia Classic Patina

A sturdy chronograph with a singular character evoking the traces of time

Chopard unveils a new interpretation of its Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph, characterised by a case deliberately weathered to evoke the patina of historic racing cars. For the first time, the Maison combines Lucent Steel™ – known for its hardness and superior scratch resistance – treated with DLC (diamond‑like carbon coating) that has undergone a tribofinishing process subtly abrading the surface using vibrating ceramic media. This intentionally controlled finishing gives the timepiece a unique character: delicately scuffed edges designed to evoke the noble patina of a vintage automobile, which will continue to evolve over time according to the lifestyle and wearing habits of each future owner.

This approach celebrates the marks of time rather than concealing them. Indeed, some owners of classic cars choose not to repair certain signs of wear acquired in racing: every scratch tells the story of a machine tested by the harsh conditions of competition. In the same spirit, this timepiece belongs to the world of classic motorsport, a realm with which Chopard has been associated for nearly four decades. A tribute to its longstanding partnership with the Mille Miglia, this new chronograph is issued in an exclusive 100‑piece limited edition, honouring both heritage and mechanical passion.

The watch stands out with a copper‑coloured circular satin‑finished dial framed by the collection’s emblematic glass box sapphire crystal. Black and copper-coloured chronograph counters and a matching tachymeter scale introduce an immediately legible contrast. Subtle touches of red on the chronograph seconds hand and the official Mille Miglia logo echo the identity of competitive racing. Grade X1 Super‑LumiNova® coats the baton‑type black hands and painted hour markers, ensuring contrasts and clarity in all lighting conditions. Ergonomic pushers, robust crown and welded lugs improve usability, while enhancing craftsmanship and the chronograph’s motorsport‑inspired aesthetics. Completing the design is a black perforated calfskin strap, reminiscent of classic driving gloves. It is fastened with a buckle crafted from DLC treated Lucent Steel™ featuring the same patina as the case.

Behind a smoked sapphire exhibition caseback beats a mechanical self‑winding chronograph movement designed for precision and reliability. Operating at 4 Hz (28,800 vph), it delivers a 54‑hour power reserve and incorporates a stop-seconds mechanism for exact time‑setting. Its chronometer‑certification (COSC) attests to its precision, an essential virtue for a timepiece inspired by a legendary endurance race.

Chopard’s Co-President, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, stated: “The new Mille Miglia Classic Patina captures the soul of this historic competition while embodying Chopard’s technical mastery. It stands as a refined mechanical tribute to the enduring bond between the Maison and the world of classic motorsport.”

The Mille Miglia Collection

Chopard’s passion for motorsport is embodied by its historic partnership with the Mille Miglia, the legendary Italian endurance rally that Enzo Ferrari once described as “the most beautiful race in the world.” A pioneer among watchmaking manufacturers involved in automotive competition, Chopard has been the race’s World Sponsor and Official Timekeeper since 1988. Its Co-President, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, has taken part every year without exception since 1989.

From the very first year of the collaboration emerged the Mille Miglia watch collection, whose inaugural model laid the foundations for what would become one of Chopard’s most iconic designs. The collection soon became known as a highly anticipated annual release: a true collector’s item, each new edition enriched a legacy for nearly 40 years, where watchmaking mechanics meet the spirit of the race. Mille Miglia models combine the precision of a chronograph designed to withstand the demands of competition with a refined aesthetic appealing far beyond motorsport enthusiasts.

In addition to the traditional Race Edition unveiled each year at the start of the race, the collection stands out through various limited editions paying tribute to iconic legs such as the Raticosa Pass, historical anecdotes such as racing colours (the national colours that enable instant identification of a team’s origin), and to legendary figures like Jacky Ickx or Sir Stirling Moss. Some editions even celebrate prestigious coachbuilders, such as Zagato. These numerous tributes reinforce the iconic status these watches have earned among collectors.

A design inspired by the automotive world

The unique experience of the Mille Miglia race infuses its spirit into the identity of the entire watch collection, through automotive-inspired codes: precision-certified mechanisms, indications and counters evoking dashboard design, pushers shaped like pistons, perforated leather straps and rubber straps with tyre‑tread patterns, crowns engraved with a steering wheel motif, the red arrow adorning the dial and caseback, and on some more recent models, a “glass-box” crystal offering vintage charm and panoramic legibility.

Lucent Steel™

Made with a recycling rate of 80%, Chopard’s Lucent Steel™ results from an advanced remelting process that produces a pure material, with brilliance comparable to gold and hypoallergenic properties similar to surgical steel. Its exceptional hardness makes it particularly resistant to abrasion.

First introduced in 2019 with the launch of the Alpine Eagle collection, Lucent Steel™ has been used to produce all Chopard steel timepieces since 2023 – cases and bracelets included.

Chronometer certification

The Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) independently certifies the precision of movements. Uncased movements undergo 15 days of testing in five positions and at three temperature ranges. All L.U.C movements featuring a seconds indication are subjected to this protocol, ensuring a daily rate variation between -4 and +6 seconds per day.

Chopard Ambassadors Jacky Ickx et Romain Dumas

Jacky Ickx and Romain Dumas are two of Chopard’s most enduring motorsport Ambassadors, each embodying excellence, endurance and authentic passion.

Jacky Ickx, a six‑time Le Mans winner and longtime friend of Karl‑Friedrich Scheufele, has been linked to the Maison for over three decades, becoming part of its Family spirit. He and Karl-Friedrich Scheufele took part in the latter’s first Mille Miglia together, and regularly driving together ever since.

As for endurance champion Romain Dumas, he known for record‑breaking achievements and technical mastery, proudly representing Chopard during his most demanding challenges, reflecting the Maison’s commitment to performance and precision.