For chronographs, the gray and orange color scheme is undoubtedly “lively”. Consider some of the most iconic chronographs of the golden age of the 1970s, when racing chronographs were mature, and it was clear that the two colors merged like gin and tonic. Today, Chopard launched the latest Mille Miglia chronograph series, this time, under the guise of cooperation with George Bamford’s Bamford watch department, a total of 33 pieces were issued. A sporty and elegant chronograph, this watch can not only travel a thousand miles on your classic sports car…
Mille Miglia was first held in 1927. It was the creation of two young Italian earls, Francesco Mazzotti and Aymo Maggi. The race is a thousand miles from Brescia to Rome and back. This game was held 24 times in the thirty years from 1927 to 1957, and was suspended for two fatal accidents in the last year. However, in 1977, to celebrate its 50th anniversary, the event was revived. Since 1988, car enthusiast and Chopard co-president Karl-Friedrich Scheufele has produced a watch every year to celebrate the brand’s partnership with Mille Miglia.
This year, Bamford Watch Department devoted itself to this model and created a classic twist on the classic three-axis 42 mm steel chronograph. As you might expect from GB, this Review watch has a sandblasted gray cool gray DLC coating. The 2021 Mille Miglia is scratch-resistant and has a hue similar to many famous vintage sports cars. It looks very suitable for driving and is strong enough to be able to do it; although driving at high speeds in vintage Ferraris…
The dial is also matte gray, with “flame orange” decorations on the chronograph hands and the sub-dial. It’s not just an aesthetic touch. I can’t deny that I really like this touch. It also allows people to quickly refer to the time on the wrist. You really don’t want to spend too much time figuring out the time you spend driving a multimillion-dollar classic car on Italian roads. The black cordura-effect rubber strap has bright orange stitching and is lined with orange calfskin.
Under the hood is a COSC-rated high-precision automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve, which can be seen through the sapphire caseback. The back cover is decorated with Mille Migila’s iconic arrow and highlights the fact that this edition is limited.
George Bamford is rightly proud of this latest version. “When designing this watch with Chopard, I wanted to recall the connection to racing and also give it a different aspect. The color combination of dark gray and one of our iconic colors, flame orange, is almost in line with Mille Miglia’s traditional red and White juxtaposed. Orange decoration ensures that the dial is eye-catching, clear and easy to read time and speed. It has a beautiful and chic feel. I love its connection to the automotive world. It is a great watch for any vintage or modern car enthusiast.”
Technical specifications
Chopard Mille Miglia Bamford Edition Ref. 168589-3036
Movement: Automatic COSC chronograph with 42-hour power reserve.
Case and dial: 42 mm sandblasted stainless steel. Grey dial with flame orange decoration and orange chronograph hands.
Strap: black cordura-effect black rubber, orange contrast stitching and calfskin lining.