Chopard

MTF
[PuristS]
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Ode to Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition

I held out from acquiring any Chopard Mile Miglia Race Edition watches for years, or at least since 1999, when I first noticed Chopard watches. The primary reason was my obsession with L.U.C collection. The vast majority of Chopard Mille Miglia Race Editions are chronographs. Although I collect chronographs, I could not bring myself to get a Chopard Mille Miglia Race Edition watch before 2015.

Why?

I have often asked this of myself. Why did I hold back when many of them were clearly attractive in form and credible in function? I could not pin it down and my angst was real. This came to a head when I discovered the Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition and immediately bought one within 5 minutes. No hesitation; No vacillation; No searching of the soul.

The search for a sensible and plausible reason occupied my psyche for some time and the outcome was somewhat cataclysmic; I may have been an in-house movement snob!

Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition

Rosso Corsa

I refer to exhibit A - the press release that launched the Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition:

"In 2015, the model embodying the legendary spirit of the famous Italian competition is equipped for the very first time with a Chopard in-house movement certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). Inspired by the speed machines having taken part in “la corsa più bella del mondo” between 1940 and 1957, the Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition bears a power-reserve indicator reminiscent of a petrol gauge, along with a flaming 'Rossa Corsa' red dial and oversized numerals evoking typical 1950s dashboards."

Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition 

Therein lies the answer; for the first time, a Chopard in-house movement powered a Mille Miglia watch. I had not realised that must have been an important feature in my decision making.

Its Chopard Calibre 01.08-C movement is entirely developed, designed and assembled in the Chopard’s Fleurier Ebauches workshops.

Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition

The irony was that perhaps for the second time since such editions were made available to the public, the Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition has no chronograph functions. Based on the regular Chopard Mille Miglia GTS models but with a scintillating red dial, this watch has garnered more comments and compliments than most watches I wear.

I eschewed the rose gold version and opted for the more practical steel edition issued in limited series of 1,000 pieces. Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition uses the design motifs of the classic cars that took part in the Italian race between 1940 and 1957. The varnished dial is a powerful 'Rosso Corsa' as tribute to the racing colour of Italy.

I did not miss the interactivity of a chronograph as much as I thought I would because of the power-reserve indicator reminiscent of 1950s petrol gauges. It's a joy to hand-wind the watch to start filling the 'fuel' and then observe the charges through the day imparted by the efficient automatic winding rotor. It is remarkable how quickly the fuel reserve builds up.

The oversized 6 and 12 o’clock Arabic numerals hark from dashboards of vintage cars. Like the racing numbers on the doors and bonnet of racing cars, the date window appears clearly on a white background in the Mille Miglia red arrow-shaped logo. The hour markers and facetted hands are painted with a luminescent material for enhanced readability.

This 43mm diameter watch has been everywhere with me.

Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition

It's seen Chopard and Porsche Motorsport winning at 24 Hours of Le Mans and finally see Hulkenberg on the winning podium at his first attempt; that he has not experienced yet in F1 Grand Prix.

Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition with Romain Dumas at 24H of Le Mans

Trio Amigos with Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition

It's been in Michelin-star restaurants and for street food...

Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition

Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition street food

It's been in planes, trains and automobiles...

Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition

Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition

Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition

It's been with Friends and Lovers...

Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition with Mr Karl-Friedrich Scheufele

Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition with friends at 24H of Le Mans: Jacky Ickx and Karl-Friedrich Scheufele

Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition with Mille Miglia GT XL on Valentine's Day

Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race edition is loved by animals, both real and virtual.

Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition: Bleeecchhh to You!

Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition with Baa Baa Black Sheep

Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition with Molly the Mole and the Penderyn Dragon

It's water resistant to 100m depth rating

Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition

CONCLUSION

My Chopard Mille Miglia 2015 Race Edition watch; it's a Good Thing!

Regards,
MTF