RACING COLOURS

Racing in style

Mille Miglia

Rosso Corsa, Speed Silver, British Racing Green, Vintage Blue and Speed Yellow were the colours allocated to the various nations competing in the world of motor racing. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the partnership between Chopard and 1000 Miglia, the Maison presented a collection composed of five Mille Miglia RACING COLOURS watches. A re-edition of a historical Chopard collection featuring unique dials and intended for gentlemen drivers and collectors. They pay tribute to the heyday of motorsports and to an exclusive race, the 1000 Miglia, widely referred to as “la corsa la più bella del mondo”.

Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph

Speed Silver & BRG (British Racing Green)

For 30 years, the hearts of Chopard and Mille Miglia have been beating as one, echoing a shared love of fine mechanics and performance born of the personal passion for classic cars nurtured by Chopard Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele. Both a discerning connoisseur of collector’s cars and an accomplished driver, he has been driving the most prestigious classic cars for the past 30 year, with which he annually competes in the the prestigious annual endurance rally seing more than 400 historical cars covering a one thousand-mile route from Brescia to Rome and back. The now indivisible ties, first established in 1988 when Chopard become partner and official timekeeper of the Mille Miglia, inspired an eponymous watch collection presented that same year.

Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph

Speed Silver

Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph

BRG

Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph

BRG

Mille Miglia enthusiasts will appreciate the subtle yet expressive touches of red Mille Miglia branding on the dial and caseback—accents that feel perfectly balanced rather than excessive. Adding to the charm, the sapphire crystal exhibition window features the name of the dial’s specific color, rendered in that very hue. Whether it reads “British Racing Green” or another emblematic shade, this detail creates a thoughtful and intimate connection between the watch and its inspiration.

Mille Miglia Racing Colours

These Mille Miglia Racing Colours are finely crafted 42 mm chronographs assembled by the Chopard master-watchmakers in 300-piece limited series for each dial colour. Their calibre beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and is COSC-certified, ensuring chronometer-worthy precision throughout the 42 hours of its power reserve. The Mille Miglia Racing Colours chronographs are inspired by the cars that competed in the Mille Miglia between 1927 and 1940. The dials display optimal legibility thanks to broad Arabic numerals that are luminescent at night, as are the hands. The slim cursive fonts, as well as the counters, are inspired by the typical dashboards of the late 1920s and stand out by their silver-toned colour. The sweep-seconds hand features a bright red tip to tick off the precious seconds of the race. The arrow-shaped Mille Miglia logo appears at 12 o’clock in the heart of the dial. A successful blend of precision, comfort and elegance, these watches are authentic auxiliary instruments for drivers hurtling along Italian roads, enabling them to race in true style.

AVAILABLE UPON ORDER IN OUR BOUTIQUES IN THE USA.

Back view Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph Speed Silver

National colours for motor racing

National colours for motor racing were first attributed in the 1910s. In order to identify the nationality of the competing drivers, one colour was allocated to each country. Bright red Rosso Corsa for the Italians, British racing green for the United Kingdom, grey-white for the German “silver arrows”, yellow for the Belgians as in their national flag, and finally blue for the French Bugattis and Talbots. This provides a valuable explanation behind the historical colours of various speed machines. The fact that Ferraris are red and Aston Martins are green is no coincidence, instead stemming from the earliest great races, of which the Mille Miglia was one of the most popular.