In 1988, Chopard sponsored the Mille Miglia for the first time and launched the eponymous chronograph in the same year. For Chopard, a company with a family tradition founded in 1860, the value of this partnership has always transcended the mere dimension of passive commitment, as evidenced by the personal participation of the owners in all editions of the race from Brescia to Rome and back. It was Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, today Co-President of the company and an enthusiast of historic racing cars, who launched the idea of producing a Mille Miglia chronograph. Sophisticated mechanical engineering, extraordinary design, and high performance are pivotal aspects in both fields, motor racing and fine watchmaking. The line of the watch had to be sporty and the movement had to ensure the precision required for measuring race times. In 1988, the idea took shape and the cornerstone of one of the most successful and iconic Chopard collections ever was laid. Today, numerous enthusiasts and collectors eagerly await the presentation of the latest Mille Miglia chronograph every year. The Chopard Mille Miglia Collection has also had the merit of significantly raising public awareness of the race which, after a 30-year interruption, has been revived as the "Mille Miglia Storica". Today, the event represents the pinnacle of events reserved for classic and vintage cars, not least because of the irresistible charm of Italy and its inhabitants. The new Mille Miglia GMT Chrono 2012, more than ever the ideal racing instrument, boasts extraordinary readability thanks to its oversized counters. The self-winding mechanical movement chronometer-certified by the COSC also offers a very convenient function, the second time zone. It is offered in two limited editions, the first of 2,012 in steel and the second of 250 in pink gold.
