Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition Desert Racer
Following the success of their first collaborative project, released in 2021, Bamford Watch Department and the Geneva-based luxury marque have just unveiled the new Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition Desert Racer, a timepiece inspired by the world of classic cars. Angus Davies examines this latest model at close quarters and shares his observations.
Watch collaborations
Some collaborations can prove fruitful, delivering an outcome surpassing the efforts of both parties working in isolation. However, the success of a collaboration can be judged by the willingness of both parties to repeat the exercise. Clearly, the Chopard Mille Miglia Bamford Edition, released in 2021, convinced the Genevan Maison and the English customisation specialist to join forces again.
George Bamford returns
No doubt buoyed by the critical acclaim and commercial success of said model, George Bamford has returned to Meyrin, located on the outskirts of Geneva and home to Chopard’s headquarters. Once more, Bamford and Chopard have engaged in a bout of blue-sky-thinking, keen to create a highly original composition.
Karl-Friedrich Scheufele and the Mille Miglia
On this occasion, George Bamford and Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Co-President of Chopard, looked to the Swiss brand’s popular Mille Miglia GTS Power Control and reinterpreted the model by viewing it through a prism of creativity. Both gentlemen share a love of cars, especially the vintage variety. Indeed, Mr Scheufele has just returned from Italy where he participated in the Mille Miglia. Chopard has been the ‘world sponsor and official timekeeper since 1988’.
NORRA Mexican 1000 Rally with Meyers Manx
George Bamford is no stranger to the world of octane-rich competition, recently competing in the NORRA Mexican 1000 Rally with Meyers Manx. George participated in the event, held in northern Mexico, with the new Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition Desert Racer affixed to his wrist. The arduous event, covering 1294 miles (for four wheeled competitors) proved a harsh ordeal for cars, bikes and competitors alike. Needless to say, the Chopard survived unscathed, thanks to its quality construction.
However, away from the rough terrain of the Mexican desert, the watch looks perfectly at ease with a sartorial ensemble. Indeed, beyond its robustness, the Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition Desert Racer cuts a handsome figure, courtesy of its judicious use of colour, textures and sumptuous details. Allow me to elaborate.
Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition Desert Racer – dressed in black
Since its release in 2020, the Mille Miglia GTS Power Control has gained a reputation for being a good looking watch. To this end, it would have been foolish for Chopard to abandon the popular design of its non-limited reference. With the Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition Desert Racer, Bamford Watch Department, George’s eponymous company, working hand in hand with Chopard, has created an alternative vision of the watch.
The familiar dagger-style hour and minute hands, found on the 2020 reference, are now black, metallised, sanded and faceted. They evince a neoteric vibe and look slightly stealthy in appearance, yet remain effortlessly legible. The central sweep seconds hand is black, incorporates a counterweight and sports a ‘cross-hatched’ orange tip.
Each hour marker is dressed in black, echoing the metallised and sanded appearance of the hour and minute hands. While the hour markers sit unobtrusively against the frosted black dial, the Arabic numerals at 6 o’clock and noon boldly step forward, outlined in orange conversing in unambiguous tones.
A power-reserve indicator
At 3 o’clock, the date is indicated with orange numerals against a black backdrop. The power-reserve indicator, the headline act, resides at 9 o’clock. It resembles a car’s fuel gauge, uniting black, grey and orange hues to impart meaning. This colour palette extends to the minute track, presented on the dial flange. Bamford and Chopard have restricted the use of colours to just three hues, cleverly sidestepping unnecessary excess.
Black Super-LumiNova
Both the hands and indexes incorporate a liberal application of black Super-LumiNova, ensuring nocturnal legibility when participating in a night stage of the World’s most beautiful race.
Bead-blasted titanium case
The Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition Desert Racer is housed in a 43mm bead-blasted titanium case. The strong and lightweight metal assumes a deferential role to the adjacent orange dial accents. It’s low mass heightens wearer comfort while its short lugs entice the strap to envelop the wrist, making the watch appear smaller than its stated diameter would suggest.
A slim titanium bezel frames the display. It incorporates a black aluminium inlay, endued with orange numerals.
Look under the bonnet
Petrol-heads usually gravitate towards a car’s bonnet, eager to discover the engine within. With this in mind, the caseback of the Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition Desert Racer features a pane of tinted sapphire crystal, granting sight of the self-winding movement, thereby sating the wearer’s mechanical curiosity. The tinted sapphire crystal is framed with an orange seal, adding a tasteful dose of ebullience, while the caseback is secured with eight black PVD-treated screws.
Upholding a longstanding Chopard Mille Miglia tradition, the crown sports a steering wheel motif on its vertical flank. The crown is screw-locked and presented in DLC-treated blackened Lucent Steel. The crown nestles within a black crown protector, reinforcing the model’s sporty character.
Throughout this composition, Bamford and Chopard have cleverly worked with textures to deliver tactile delight. For example, the strap is rubber but resembles woven material, a characteristic which implores the observer to caress its form. The strap is paired with a folding clasp, executed in DLC bead-blasted steel.
Chopard Calibre 01.08-C
Inevitably, while standing in Parc Fermé, waiting for the Clerk of the Course to explain how a race will proceed, participants engage in small talk, discussing cubic capacities, numbers of cylinders and brake horsepower. The similarities with watches are clear to see. Chat to any self-respecting horophile and the conversation will undoubtedly turn to the frequency of the balance, the number of jewels and the power-reserve of their trusted timepiece.
The Chopard Calibre 01.08-C, a self-winding movement, produced in-house at Fleurier Ebauches, brims with attributes. The balance has a frequency of 28,800 vph (4Hz) and the movement contains 40 jewels. Assuming the watch is fully wound, it will run autonomously for approximately 60 hours. Lastly, the automatic movement is chronometer-certified by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC), conferring independent assurance that the watch has been subject to independent scrutiny,
Passionate racing enthusiasts
Chopard state that:
‘as a passionate classic racing enthusiast, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele has always been convinced that devotees of fine cars and precious timepieces in fact share a single passion for maximum elegance and performance’.
It is clear that George Bamford concurs with this view. The shared passion for cars, competition and watches is obvious when admiring this fascinating motor-inspired timepiece. With much in common, I would not be surprised if both parties don’t collaborate again in the future.
Further reading
Technical specifications
- Model: Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition Desert Racer
- Reference: 168566-3019
- Case: bead-blasted titanium, diameter 43mm, height 11.43mm, sapphire crystals to front and caseback.
- Functions: hours, minutes, centre seconds, date and power-reserve indicator
- Movement: Calibre Chopard 01-08-C, automatic movement, frequency 28,800 vph (4Hz), 40 jewels. power reserve approximately 60 hours
- Strap: woven effect rubber strap paired with a folding clasp in DLC bead-blasted steel
- Price: £9,380 including VAT (RRP as of 30.6.2023)
- Limited Edition: 50 pieces