Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Grigio-Blu 2026 Racing Edition
The Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Grigio-Blu 2026 Racing Edition is a stylish, limited edition of 250 pieces crafted from the Maison’s proprietary Lucent Steel. Driven by an in-house, COSC-certified calibre and sporting a grained dial, this latest release honours ‘the most beautiful race in the world’.
Chopard x Mille Miglia since 1988
I have long been a staunch believer in the virtues of careful planning and punctuality. Every morning, I calibrate my route with the focus and determination of a rally racer, factoring in unexpected obstacles such as a spilt latte or a dawdling pedestrian. I may not be hurtling around the curves of the Futa Pass in a vintage Alfa Romeo, but when there is only one space left in the school car park, believe me, I am racing. It’s this daily ‘grand prix’ of modern life that makes the Chopard Mille Miglia such a fitting companion for the wrist. For instance, take a look at its power reserve indicator. Shaped like a classic car’s analogue fuel gauge, it succinctly informs you whether your watch is fully wound or the spring barrel is near ’empty’.
Since 1988, Chopard has been the World Sponsor and Official Timekeeper of the Mille Miglia, the legendary Italian endurance rally that Enzo Ferrari famously called ‘the most beautiful race in the world’. The brand’s Co-President, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, is a serious car enthusiast and since 1989 he has competed in the gruelling 1,000-mile race every single year without exception. It’s this hands-on experience that underpins the entire collection, with each model built to cope with the physical vibrations of competition while remaining chic at all times.
The newly unveiled Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Grigio-Blu – 2026 Racing Edition is limited to just 250 pieces and ‘reserved for the Italian retail network and Chopard Boutiques worldwide’. Infused with the raw passion of the legendary race, it’s a highly versatile watch that offers day-to-day practicality, while perfectly complementing a sartorial ensemble.
Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Grigio-Blu – 2026 Racing Edition – case
The case of the Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Grigio-Blu is crafted from Lucent Steel, a proprietary alloy initially introduced in 2019 with the Alpine Eagle collection. The alloy has since been rolled out across Chopard’s entire portfolio of steel watches. Composed of 80% recycled material, Lucent Steel undergoes an advanced remelting process that yields an exceptionally pure material. The resultant alloy exhibits a ‘brilliance comparable to gold and has hypoallergenic properties similar to surgical steel’. Moreover, its superior hardness improves its resistance to scratching.
Image – ©Patrick Csajko
Despite measuring 43 mm in diameter, the watch wears smaller than you would imagine thanks to its short lugs that taper sharply downwards. The right side of the case features a screw-down crown, engraved with a classic steering wheel motif, that nestles between the sturdy shoulders of a crown protector.
Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Grigio-Blu – 2026 Racing Edition – the dial
The dial is dressed in Grigio-Blu and endowed with a beautifully textured epidermis that’s intended to replicate the appearance of asphalt-clad roads. The colour is a visually arresting shade that aids interpretation while simultaneously proffering eye-appeal. The baton-type hands and hour markers are fulsome and lined with black SLN, making them legible even when daylight begins to fade. Interestingly, Chopard has chosen to denote each hour with a plump metallic baton, save for 6 and 12 o’clock where prominent Arabic numerals are employed, once again, conferring both style and practicality.
A power-reserve indicator sits at 9 o’clock. Fashioned to resemble a mechanical fuel gauge, the ‘E’ and ‘F’ indicate the status of the mainspring. The design is playful yet practical. The date aperture at 3 o’clock, incorporating the iconic red Mille Miglia emblem, serves as a visual counterbalance to the power-reserve indicator, heightening the overall sense of cohesion
Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Grigio-Blu – 2026 Racing Edition – the movement
The watch is powered by the Chopard Calibre 01.08-C, a mechanical self-winding movement that has been developed, engineered and assembled in-house. Chopard’s commitment to vertical integration and its pursuit of mechanical excellence is laudable. By keeping production firmly within its own walls, the Maison ensures each movement meets the same exacting quality controls as the bodywork it powers. Operating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, the Calibre 01.08-C is fully chronometer-certified by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute).
The movement will run autonomously for 60 hours, tracked by the power-reserve indicator, and incorporates a stop-seconds function, allowing the wearer to halt the balance wheel and synchronise it precisely with the official race clock.
Closing Thoughts
Chopard has a long history of creating Mille Miglia models and it shows with the sensitive and tasteful way it uses colours and textures. The company has incorporated several automotive-inspired details, such as the ‘technical black textile strap’ with its ‘tyre tread’ patterned lining, but each element is judged perfectly, contributing to the aesthetic and function of the model, without being overdone.
However, the watch is not merely handsome, it also has many technical attributes to commend it. For example, the Lucent Steel case is less prone to scratching and is hypoallergenic. Beyond offering the convenience of being automatic, the movement is also chronometer-certified (COSC).
Chopard has created a highly practical ownership proposition that will undoubtedly hasten the pulse of anyone who has ever felt the pull of the open road – or even those who just need to complete the school run in record time.
Further reading
Technical Specification
- Model: Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Grigio-Blu 2026 Racing Edition
- Reference: 168566-3022
- Case: Lucent Steel, diameter 43 mm, height 11.43 mm, 10 bar (100 metres); sapphire crystal to front and exhibition caseback.
- Functions: hours, minutes, centre seconds, date, power-reserve indicator, stop-seconds function
- Movement: Chopard 01.08-C calibre, self-winding movement, frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz), 40 jewels, power reserve of 60 hours, chronometer-certified (COSC).
- Strap: black textile strap with rubber ‘tread’ patterned lining paired with Lucent Steel™ deployant buckle
- Limited edition: 250 pieces
- Price: £6,730 (RRP as of 6.6.2025)