Following a successful initial collaboration in 2021, Chopard is once again combining its creativity with that of the Bamford Watch Department studios to deliver a very exclusive edition of its Mille Miglia GTS Power Control timepiece. With its orange, grey and black details, its oversized numerals and its woven-effect rubber strap, the new Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition ‘Desert Racer’ reflects the passion uniting Chopard with motorsports. These 50 timepieces are crafted in bead-blasted titanium – a light, yet sturdy material. Subtly combining sleek aesthetics and technical excellence, it is powered by the Chopard 01.08-C movement endowed with chronometer-certified accuracy.

Exclusive creative collaboration

Thanks to the collaboration between Chopard’s Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele and George Bamford – founder of Bamford Watch Department – the 50 numbered timepieces composing the Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition ‘Desert Racer’ are distinguished by the attention lavished on every detail of this elegant sports watch demonstrating a deep-rooted attachment to craftsmanship and quality. The watch recently accompanied George Bamford in the desert of northern Mexico, on the occasion of the last edition of the National Off Road Racing Association, in which he participated aboard a Meyers Manx buggy. The Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition ‘Desert Racer’ was able to survive its baptism of fire, thereby affirming its reliability, its precision and its ability to resist in a hostile environment.

Stemming from the creative dialogue between these two gentlemen, it exudes a powerful look and a sporty presence suited to any occasion. This contemporary timepiece features a robust 43 mm-diameter case made of bead-blasted titanium – an extremely resistant, light metal – topped by a bezel with a black aluminium graduated inlay. Designed to ensure a perfect fit on the wrist, its short, streamlined lugs offer optimum comfort complemented by the integrated strap in rubber. This material, ideal for competitive sports, has been reworked with a woven effect conferring an extremely refined effect. Subtly blending modernity with timeless chic, it is secured by a folding clasp in DLC bead-blasted steel. The screw-down case-back guaranteeing water-resistance to 100 metres is secured by eight black PVD-treated screws. Ensuring chromatic consistency, its transparent tinted crystal surrounded by an orange seal reveals the Chopard movement with its prestigious finishes and openworked oscillating weight.

High-precision watch engine

The subtle design of the Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition ‘Desert Racer’ houses an engine boasting equally remarkable precision and performance. Entirely developed, produced and assembled in Chopard's watchmaking workshops, Chopard Calibre 01.08-C is chronometer-certified by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). This mechanical self-winding movement with its generous approximately 60-hour power reserve drives the hours, minutes, seconds and date functions.

A play on contrasts for a distinctive style

Although this special edition is in grey, it also plays on contrasts. Its frosted black dial is lit up by touches of flame orange, a signature of the Bamford Watch Department studios. The oversized 6 and 12 o’clock Arabic numerals enhanced with black SuperLuminova^© stand out against the dial, meeting motorsports’ inherent legibility requirements. With the same aim in mind, the large facetted dagger-shaped hands and applied metallic hour-markers are likewise luminescent. Just as a driver keeps an eye on fuel levels during the 1,600 km of the 1000 Miglia, wearers of the Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition ‘Desert Racer’ will be able to check the power reserve of their timepiece thanks to the indicator provided for this purpose. This display is inspired by the fuel gauges of the cars competing in the race.

A word from George Bamford

“What an amazing experience doing the Norra 1000 with Meyers Manx for the launch of the Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition ‘Desert Racer’. I was so pleased to say that I tried and tested it in the desert, on a desert race and the watch is built to survive on great expeditions and adventures. With this flame orange and tarmac black dial, the combination works in perfect harmony. I loved working on the Mille Miglia watch and when we were coming to create this one, I really wanted to have an alternative to the original Mille Miglia and that’s why we felt the Desert Racer would be the off-road cousin of the Mille Miglia.”

The Mille Miglia collection

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. Designed to time races, the watches created by Chopard feature a certified high-precision mechanism and sporty design. By customising a timepiece from the Mille Miglia collection, the Bamford Watch Department studios have delivered their own take on one of the most highly prized creations among gentlemen drivers.

Technical Details

Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition ‘Desert Racer’

Bead-blasted titanium 50-piece limited edition

Case:

Bead-blasted titanium

Total diameter                                                                       43.00 mm

Thickness                                                                              11.43 mm

Water resistance                                                                  100 metres

Screw-lock crown in DLC-treated blackened Lucent Steel™

featuring a steering wheel motif                                       7.00 mm

Titanium bezel with black aluminium inlay and orange numerals

Glare-proofed sapphire crystal

Exhibition case-back back secured with screws

fitted with an orange seal and tinted crystal

PVD-treated case-back screws

Movement:

Mechanical self-winding                                                    Chopard 01.08-C

Number of components                                                      251

Total diameter                                                                       28.60 mm

Thickness                                                                              4.95 mm

Number of jewels                                                                 40

Frequency                                                                           28,800 vph (4 Hz)

Power reserve                                                                     approx. 60 hours

Chronometer-certified (COSC)

Dial and hands:

Frosted black dial

Cool grey transfers

Orange hour-markers and sanded metallised black hour-markers enhanced with black Super-LumiNova^®

Power-reserve indicator with black and orange transfers

Metallised black sanded and facetted hours and minutes hands

Black central sweep-seconds hand with cross-hatched orange tip

Functions:

Hours, minutes, seconds

Date window at 3 o’clock with orange numeral

Power-reserve indicator at 9 o’clock

Strap and buckle:

Woven-effect rubber strap

Polished folding clasp in bead-blasted steel.

Ref. 168566-3019 – Limited and numbered 50-piece edition in bead-blasted titanium