Chopard Unveils the New Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph Raticosa: A Timeless Tribute to Italy’s Most Legendary Racing Pass

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Discover the new Chopard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph Raticosa, a luxury chronograph celebrating the iconic Raticosa Pass and Chopard’s enduring partnership with the Mille Miglia.

Chopard Celebrates the Spirit of the Mille Miglia with the New Classic Chronograph Raticosa

Luxury watchmaker Chopard continues its celebrated relationship with the legendary Mille Miglia by unveiling the new Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph Raticosa, an exceptional timepiece inspired by one of the most iconic and demanding sections of what Enzo Ferrari famously described as “the world’s most beautiful race.”

As World Sponsor and Official Timekeeper of the Mille Miglia since 1988, Chopard once again demonstrates its passion for precision, heritage and motorsport through a chronograph that perfectly blends Swiss watchmaking excellence with the timeless elegance of Italian automotive history.

The Legendary Raticosa Pass: Where Racing History Was Written

Nestled at an altitude of 968 metres in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, the Raticosa Pass connects Florence and Bologna through a breathtaking sequence of sweeping bends and dramatic mountain scenery. Alongside the neighbouring Futa Pass, it remains one of the few sections of the original Mille Miglia route that enthusiasts can still experience today exactly as drivers did during the golden era of the race in 1955.

Its reputation is legendary. The demanding climb, technical corners and relentless rhythm led Enzo Ferrari to declare:

“You win the Mille Miglia race at the Raticosa Pass.” This spirit of endurance, precision and determination lies at the heart of Chopard’s latest creation.

A Collector’s Chronograph Designed for Performance and Elegance

Previous Raticosa editions have become highly desirable among collectors, and this latest interpretation elevates the concept even further. The 40.5 mm case is crafted from Lucent Steel™, Chopard’s exclusive alloy renowned for its remarkable brilliance, exceptional durability and sustainable composition with an 80% recycling rate.

A beautifully domed “glass-box” sapphire crystal recalls the vintage racing chronographs of the 1950s while offering exceptional legibility. Refined details including redesigned knurled pushers, a reworked crown engraved with a steering wheel motif and elegantly welded lugs enhance the sporty sophistication of the watch. Turning the timepiece over reveals one of its most distinctive features: an engraved titanium caseback depicting a classic racing car climbing the Raticosa Pass, surrounded by enthusiastic spectators in a tribute to the unforgettable atmosphere of the Mille Miglia.

Vintage Inspiration Meets Swiss Precision

The elegant eggshell-coloured dial features a refined matte finish enhanced by beige Super-LumiNova® hour markers and rhodium-plated hands for outstanding readability.

Powering the watch is a COSC-certified self-winding chronograph movement delivering a 54-hour power reserve and exceptional chronometric precision. The watch also includes:

Chronograph function
Tachymeter scale
Small seconds display
12-hour and 30-minute counters
Date display
Stop-seconds function
Water resistance to 50 metres

A perforated brown calfskin leather strap completes the unmistakably vintage-inspired racing aesthetic.

Karl-Friedrich Scheufele: Honouring a Legendary Road

“The Raticosa Pass is one of the most emotionally charged stretches of the Mille Miglia,” says Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Co-President of Chopard.

“With this edition, we wanted to honour that legendary road by capturing its intensity, its history and its importance to the race, translated into a chronograph that feels both timeless in spirit and resolutely contemporary in execution.”

His words perfectly reflect the philosophy behind the Mille Miglia collection: combining authentic emotion with exceptional Swiss craftsmanship.

Nearly Four Decades of Passion for the Mille Miglia

The Mille Miglia collection has become one of Chopard’s most recognisable watch families since its debut in 1988. Every year, new limited editions celebrate the race’s extraordinary heritage through references to legendary drivers, iconic racing colours, celebrated coachbuilders and unforgettable stages of the historic Italian rally.

The Maison’s involvement extends well beyond sponsorship. Since 1989, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele has personally competed in nearly every edition, frequently sharing the cockpit with Chopard Ambassador and six-time Le Mans winner Jacky Ickx.

Alongside endurance racing legend Romain Dumas, these ambassadors embody Chopard’s commitment to precision engineering, sporting excellence and timeless elegance.

Chopard Returns to the Mille Miglia 2026

For the 2026 edition, more than 400 historic automobiles once again travel the famous 1,000-mile route between Brescia and Rome before returning to Brescia across five unforgettable days. The rally crosses spectacular Italian landscapes, UNESCO World Heritage sites and legendary mountain roads including both the Raticosa and Futa Passes, reinforcing its reputation as one of the world’s greatest classic car events.

To mark its 39th consecutive year as World Sponsor and Official Timekeeper, Chopard also introduced the Mille Miglia GTS Power Control 2026 Racing Edition, produced in a limited series of just 250 pieces alongside the new Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph Raticosa.

Swiss Watchmaking Excellence Meets Italian Motorsport Heritage

With the Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph Raticosa, Chopard once again succeeds in transforming one of motorsport’s most legendary roads into an exceptional luxury timepiece.

Blending vintage-inspired design, cutting-edge Swiss engineering and nearly four decades of passion for the Mille Miglia, this remarkable chronograph is destined to become another highly coveted collector’s piece for enthusiasts of fine watchmaking and classic automobiles alike.