Released in 1988, the Chopard Mille Miglia was inspired by the eponymous legendary car race. Beginning as far back as the 1920s when professional car racing was in its infancy, the Mille Miglia itself is an Italian 1000-mile endurance car race from Brescia to Rome and back that began in 1927 and abruptly ended in 1957 due to a tragic accident in which nine spectators, a driver, and his navigator all lost their lives. Following a 25-year hiatus, the race came back in 1982 as a time trial rally whereby only the same cars that were eligible during the original series of races could take part in it. Six years later, in 1988, Chopard successfully became the Mille Miglia's official timekeeper and released their eponymous collection of chronograph timepieces, one of which we have here, with the ref. 4122. Featuring an 18kt yellow gold 31mm case, the ref. 4122 blends the Mille Miglia’s automotive use-case with Chopard’s famed sense for elaborate design, resulting in a timepiece that blurs the lines between jewelery and watchmaking. Indeed, it features a 60-minute bezel, a tachymeter in its white dial, and a chronograph with a 30-minute subdial at 6 o’clock that can all combine to allow this timepiece to function as one might need it to if they were to take part in the Mille Miglia itself and time themselves or make calculations.

Watch is in very good overall condition. There is some wear and scratches visible along the bezel, as well as along the polished edges of the watch and caseback. The dial is in excellent condition, with the sub seconds dial having turned a tropical yellow hue. Please note that the watch will need a new battery to operate.

A wonderful fusion of automotive-inspired utility and Chopard's taste for the fashionable, the ref. 4122 is a luxurious timepiece that proves that even watchmakers not associated with sports watches can make fantastic utility-rich timepieces.