Few, if any, classic car events can match the prestige and sheer spectacle of the Mille Miglia, the famed Italian road rally that winds from Brescia to Rome and back each year. A true top-echelon sports car race until 1957, this picturesque event is now a more relaxed celebration of classic racing machines built between 1927 and the late ‘50s. Chopard has been a part of this world-famous rally since 1988, developing a long-running series of sports watches that aim to capture the spirit of Italy’s most beautiful road race. For its latest Mille Miglia iteration, Chopard pays tribute to the legendary French marques that have graced the race over the years with a striking, elegant new colorway. The new Chopard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph French Limited Edition brings a cool, characterful new Gallic edge to the line, but its French market-only availability might ruffle some enthusiast feathers.

Like the standard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph, the Chopard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph French Limited Edition sports a 40.5mm-wide case in the brand’s proprietary Lucent Steel alloy. The overall case design is clean and classical, with curving chamfered lugs, a stepped smooth bezel, and softly rounded case sides. If this model is like its stablemates, the polished upper surfaces and vertically brushed case sides should shine brightly thanks to its Lucent Steel material, which carries a more intense luster than standard 316L or 904L stainless steel. The knurled piston pushers and heavy gear-toothed crown are also carried over from the production Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph, as is the broad sapphire display caseback. However, Chopard tops this caseback with a surprisingly demure overlay, featuring a crossed checkered flag and French tricolor motif. Water resistance continues to be a weak point for this series, with a stated 50-meter rating.

Of course, the Chopard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph French Limited Edition’s main attraction is its stylish new dial. Rather than directly translating the (occasionally quite vivid) colors of the French flag to the dial, Chopard takes a more muted, refined approach, and the results are captivating in initial images. The main dial surface is rendered in dark silver with a deep radially brushed finish, accented by crisp azurage for each of the subdials. Chopard renders the blue of the French tricolor in a deep, slightly desaturated navy hue in images, allowing the subdial rings, chronograph seconds scale, and outer chapter ring to provide a dark contrast while adding an elegant touch of color. On the other hand, the red accents of the chronograph hand and minutes numerals are given full, vibrant saturation, popping dramatically against this restrained backdrop. Taken as a whole, it’s a timeless, attractive colorway, but some of the more divisive design elements might affect enthusiast opinions. The Mille Miglia’s cutout Arabic hours numerals and 4:30 date window have historically been pain points for many watch fans, and the new dial color palette is not likely to change entrenched opinions on either side of this long-running debate.

Chopard powers the Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph French Limited Edition with its unnamed, ETA 2894-2-based automatic chronograph movement. Decorated with blued screws, perlage for the bridges, and the brand’s distinctive slanted Côtes de Genève for the signed rotor, it’s a handsome powerplant in photos, even if its comparatively humble origins may prove controversial at this price point. With 54 hours of power reserve, a 28,800 bph beat rate, and COSC-certified chronometer accuracy, it’s a respectable performer regardless of its background, and the relatively easy servicing should make long-term ownership of this watch more palatable. To complete the package, Chopard fits the Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph French Limited Edition with a perforated rally-style leather strap in dial-matching navy blue.

With a charismatic new colorway, stylish execution, and a classic racing spirit, the new Chopard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph French Limited Edition is a chic tribute to the racing machines that have competed in the Mille Miglia under the French tricolor. Only 100 examples of the Chopard Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph French Limited Edition will be made, and the watch is available now exclusively through Chopard authorized dealers in France. MSRP for this watch stands at 10,400 EUR as of press time. For more details, please visit the brand’s website.