The merging of watch companies with motor sport teams and events often prove to be flighty dalliances – witness the comings and goings of F1 partnerships etc. etc. But there are exceptions.  Chopard have been sponsor of the Mille Miglia since 1988.

Theirs is a most authentic partnership, and part of its charm and perhaps the reason for its longevity is the fact that both of Chopard’s main men are unashamedly smitten by classic cars and the chance to fling them around between the ditches of some rather picturesque country lanes.  Such an intimacy could not be found with any other brand, and with it  Mille Miglia can be assured that their branding will be handled in a most respectful manner and Chopard’s Co-President and Honorary President can indulge themselves by blowing away the corporate cobwebs in quite simply the best way possible.

The Chopard Mille Miglia collection is also rather special.  Each year inspires a new edition thematic of the race and its symbolism.  Not simply empty tributes, these are well designed chronograph timers with clean and readable dials, quality cases and precision COSC certified calibres.

The Chopard Mille Miglia Chronograph 2013 packs in hours, minutes and seconds plus a  trio of slightly conjoined silver counters, a tachometric scale located on the bezel, a 24 hour scale on the dial edge and a Mille Miglia arrow framed date window.

These are and always have been big, chunky wristwatches.  Case size of the 2013 model  is 42.8mm, but it is penned to taper to 44mm across face-on – marginal I know, but on the wrist it has a noticably broader bezel.

Two editions of the Chopard Mille Miglia Chronograph 2013 will be available, a steel case model or a rose gold model limited to 250 pieces.

More?  Have a look-see at our Chopard Archives (featuring all the racey stuff and more…)

For a mutually enjoyable experience, why not like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter .

Popularity: 1% [?]

The front resembles an engine block, the rear a circuit board.  Horizontal is the new vertical.  This is the new Chopard L.U.C. Engine One H – what would Louis Ulysse Chopard – the man after whom the L.U.C. collection is named, have made of this industrial, yet quite beautiful perspective on time?

The Chopard family involvement came to an end in 1963 when Karl Scheufele took ownership of the business.  Here was an individual who was capable of evolving the brand while remaining respective to its traditions.  A watchmaker, jeweller and visionary, he incorporated fine jewellery into the portfolio and established a global network of boutiques which would ensure success and recognition as a true luxury brand.

That motorsport-inspired styling has found its way into Chopard’s watchmaking division can be no suprise.  The brand are partnered with the Mille Miglia rally and the Monaco Grand Prix Historique and Karl-Fredrich Scheufele has been known to blow away the corporate cobwebs as a classic rally entrant himself.

In 2010 the L.U.C. Collection was endowed with a new piece featuring engine-block styling.  Now Chopard have redesigned it and turned it on its side – in doing so the piece has lost the elongated elegance of the original – but in its new guise its horizontal panorama represents all things engineering to great effect.   It is streamlined, clean and sleek and provides an even more authentic take on engineering architecture.

The indication of time becomes secondary to the visually compelling tourbillon, the full/empty power reserve and the horizontal grooves, but closer inspection reveals that in fact there are hour and minute hands and there is a seconds hand integrated with the tourbillon cage.

The titanium case measures 44.5mm across and its sculpted curved form is uninterrupted as the crown is located on the top.  Inside is the  hand-wound COSC-certified Chopard Calibre 04.02.L offering a power reserve of 60 hours.

When the L.U.C. collection was created and named in honour of Louis Ulysse Chopard it was to honour the achievements of the brand’s founder.  His watchmaking business, established in 1860 had a reputation built on the precision of his movements and the case quality of his finely-finished pocketwatches.  Each watch in the L.U.C. collection receives in-house development, assembly and finishing and each is precision tested.  It matters not if the calibre is mounted on impact protecting shock-absorbers or if its case is scratch-resistant or biocompatible as with the Engine One H – the execution is the same, the end product is meticulously finished and precise.

Had he been around, Louis-Ulysse Chopard may have been saddened by the ending of the family involvement in 1964, but he would most likely be proud that, over 150 years after he first created his first works, the family name was in safe hands and still adorned watches of the highest quality and innovation, and were still renowned the world over.

The Chopard L.U.C. Engine One H will be presented at BaselWorld 2013 and will be limited to 100 pieces.

More Chopard from our archives here.

Popularity: 1% [?]

For the first time Chopard use in-house movements to power their Classic Racing Collection.  Three models will feature the Chopard calibres, the Superfast Automatic, the Superfast Power Control and this, the Superfast Chrono – as always, my favourite model in the Classic Racing Collection.

Chopard make well designed chronograph timers with clean dials and quality case construction, and I love them.  I love their blatant car-inspired details, I love their  dashboard styling, and I love the fact that  autombile adoration  is also firmly at the heart of the brand – it’s no secret that Chopard’s boss Karl-Friedrich Scheufele likes to blow away the corporate cobwebs competing in classic car rally events with his good mate Jacky Ickx by his side in the role of co-driver – an association which is superbly represented by the covetable Chopard Jacky Ickx Collection.

In the rich family of Chopard sports timers, which includes the Mille Miglia Collection, and the Monaco Historique, the Superfast Chronograph is the one with the large Arabic number “12″ tilted as if it were about to race off into the distance, and the go-fast vertical stripes on the dial.  And there are other automotive inspired touches – the vintage steering wheel on the crown, wheel-nut screws, the grooved lugs, the grippy rubber pushers and the supercool rubber strap – not the chunky Dunlop tyre tread we know and love, but for this piece a very racy slick version.  Add a transparent caseback through which to enjoy the decorated Chopard Calibre 03.05.M and you’d be mad not to consider this if you’re in the market for a piece which times the hours, minutes and seconds in style.

The Chopard Classic Racing Superfast Chrono is presented in a 45mm 18 carat rose gold case, more information at the Chopard website here.

More like this?  Peruse our Chopard Archives for more ….

Popularity: 2% [?]

What makes the Chopard Mille Miglia collection special? Is it the dashboard styling, the vivid emblematic Miglia arrow, or perhaps the supercool Dunlop tyre tread strap?  All are important.

A well sketched chronograph will always be a desirable aquisition and it is the details that make the design – chrono counters perfectly sized and positioned and a 42-ish mm case made to hug the wrist.  This is a competitive genre, but a few stand out from the rest – Zenith nailed it with their El Primero Foudroyante, TAG Heuer did it with their Carreras and so did Omega with their range of Speedmasters.  All are readable, usable and covetable.  If you use your chrono to time a lap or simply to boil an egg, it matters not – a well laid out chronograph is a fine and dapper addition to any watch collection and Chopard’s Mille Miglia limited edition annual releases equipped with COSC certified calibres are up there with the best.

For 2012, Chopard have once again released a Chronograph + GMT complication, not this time with a pristine white dial, but with a rather handsome black dial/bezel combination.  The red tipped hand is for the central seconds, the white tipped hand indicates the second time-zone with its 24 hour scale located on the bezel.  The counters are snailed with the 30-min and 12-hour positioned top and bottom and the 60 seconds counter slipped in at  9 o’clock.  The date window and branding are neatly aligned to the left with further branding and fancy work reserved for the caseback.

The Chopard Mille Miglia Chrono GMT 2012 will be available with a steel case – 2012 pieces, or with a rose gold case – 250 pieces.  Naturally both editions come presented on the iconic chunky, tactile rubber strap – there would be rumblings if they weren’t.

More?  Have a look-see at our Chopard Archives (featuring all the racey stuff and more…)

For a mutually enjoyable experience, why not like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter .

Popularity: 3% [?]

This is the Chopard Grand Prix de Monaco Historique Chronograph for 2012.

It is a formula that works – a prestigious Motorsport event + a renowned watch brand = a desirable chronograph with mandatory automobile-inspired styling, usually produced in a limited edition.  The brand in this equation is Chopard and the event is Monaco …. but not that one.

This is the altogether more understated Grand Prix de Monaco Historique, a biennial event staged by the Automobile Club of Monaco.  Do not be fooled by the “vintage” nature of the racing, this is no Sunday afternooon tootle around the Monaco Grand Prix street circuit – quite the opposite, the vehicles may be classic but they are ex-F1, ex-F3 and pre-raced classic sports cars and each driver in each class has their eyes on the big prize – it doesn’t matter that there are few run-offs and some irreplaceable panels and paintwork just might get obliterated, this is serious racing.  This year’s event runs from Friday 11th to Sunday 13th May.

It is a timing partnership which works particularly well for Chopard – their boss, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele has been known to blow away the corporate cobwebs competing in classic car events and of course this is a brand who have the knack for producing some fine and dapper chronographs.

This GPMH model measures just over 42mm across and is made from titanium so it is super-strong, super-durable and super-light.  Vivid colour notes animate the subdued matt finish, on the small seconds counter, on the strap stitching and on the sweep seconds hand with its decisive little arrow-tip, but it is a restrained use of colour just enough to give the design a sporty edge.  The dial features a broad horizontal go-fast stripe, and the styling on this year’s piece has been neatened up with a square date window taking the place of the date bubble.  Inside is a COSC certified automatic chronometer calibre with 48 hours of power reserve, water resistant to 50 metres.

Two editions of the Chopard Grand Prix de Monaco Historique Chronograph 2012 will be available, the edition shown here with a titanium case and also a titanium and rose gold version with blue in place of orange, which will be limited to 500 pieces.  Each will be presented on a perforated leather strap with contrasting stitching.

More Chopard?

Our archive has a collection of sporty timekeepers – the Mille Miglia models, the Classic Racing Superfast Chrono, Jacky Ickx stuff – we’ve featured them all with nice big images to drool over – view them here.

Popularity: 3% [?]

This is the Chopard L.U.C. XP Skeletec unveiled earlier this year.

It was a good day at the office when Paul-André Chopard met with Karl Scheufele, because although it marked the end of the founding family’s control of the brand, in Mr.Scheufele he had chanced upon an individual who would evolve the business created by his grandfather, while remaining respective to its traditions.  Evidence of this, if it were needed can be found in the acclaimed Louis-Ulysse Chopard, or L.U.C. collection.

At the dial centre, this piece displays the exquisite labyrinth of the skeletonised movement, with a plain classical rim on the outer dial which is clutter-free and features only elongated markers -  the contrast is superb.   Inside is the Chopard L.U.C. Calibre 96.17-S, the first Chopard Manufacture movement to be skillfully skeletonised by the brand’s Master Watchmakers, reducing it to its bare bones.  At just 3.3mm, this is of course a true “ultra slim” calibre, yet it produces a more than generous 65 hours of power reserve due to its patented twin coaxial barrel construction.

Fastidious finishing is synonymous with the L.U.C. Collection, and this one has Côtes de Genève decoration viewable on the dial side and rhodium-plated bridges and gilded gear wheels.  To ensure plainness, the name L.U. Chopard appears on the inner side of the crystal instead of on the dial.

The Chopard L.U.C. XP Skeletec comes presented in a rose gold 39.5mm case.

Like a bit of horological skeletonisation?

Here’s the Blancpain Villeret Squelette 8 Jours - ’tis a beauty

… and the Piaget Altiplano Skeleton – the world’s thinnest…

We write all our own stuff – we don’t just copy the press releases – perhaps you may like to join us on Facebook or follow our lyrical prose on Twitter (just follow the links)

Popularity: 3% [?]

The Scheufele family continue to honour the founder of the company, Louis-Ulysse Chopard, this time with a new collection simply named “Classic”, this is the first piece in the portfolio, the Chopard Classic Manufactum.

Inside is an in-house movement, developed and created in the brand’s Fleurier Manufacture but, unlike the highly regarded L.U.C. collection, it is not the calibre which seeds to pay tribute to the establisher of the Chopard brand, but rather the styling of the piece which takes strong inspiration from the pocketwatches from which the young M.Chopard first gained his prized reputation.

Pocketwatch styling generally means lots of empty dial space and clean-cut, understated styling – the Classic Manufactum piece has both in abundance. The pure, pristine dial is not made from enamel but it gives an impression of purity and bareness.  The slender numerals are positioned right at the edge of the dial and have a subtle sheen, the date window is proportioned and perfectly positioned and aligned with the 3 o’clock marker, the hands are eye-lash slim – all authentic features synonymous with traditional design.  At 6 o’clock a railtrack encloses the small seconds subdial.  Inside is the Chopard Calibre 01.04-C automatic movement with 60 hours of power reserve.

The Chopard Classic Manufactum will be available in rose gold, yellow gold and white gold editions, each polished and trim-bezeled case will measure 38mm across – on-trend for the smaller wrist/vintage styling so popular in recent times, and will be presented on a black alligator strap.

You might also like to browse our Chopard archives, including a biography of the brand here.

Popularity: 4% [?]

This is the Chopard L.U.C. 8HF featuring the first high frequency escapement ever to be COSC chronometer certified.

When Louis-Ulysse Chopard first established his watchmaking business in 1860, his brand stood apart from the many others in the Jura region because his watches had a particular characteristic, the movements he created were exclusive high precision calibres, many of which were so precise that they were manufactured to chronometer standards.  Named in his honour, the L.U.C. collection is a mainly classical and understated array of precision timepieces although there have been hints in the past suggesting that Chopard would, if required, be capable of producing more contemporary additions – evident in the L.U.C. Tech models and also the L.U.C. Engine One Tourbillon, even so, the modernistic styling and irregular features of the L.U.C. 8HF have astounded more than a few aficionados attending BaselWorld this week – inside and out, this is an exceptional piece.

Of course, the hubbub is mostly about the calibre – the L.U.C. 01.06-L has been years in the making.  High frequency refers to the number of vibrations (half oscillations of the balance) per hour, in this case 57,6000 – almost twice that of your average calibre.  Generally speaking, the higher the frequency, the more precise your timekeeper will be, not only that, it’s “tick” will sound different and its seconds hand will glide smoother – minutiae which will be noticed and appreciated by all but the most inept owner.  Such a high rate will naturally use more energy, despite this, Chopard have achieved a quite remarkable power reserve of 60 hours from just a single barrel.  This is high-tech stuff using cutting-edge materials – unsurprisingly a silicon escapement has been used for its reduced friction and endurance-boosting properties.

The L.U.C. 8HF is thoroughly modern, with some very unexpected atypical styling.  Titanium has been used to build the case which measures 42mm across.  The crown, positioned at 4 o’clock bears the L.U.C. logo and the chunky squared-off lugs are of monobloc construction.  On the case back is a magnified crystal section to showcase the high frequency escapement.  The silver grained dial is also nonconforming.  The eye is drawn to the small seconds dial at 7 o’clock with its subtle red hand and quarter minute markings, and to the date window at 5.30, but there are other details to note – the polished inner ring, the unusual Art Deco markers and the faceted hour and minute hands.

Presented on a hand stitched and lined black alligator strap, the exceptional Chopard L.U.C. 8HF will be a limited edition of 100 pieces.

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Popularity: 4% [?]

Chopard have added the L.U.C XPS Poinçon de Genève 125th Anniversary Edition to their portfolio to celebrate the birthday of the Geneva Seal.

Poinçon de Genève, Hallmark of Geneva, Geneva Seal, Seal of Geneva – whatever you wish to call it, if your watch has one then it has been subject to an extremely detailed and rigorous quality control check.  Not just any old watch movement is awarded the Seal of Geneva, for starters it must be assembled and adjusted in the Canton of Geneva, then it is assessed to prove its accuracy, reliability and finishing standards.  The Seal was devised in 1886 to protect the reputation of Genevan watches from the effects of poorly made counterfeit models – yes the dastardly scoundrels were even operating back in the day……  Each watch movement deemed suitable has the Seal of Geneva stamped onto it.  In 1996 Chopard presented a brand new in-house movement, the L.U.C. 1.96. named in honour of  their founder Louis-Ulysse Chopard featuring exquisite handfinished beveled bridges with a small but significant addition – the stamp of the Seal of Geneva.

The Chopard L.U.C. XP range is a fine collection of beautifully made understated timepieces.  At the heart of this one is the L.U.C. 1.96 self-winding calibre with 65 hours of power reserve, a COSC certified movement created and tested to the standards required by the institute whose anniversary it seeks to commemorate.

The piece measures 39.5mm across and has a watch case constructed from 18 carat rose gold with sapphire crystal front and back.  The brushed dial features gold toned hour markers and an exquisite barely-there crosshair subdial for seconds at 6 o’clock.  White script and a perfectly proportioned date aperture at 3 o’clock complete the dial which has a colour so rich it almost appears edible.

Chopard  L.U.C XPS Poinçon de Genève 125th Anniversary Edition watch is presented on a brown alligator strap and will be a limited edition of 125 pieces.

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Popularity: 5% [?]

Chopard add to their collection of chronographs with one which is capable of timing a 24 hour event, the Chopard Jacky Ickx Edition V -  named and designed in honour of the legendary endurance racer, who won the Le Mans 24-Hour event six times.

There are many ways to de-stress and switch off from a high powered day job.  Many take to the fairway finding solace in their swing, others find there is nothing like a jog in the park  ….. Chopard’s Karl-Friedrich Scheufele likes to blow away the corporate cobwebs competing in classic car rally events in a vintage Merc 300 SL Gull-Wing with his good mate Jacky Ickx by his side in the role of co-driver.  What an agreeable and convenient arrangement it must be to have such a talented family friend as a brand ambassador.  Each time a new Jacky Ickx watch is undergoing the design process how tempting it must be to turn the watch chit-chat to engines, how many “business meetings” end up with a sneaky drive in whatever happens to be in the garage tuned up and ready to go.

Chopard make well designed chronograph timers – clean dials, quality case construction, precision calibres.  The Jacky Ickx Edition V upholds these standards.  The stainless steel case measures 42.4mm across with “piston head” pushers on the case side.  On the black dial are silver-toned hour and minute counters with a red arrow-tipped central sweep seconds hand.  At 3 o’clock is a black small seconds counter, with 60 minute counter at 9 o’clock and the 24-hour counter at 6 o’clock.

Even a busy sports timer’s dial deserves a date window and Chopard always to manage to feature a highly usable and readable indication, even if this means squeezing it between two hour markers, or magnifying a diminutive display with a “bubble” -  not so for this one, enough dial space beneath the logo ensures a nicely proportioned aperture.  The bezel is more discreet than some Chopard Chronographs available, resulting in a more refined timepiece, and the tachometric scale completes the displays on the front. The solid caseback is enscribed with Jacky Ickx’s signature and references to his 6 24-Hour Le Mans victories.

Inside the COSC certified movement has 40 hours of power reserve and water resistance is to 50m.  Of note is the Fly-back (Retour en vol) -  a function  which makes immediate reuse of the chronograph hand possible after resetting the hands to zero by pressing once on the push piece rather than the three separate movements of stopping, resetting to zero and restarting the hand, perfect for quick succession timing.

The Chopard Jacky Ickx Edition V is available in two versions, the stainless steel model shown, of which 2000 pieces will be made and a 500 piece 18-carat rose gold case edition.  Both are presented on a black alligator leather strap, or the very racy Dunlop tyre tread rubber strap.

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More information at Chopard.com

Popularity: 5% [?]

Chopard didn’t just tweak the dial design of this year’s Superfast Chrono, they added the horological equivalent of a double overhead cam – a split seconds timer.

Each year Chopard re-design some of the sporty timers in their Classic Racing collection and release them in small series limited editions.  The collection includes the Mille Miglia – the one with the date bubble and Arabic numerals etched onto the crystal, the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique – classically styled, understated and the Superfast Chrono -  vertical go-fast stripes on the dial and a great name.  The Mille Miglia GT XL had a split seconds timer added in 2009, new for 2012 comes the Classic Racing Superfast Chrono Split Second.

The Split Seconds or Rattrapante function has two seconds hands, one of which can be independently stopped to record an intermediate time while the other continues to run, when released, the split seconds hand immediately  catches up with the chrono hand.  Tricky to construct and integrate into the movement and a trick function to have on your wristwatch.  The automatic chronograph calibre on this model is COSC certified and has a power reserve of 42 hours.

It looks good too.  A 45mm blackened DLC case, moulded rubber pushers – red for the split seconds, a vintage steering wheel emblem on the crown, “wheel-nut” screws on the bezel.  On the dial are a small seconds counter at 9 o’clock, an eye-pleasing pointer date at 3 and chrono timers at 12 and 6.  The sweep seconds hand is red, the split seconds hand is white.  The Arabic numerals appear in double digits, on the bezel is a tachymeter scale and the piece is presented on the super-cool Dunlop tyre tread rubber strap.  It’s all good.

The Chopard Classic Racing Superfast Chrono Split Second is a limited edition of 1000 pieces.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Chopard have been sponsor and official timekeeper of the “world’s most beautiful road race” since 1988.  It should therefore be fitting to release a watch in tribute to Italy’s traditional racing colours, Rosso Corsa.  A natural evolution, except for one problem – the perplexing red dial.  Now there have been some woefully bad red dial watches released in the past, some of them chronographs, most of them car-themed.  So the question to ask is – do Chopard make the unwearable, wearable?

The answer is yes, of course.  That vivid red dial is polished but relax, the 44mm titanium case tones it down and the three subdials use up enough space to make it all work.  The crowd-pleasing features are all there, the classic Mille Miglia GT dial layout with the silver toned subdials to the left allowing that big bubble date aperture at 3 o’clock lots of impact.

The characteristic outsize 12 and 6 numerals are etched straight onto the sapphire crystal and a sweep-second hand tipped with a red arrow is further evidence of the iconic Mille Miglia heritage of the collection.  There is a tachometric scale engraved onto the bezel and minute numerals on the inner ring.  Lots of information, all perfectly legible.  Inside is a COSC certified self-winding chronograph movement with 46 hours power reserve and the sapphire crystal case back features an engraving of the Mille Miglia route.

The Chopard Mille Miglia GT XL Chrono Rosso Corsa is a limited edition of 1000 pieces and comes presented on a rather racy perforated leather strap.

Popularity: 7% [?]

To add to their 150th Anniversary releases, Chopard present a new limited edition piece – the Chopard L.U.C Tourbillon Esprit de Fleurier.

The piece bears tribute to both Louis-Ulysse Chopard who established a watchmaking business in 1860 and to the unique and beautiful art of Fleurisanne engraving, a technique which can be appreciated through the open-worked dial and the sapphire crystal caseback.

Chopard L.U.C Tourbillon Esprit de Fleurier

The Chopard L.U.C Tourbillon Esprit de Fleurier measures 40.5mm and has a case constructed from 18 carat white gold.  The satin brushed 18 carat gold dial features a one minute tourbillon at 6 o’clock, combined with seconds counter, gold numerals and hour markers and blued steel hands – a rich combination of precious metals and finishes, yet the star of the show has to be the intricate tapestry of fine hand engraving which makes this piece truly special.

Inside is the C.O.S.C. certified hand wound L.U.C. 4TT3NGM Calibre with 18 carat gold mainplate and bridges and a generous power reserve of 8 days, marked by an indicator at 2 o’clock.

The Chopard L.U.C Tourbillon Esprit de Fleurier

The Chopard L.U.C Tourbillon Esprit de Fleurier comes presented on a hand stitched black alligator strap and is water resistant to 30 metres – as if you’d dare let even a micro drop of water near it…….. A true collectors watch, this will be a limited edition of just 15 pieces worldwide.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Chopard present a new chronograph piece to add to their 150th Anniversary releases – the Classic Racing Superfast Chrono.  Fans of the brand will be aware of their connections with the world of classic cars, which not only inspire their sporty pieces, but also keep the boss content with a diary full of vintage car events, races, lunches and casual get-togethers with old friends.

The Superfast Chrono is part of the successful Chopard Classic Racing collection and quite a sizable collection it is too, including the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique watches, the Jacky Ickx pieces and the Mille Miglia series.  I am a fan – I love the blatantly car-inspired styling,  a white dial 1000 Mille Miglia GMT Chrono was the best watch I never owned – I was outbid and it still hurts, ok it would quite possibly have looked ridiculous on my girly wrist but I would have made that chunky rubber strap fit… somehow.

The Chopard Classic Racing Superfast models are the ones with the large Arabic number 12 and the vertical go-fast stripes on the dial.  This one has a frosted black dial with rhodium-plated stripes and these lines also feature on the case sides.

The Chopard Classic Racing Superfast Chrono

The counters overlap to pleasing effect allowing that outsize number 12 the whole upper part of the dial for added impact, the hour counter at the 6 o’clock position also has an integrated date window.  The rectangle pushers integrate into the case at 2 and 4 o’clock and are black rubber-moulded for added grip.  The Classic Racing Collection’s vintage steering wheel emblem appears on the crown.

The Chopard Classic Racing Superfast Chrono

The piece features an ETA Calibre 2894.2 self-winding Chronograph with COSC certified accuracy and power reserve of 42 hours and is sure to appeal to a wide spectrum of car nuts from vintage veterans to would-be racers.

The Chopard Classic Racing Superfast Chrono comes presented on the iconic Dunlop tyre tread rubber strap.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Chopard have some great looking watches in their Mille Miglia and Gran Turismo collections, and regular updates or limited editions over the years help to ensure that interest is strong on the brand.

This year, to commemorate their 150th anniversary, they have revisited their Gran Turismo XL and also joined forces with a rejuvenated Alfa Romeo, who coincidentally are popping the champagne round their way too this year as 2010 also marks their centenial anniversary.

And so, to commemorate both companies’ milestones in 2010, Chopard have unveiled a fab limited edition range of watches – and desk/travel clocks too.

Chopard Gran Turismo XL Alfa Romeo Chronometer

The Chopard Gran Turismo XL Alfa Romeo collections are available in three guises; as automatic C.O.S.C. chronometer in a 44mm stainless steel case or the Gran Turismo XL Alfa Romeo C.O.S.C. Chronograph, which is available in 44mm stainless steel or cool Diamond-Like-Carbon (DLC) version. The three models are available in a limited run of 500 pieces each.

Gran Turismo XL Alfa Romeo Chronometer

Gran Turismo XL Alfa Romeo Chronograph in Steel

Gran Turismo XL Alfa Romeo Chronograph in DLC-coated steel

All three versions come on the Dunlop ‘radial’ tyre natural rubber strap and the combination of red, white, steel and black do set the pulse racing, especially with the Alfa Romeo logo inscribed in rosso red on the black dial.

The watches are all powered by ETA-based automatic chronometer movements.

I also mentioned that the collaboration carried over into a travel clock and a desk clock, both faithful hommages to the Gran Turismo XL watch.

The Gran Turismo XL Alfa Romeo Travel and Desk Clocks

Having spent four (mostly) happy years as the owner of a wonderful-sounding 3-litre Alfa Romeo 166, I have to confess a little bit of bias here, but heck, when a collection such as this comes around  – to celebrate big birthdays for both brands – it would be rude not to mention them here in The Watch Press.

Popularity: 8% [?]