Few motorsport events capture the mystique and romance of early road racing quite like the Mille Miglia, the legendary thousand-mile road race that once roared through the Italian countryside.

Held from 1927 to 1957, the race began and ended in Brescia, sending drivers racing south to Rome and back again over roughly one thousand miles of public roads. It was a competition that demanded extraordinary endurance from both driver and machine, and it quickly became known as one of the most thrilling - and dangerous - events staged in motorsport.

The Mille Miglia drew some of the greatest drivers and most innovative cars of its era. Victories in the race became defining achievements for manufacturers and drivers alike. Its influence was so profound that Enzo Ferrari himself once reflected on its importance, saying:

"When I talk about the Mille Miglia, I feel quite moved, for it played such a big part in my life… The Mille Miglia created our cars and the Italian automobile industry. The Mille Miglia permitted the birth of GT, or grand touring cars, which are now sold all over the world."

The Mille Miglia was more than a competition - it helped shape the evolution of high-performance automobiles and the very concept of the Grand Touring (GT) car, blending speed, engineering, and long-distance endurance.

Recognizing the enduring legend of the event, Chopard became the official timekeeper of the Mille Miglia in 1988. To celebrate the race and its machines, the company created the Mille Miglia watch collection, a line of timepieces designed to evoke the aesthetics and mechanical spirit of classic racing cars.

Rather than producing a conventional sports watch, Chopard infused the design with elements drawn directly from the world of vintage motorsport. The most distinctive is the tire-tread rubber strap, modeled after the Dunlop racing tires used on many of the cars that competed in the historic race. Instantly recognizable, it gives the watch an unmistakable motorsport identity while also providing exceptional comfort on the wrist.

The Ref. 8511 represents a classic and elegant expression of this concept. Its clean dial layout and purposeful styling echo the dashboard instruments found in vintage racing machines, while the polished steel case maintains the refined style expected of a Swiss luxury timepiece. The result is a watch that captures the excitement of historic motorsport with elegance and durability.

Inside, the watch is powered by a high-grade and beautifully finished L.U.C. Chopard automatic movement that is officially certified as a chronometer - an appropriate choice for a watch inspired by machines built to endure a thousand miles of demanding road racing. It can be admired through the exhibition back.

Our Connoisseur of Time Certified Pre-Owned ref. 8511 comes out of the owner's personal collection. It presents in mint condition - a 9.8 out of 10. It is all-original down to its original Chopard tire-tread rubber strap, inspired by vintage racing tires and molded with a pattern reminiscent of the rubber that once gripped the roads during the thousand-mile race and original Chopard signed tang buckle.

Its full size case presents as mint. Its dial is like new.

One of our Master Watchmakers has performed any needed servicing. It is running very strong and true, keeping time within a few seconds per day in our testing recording position.

For the finishing touch, we have meticulously detailed it making it ready for immediate enjoyment.

Included with the purchase is a one-year C.O.T. international warranty on the movement and its function, a full-page custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity, and a new timing certificate.

Current retail price for the most recent iteration, which is nearly identical: $10,600.00 USD + tax

Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an extremely experienced team of four Master Watchmakers all of whom each have over thirty-five years of experience and a large number of parts. One used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealership and was given special training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center. He has also done authorized work for the Cartier Service Center.

Country of origin: Switzerland
Maker: Chopard
Model: Mille Miglia Chronograph , Ref. 8511
Serial no.: 1,909,376
Functions: Hours, Minutes, Subsidiary Seconds, Automatic, Chronograph, Quick-Setting Date
Designed for: Men
Case material: Stainless steel
Case condition: Presents as mint.
Dimensions: 42mm diameter (excluding crown) 50mm long lug tip-to-tip
Dial: Black dial with applied luminous hour markers, outer tachometer scale, recessed subsidiary dials for constant seconds, 30-minute and 12-hour chronograph registers, and date aperture. Signed Chopard and Mille Miglia. Luminous baton hands, like new
Movement type: L.U.C. Chopard based one ETA/Valjoux 7750 automatic chronograph movement, 37 jewels, cam-actuated chronograph mechanism, sweep center chronograph seconds, subsidiary registers for constant seconds, 30-minute and 12-hour recording, date indication
Band: Original black Chopard Mille Miglia rubber strap with molded racing tire-tread pattern. Just short of mint with very slight signs of wear
Crystal type: Sapphire glass, mint condition
Servicing: One of our Master Watchmakers has performed any needed servicing. It is running very strong and true, keeping time within a few seconds per day in our testing recording position.
Timing: Timed to precision on a state-of-the-art computerized system. It is running very strong and true, keeping time within a few seconds per day in our testing recording position.
Warranty: 1-year international warranty. Please email concierge@cotwatches.com for details. Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an extremely experienced team of four Master Watchmakers all of whom each have over thirty-five years of experience and a large number of parts. One used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealership and was given special training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center. He has also done authorized work for the Cartier Service Center.
Box/Papers: BOX - Connoisseur of Time watch presentation box; PAPERS - Custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity; New timing certificate
Returns: 7 days full refund. 100% satisfaction guarantee

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee for all of our watches. If you are in any way unsatisfied with the watch we will fully refund the purchase price anytime within 7 days after the watch has been received. Our goal is to exceed our client's expectations throughout the buying experience.

All watches are packaged carefully and mailed double boxed in specially constructed, reinforced shipping boxes designed for high value items. All watches are sent fully insured with signature required. Most of our domestic shipping is done through FedEx. At times we will also use USPS Express Mail, and we can accommodate most requests for your preferred carrier. International shipments are sent USPS International Express Mail or FedEx.

The purchase price will be the declared value of the merchandise on any required customs forms. The payment of all customs duties, tariffs, and taxes are the responsibility of the buyer.

Also note that water resistance of vintage watches can no longer be guaranteed and is not covered under the watch's warranty. We do not recommend getting a vintage watch wet, even one that was originally designed to be waterproof.

To get an idea of how this watch will look on the wrist, please use the Watch Sizing Guide