Chopard’s latest Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Grigio-Blu brings Italian racing spirit to the wrist with an asphalt-inspired dial, clever automotive details and COSC-certified precision.
Chopard’s passion for motorsport is once again on display with the introduction of the Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Grigio-Blu – 2026 Racing Edition. The Maison’s connection to the Mille Miglia is arguably one of the most enduring relationships between watchmaking and motorsport, with Chopard serving as World Sponsor and Official Timekeeper of the legendary Italian endurance rally since 1988.
The brand’s Mille Miglia watch collection has become an annual celebration of mechanical precision, while consistently tying its designs back to the world of motorsport. Over the years, this connection has come through in many different ways, from dashboard-inspired indications and highly legible layouts to piston-style chronograph pushers, steering wheel motifs on the crown and rubber straps with tyre-tread patterns.
For 2026, Chopard continues to push the Mille Miglia story forward with the GTS Power Control Grigio-Blu – 2026 Racing Edition. Limited to 250 pieces, this latest release brings together the brand’s Lucent Steel™ case, a grained blue-grey dial, a fuel gauge-style power reserve indicator and an in-house COSC-certified automatic movement.
Lucent Steel™ Meets Mille Miglia Muscle
The timepiece is presented in a 43mm case that is crafted from Chopard’s own Lucent Steel™, which gives the watch a strong and contemporary presence on the wrist. Lucent Steel™ is made with a recycling rate of 80%, and is a “result of an advanced remelting process that produces a pure material, with brilliance comparable to gold and hypoallergenic properties similar to surgical steel. Its exceptional hardness makes it particularly resistant to abrasion.” Chopard first introduced Lucent Steel™ in 2019 with the launch of the Alpine Eagle collection, and since 2023, all steel models from Chopard has used this material.
For the Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Grigio-Blu – 2026 Racing Edition, the 43mm x 11.43mm Lucent Steel™ case is combined with a black aluminium bezel insert featuring 5-minute markers. The case features a mixture of finishes, including vertical brushing on the lugs, polished surfaces along the side profile and horizontal brushing across the integrated crown guards. The crown itself is engraved with a steering wheel motif, a nod to the automotive inspiration behind this timepiece.
Dashboard Details Meet Asphalt-Inspired Design
The Grigio-Blu dial is where things come to life on this 2026 Racing Edition within the Mille Miglia collection. This specific grey-blue shade, combined with the textured finish, was designed by Chopard to recall the asphalt of the Mille Miglia race roads, tying the colour back to the motorsport theme of the legendary Italian endurance rally.
Legibility is also a major highlight of the Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Grigio-Blu – 2026 Racing Edition, as it features large baton-style indices and hands, along with oversized Arabic numerals for the 12 and 6 o’clock markers. These elements are coated with black Super-LumiNova®, ensuring the dial remains easy to read in both daylight and low-light conditions. The black flange with a blue-grey minute track also frames the dial nicely, giving it a slightly more instrument-like feel while keeping the focus on clarity.
Beyond the asphalt-inspired Grigio-Blu dial, Chopard has added further automotive references that tie the watch neatly back to the world of motorsport. Firstly, we get the Mille Miglia red arrow logo next to the 3 o’clock date window. This references the Mille Miglia endurance race itself, while also serving as a key automotive design code that Chopard has used throughout the Mille Miglia watch collection.
The second reference is the power reserve indicator, which I think is cleverly executed, as it is designed to resemble a fuel gauge on a car dashboard. I’ve seen plenty of automotive-inspired timepieces, but not many that have used a power reserve indicator in such a creative way.
The Calibre 01.08-C Keeps The Engine Running
Powering the Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Grigio-Blu – 2026 Racing Edition is Chopard’s in-house calibre 01.08-C, a self-winding mechanical movement that brings proper watchmaking credibility to this timepiece. The movement is also COSC-certified, meaning it has been independently tested for accuracy.
The calibre 01.08-C operates at 4Hz, or 28,800 VPH, while delivering a practical 60-hour power reserve. The movement also incorporates a stop-seconds function, allowing the wearer to set the time accurately down to the second. The see-through caseback continues the Mille Miglia story, with the outer ring engraved with “Brescia > Roma > Brescia”, referencing the historic route of the legendary Italian race that inspires this watch.
Through the sapphire crystal, the Chopard calibre 01.08-C is visible with several traditional finishing techniques. The bridges are finished with Côtes de Genève striping, while the mainplate features perlage, adding texture and depth beneath the visible components. The skeletonised winding rotor is signed by Chopard and decorated with a brushed finish, while polished screw heads and bevelled bridges add further detail to the movement.
Initial Thoughts
Chopard is continuing the Mille Miglia story and its long-standing relationship with the world of motorsport with the latest GTS Power Control Grigio-Blu – 2026 Racing Edition. Rather than simply incorporating racing details onto the timepiece for the sake of it, Chopard has built the theme into the watch in a way that feels carefully considered.
From the asphalt-inspired Grigio-Blu textured dial to the fuel gauge-style power reserve indicator and the Brescia-Roma-Brescia engraving on the caseback, these details work together to create a timepiece that feels genuinely connected to the spirit of the legendary Italian endurance rally.
The 43mm Lucent Steel™ case gives the watch a robust and modern presence, while the blue-grey dial brings a more refined and contemporary character to the Mille Miglia line. Add in the COSC-certified 01.08-C movement with its 60-hour power reserve, and this becomes more than just another motorsport-inspired timepiece. It is a watch that brings together Chopard’s watchmaking strengths with the endurance, precision and racing spirit that has shaped the collection for almost four decades.
Reference & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reference | 168566-3022 |
| Dimensions | 43mm x 11.43mm thickness |
| Case | Lucent Steel™ with bezel with black aluminium inlay |
| Dial | Brass dial with a grained blue-grey finish. Applied black hour markers, coated in black Super-LumiNova®. Rhodium-plated hands. Power reserve indicator and Mille Miglia arrow logo. |
| Crystal | Glare-proofed sapphire crystal |
| Caseback | Open caseback with engraving. |
| Movement | Automatic Chopard 01.08-C with date & power reserve indicator and stop-seconds functionality. |
| Power Reserve | 60h |
| Beat Rate | 4Hz / 28,800VpH |
| Water Resistance | 100m / 10bar |
| Strap/Bracelet | Technical black textile strap with rubber ‘tyre tread’ patterned lining Lucent Steel™ deployant buckle. |