Chopard team up with BWD for the Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition ‘Desert Racer’
Zach Blass- The Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition ‘Desert Racer’ is a 50-piece limited edition
- It comes with a robust bead-blasted titanium case, frosted black dial, orange accents, 60-hour COSC-certified movement
- This second edition succeeds their initial 2021 collaboration
These days, most brands specialise in a specific segment of watches. Some skew towards strictly dressier pieces, and others lean to sporty creations. But one brand that does multiple category-segments well is Chopard. Whether it’s the festive bling of the Happy Sport, the distinctly textured dials of the Alpine Eagle, or the dressy takes within the L.U.C collection, Chopard really have a good grasp on various styles of watches. But it’s always nice to switch things up a bit and who better to turn to than George Bamford and the Bamford Watch Department. Today, following up their 2021 collaboration, Chopard x Bamford Watch Department present the Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition ‘Desert Racer’ Limited Edition of 50 pieces.
The “Desert Racer” moniker is no joke. The Mille Miglia GTS Power Control is, of course, a celebration of Chopard’s long partnership with the Mille Miglia race and a watch built for racing enthusiasts. But the Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition ‘Desert Racer’ was battle-tested by George Bamford himself during the Norra 1000 rally in Mexico.
“I tried and tested it in the desert, on a desert race and the watch is built to survive on great expeditions and adventures,” he says. “With this flame orange and tarmac black dial, the combination works in perfect harmony. I loved working on the Mille Miglia watch and when we were coming to create this one, I really wanted to have an alternative to the original Mille Miglia and that’s why we felt the Desert Racer would be the off-road cousin of the Mille Miglia.”
With this understanding of George’s mission, the strategic choices in its design make a ton of sense. This Bamford-remixed take on the model utilises a robust bead-blasted titanium case that shares the dimensions of the standard model: 43mm in diameter and 11.43mm thick. While this “off-road cousin” was built to race in the desert, it carries a sturdy depth rating of 100 metres, further secured by a screw-down crown, so it is just as capable in the ocean as it is in the desert. Parallels could be drawn to Bamford’s remix of the Aquaracer, which also mixed tones of black, grey, and orange. But, the colour combination equally suits the GTS power control – presenting as both handsome and legible. As George himself shared, the black frosted dial takes its inspiration from racing tarmacs, but as an off-road inspired watch I would be interested to see what it would have looked like with a sand-coloured dial. At 9′ you will find a fuel-tank inspired power reserve indicator, and at 3′ an orange on black date window that seamless blends into the dial. Framing the dial, a fixed titanium bezel hosts a titanium insert with orange numerals to pair with the orange accents of the dial.
Beneath a tinted sapphire exhibition caseback ticks the COSC-certified Chopard automatic calibre 01-08.C with 60 hours of power reserve. Some may lament the fact the crystal is tinted, obscuring the finish of the movement ever so slightly. But, ultimately this is one of the more industrially finished calibres in Chopard’s arsenal. And I would say you are still able to the discern the sunburst-patterned bridges and the bevelled edges of the bridges. Thankfully, considering the depth rating of the watch, it is aquatic-ready out of the box with a textured rubber strap that is secured to the wrist via a bead-blasted steel folding clasp.
With only 50 pieces to be made, it may be a bit of a race to the purchase line. But, I do know that one will be available for sale at Chopard’s Sydney boutique. On your marks, get set, go!
Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition ‘Desert Racer’ pricing and availability:
The Chopard Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition ‘Desert Racer’ is available now as a 50-piece limited edition. Price: A$16,500
| Brand | Chopard |
| Model | Mille Miglia GTS Power Control Bamford Edition ‘Desert Racer’ |
| Case Dimensions | 43mm (D) x 11.43mm (T) |
| Case Material | Bead-blasted titanium |
| Water Resistance | 100m (screw-down crown) |
| Dial | Frosted black dial w/ grey and orange accents |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire crystal and tinted exhibition caseback |
| Strap | Woven-effect rubber strap, polished folding clasp in bead-blasted steel |
| Movement | In-house automatic Chopard calibre 01.08-C (COSC-certified) |
| Power Reserve | 60 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date, power reserve indicator |
| Availability | Now, limited Edition of 50 pcs. |
| Price | A$16,500 |