This Chopard Mille Miglia review takes a close look at the GT XL Power Control, ref. 8997, a watch built entirely around Chopard’s decades-long relationship with the Mille Miglia, the historic 1,000-mile road race across Italy. Chopard has served as the event’s official timekeeper and sponsor since 1988, and the Mille Miglia collection channels that automotive world directly into the dial.
We spent time with this watch in person at Precision Watches, where it is available pre-owned. This review covers the design, the movement, how it wears, and where it lands on value, so you can decide if this is the right Chopard for your collection.
First Impressions and Design
The first thing you notice is the oversized 12 numeral, set opposite a power reserve indicator styled directly after a vintage car’s petrol gauge, complete with an F to E scale. It is a genuinely clever piece of design, translating a dashboard instrument into a legitimate watch complication rather than a decorative gesture. A date window sits cleanly within the layout, and the white dial keeps the whole face bright and legible.
The 44mm stainless steel case carries real presence on the wrist, finished with a sapphire crystal front and a sapphire caseback that displays the movement along with this piece’s individual edition number out of the 1,000-piece production run.
On the Wrist
At 44mm, the GT XL wears as a substantial, confident watch, closer to a driver’s instrument than a dress piece. The proportions suit a buyer who wants real wrist presence, and the tire-tread inspired rubber strap reinforces the motorsport theme rather than treating it as an afterthought.
This is a watch built to be worn and noticed, not tucked under a cuff. The automotive design language carries through consistently, from the fuel gauge power reserve to the strap texture, giving the whole piece a coherent identity rather than a scattered collection of racing references.
The Movement
Inside the case sits a self-winding movement, chronometer certified by the COSC, Switzerland’s official testing body for movement accuracy. Chopard rates the power reserve at 46 hours, enough to sit unworn over a weekend and still be ready to wear on Monday without resetting the time.
The chronometer certification matters here beyond a marketing label. It means an accredited, independent laboratory tested this exact movement architecture and confirmed it holds precision to a recognized international standard, a genuine mechanical credential rather than a brand claim.
Specs at a Glance
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- Reference: 8997
- Case: 44mm stainless steel
- Dial: White with power reserve indicator and date window
- Movement: Self-winding, COSC chronometer certified
- Power reserve: 46 hours
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Caseback: Sapphire, individually numbered (limited to 1,000 pieces)
- Water resistance: 100m (10 ATM)
- Condition: Pre-owned
- Box and papers: Not included
Price and Value
Pre-owned at Precision Watches, this example is listed at $4,166, down from $4,295 retail. Given the individually numbered limited production and the genuine chronometer certification, this reference offers real Chopard engineering at a meaningful discount to buying new.
Because Chopard limited this reference to 1,000 pieces, well-kept examples carry a degree of built-in scarcity that an open-production reference cannot offer, a real factor for a buyer who values the limited edition story alongside the watch itself.
Who This Chopard Is For
This reference suits a buyer who wants genuine automotive design language on the wrist, not just a watch that happens to be marketed toward car enthusiasts. The fuel gauge power reserve indicator and the Mille Miglia’s own motorsport history give this piece a real story to tell, rather than a generic sport watch silhouette.
If you are weighing this against other Chopard references, our guide to Chopard resale value covers how the brand performs on the secondary market more broadly.
Buy This Chopard at Precision Watches
This pre-owned Chopard Mille Miglia is available now at Precision Watches, a family-owned retailer near Philadelphia. We also carry a wider selection of pre-owned watches if you want to compare references before deciding.
If you already own a luxury watch and are ready to sell, our team can help you sell your watch for a straightforward quote, or you can trade your watch toward this Mille Miglia or something else in our showroom.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Chopard
What movement is in the Chopard Mille Miglia GT XL?
This reference runs a self-winding movement, chronometer certified by the COSC, with a 46-hour power reserve and a power reserve indicator styled as a vintage car fuel gauge on the dial.
How many Chopard Mille Miglia GT XL 8997 watches were made?
Chopard limited this reference to 1,000 individually numbered pieces, with each watch’s edition number visible through the sapphire caseback.
What inspired the Chopard Mille Miglia design?
The Mille Miglia collection is built around Chopard’s role as official timekeeper and sponsor of the historic Mille Miglia road race across Italy, a partnership the brand has held since 1988, reflected directly in details like the fuel gauge power reserve indicator.
Is this Chopard Mille Miglia a good value pre-owned?
At $4,166 pre-owned, this reference offers a genuinely limited production run and COSC chronometer certification at a real discount to buying new.
