BREITLING, GIFTED BY ENZO FERRARI TO LUIGI 'GIGI' VILLORESI. AN 18K GOLD MANUAL WIND CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH Model: Mille Miglia Date: c. 1950s Movement: Cal. 188, 17-jewel manual wind Dial: Matte silvered Case: Round, snap on case back, no. 755123 Strap/Bracelet: Regulated species Buckle/Clasp: 18k gold buckle Signed: Case, dial and movement Size: 37mm Accompaniments: None Footnotes: Luigi 'Gigi' Villoresi was widely regarded as one of the most naturally gifted and charismatic drivers of the pre- and post-war Grand Prix racing. He competed for Scuderia Ferrari between 1949 and 1953 alongside legendary drivers such as Alberto Ascari and Giuseppe Farina, establishing himself as one of the defining figures of mid-century motorsport. The present watch commemorates both Villoresi's remarkable racing career and the early post-war production of Breitling chronographs. Manufactured circa 1950, the watch was presented by Enzo Ferrari to Villoresi in 1951, and is engraved 'Gigi Villoresi 1951' on the case back. The 'Mille Miglia' designation on the dial further underscores the watch's direct connection to Italy's legendary open-road endurance race. In the 1951 Mille Miglia, Villoresi completed in the Ferrari 340 America Coupé Vignale in an extraordinary time of 12 hours, 50 minutes, and 18 seconds, finishing nearly twenty minutes ahead of his closest rival, Giovanni Bracco, and securing victory in one of the defining motorsport events of the mid-twentieth century. Powered by the manual wind Caliber 188, a Venus-based movement, the watch is fitted in a yellow gold case and complemented by distinctive square chronograph pushers, applied gold indexes, and an elegant two-register dial layout. Together, these features contribute to the watch's enduring appeal and historical importance. Provenance Antiquorum New York, 15th December 2015, Sale 296 Lot 78. ***Please note that wristbands made of material of endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to property release or shipping. *** This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: Y Y Lot has been identified at the time of cataloguing as made of or containing certain restricted plant or animal material such as tortoiseshell, coral, whalebone, Brazilian rosewood or certain types of reptilian or other exotic skins, fur or feathers woods that may be subject to import or export restrictions or may otherwise require the granting of one or more export or import licenses or certificates, or that may be subject to similar restrictions regulating intrastate or interstate transport or trade within the United States at the state or federal level, or may be banned from export or import altogether by some countries. Please refer to paragraph 10 in the Conditions of Sale or to the Specialist Department managing the auction for details. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing