Chopard presents a new edition of the L.U.C Skull One timepiece, a limited series of eight watches adorned with a Mexican calavera as a tribute to the Día de les Muertos.
A syncretic tradition, born in the Aztec civilization and blended with Spanish Catholicism, the Día de los Muertos – Day of the Dead in Spanish – is a joyful celebration of the cycle of life and a reminder to be aware of the possibility of death, which in turn gives meaning to existence. It is an opportunity to offer gifts, offerings and libations to the deceased, and to maintain the bond that unites families on both sides of the final frontier. Macabre, yet in a manner that is all about parody, this festival gives Chopard the opportunity to revisit the vanitas theme.
The lacquered dial of the Skull One timepiece features sun, flower and heart-shaped motifs, as well as a moustache with rounded tips above a gentle gap-toothed smile. An emaciated, yet harmless-looking and even friendly skull provides a background against which the hours flow by, marked off by hands, Arabic numerals and gilded hour-markers echoing the extremely contemporary case in beadblasted ethical 18-carat rose gold.
The case of this new timepiece houses the L.U.C 96.53-L mechanical self-winding movement. Ultra-thin at a mere 3.3 mm, it is nonetheless equipped with two barrels based on L.U.C Twin technology and guaranteeing a 58-hour power reserve. It comes to life thanks to a micro-rotor in tungsten – a high-density alloy ensuring optimal winding and occupying minimal space within the watch case. With its movement bridges finely adorned with a “Côtes de Genève” pattern, it makes the L.U.C Skull One watch as beautiful inside as it is on the outside, which is why its precious calibre is made visible through a blackened transparent back reflecting the sombre aesthetic of this creation.
Technical details
L.U.C Skull One
Eight-piece limited edition in beadblasted ethical 18-carat rose gold
Case:
Beadblasted ethical 18-carat rose gold
Total diameter 40.00 mm
Thickness 7.20 mm
Water resistance 30 metres
Crown in beadblasted ethical 18-carat rose gold 5.00 mm
Glare-proofed sapphire crystal
Exhibition case-back – tinted glass
Movement:
Mechanical self-winding L.U.C 96.53-L
Number of components 172
Total diameter 27.4 mm
Thickness 3.30 mm
Number of jewels 27
Frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve 58 hours
Two barrels – Chopard Twin technology
Winding via a tungsten alloy micro-rotor
Balance-spring with flat terminal curve
Bridges adorned with Côtes de Genève motif
Dial and hands:
Dial in a black colour obtained by galvanic treatment, sunburst satin-brushed, with calavera motif
Lacquered finish
Gilt Arabic numerals and hour-markers
Gilt Dauphine-type hours and minutes hands
Functions and displays:
Central display of the hours and minutes
Strap and buckle:
Brown calfskin leather strap with tone on tone stitching and lining
Pin buckle in beadblasted ethical 18-carat rose gold
Ref. 161950-5001 – in beadblasted ethical 18-carat rose gold
Eight-piece limited edition
For more information please visit Chopard