Chopard presented the L.U.C Full Strike model, their first minute repeater watch in 2016. After thousands of hours of development, a trilogy of new creations testifying to Chopard’s expertise in the field of chiming watches.
The three new chiming watches have undergone a process of adjustment and analysis led by virtuoso cellist and violinist brothers Gautier and Renaud Capuçon. These brilliant performers have instilled their sensitivity and emotion into the acoustic adjustments of the L.U.C Strike One, L.U.C Full Strike Sapphire and L.U.C Full Strike Tourbillon watch models.
Keen to preserve the user-friendliness of the minute repeater and to make its operation as secure as possible, Chopard Manufacture has introduced a number of innovative systems. Thus, if the barrel no longer has sufficient force to power the minute repeater, a safety mechanism blocks its release. In addition, Chopard has filed a patent for a new strikework-activation device. As soon as it is activated, the pusher is disengaged, thereby making it impossible to disturb the running of the minute repeater or to damage it.
To mark the 25th anniversary of its L.U.C collection, Chopard has created a peerless transparent timepiece. The L.U.C Full Strike Sapphire watch inherits the latest advances with which the L.U.C 08.01-L movement is endowed. Measuring 42.5 mm in diameter and totally transparent, it offers a 360-degree view of a movement with exceptional finishes. This entire horological prodigy bears the Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark, a first for a non-metallic timepiece.
The L.U.C Full Strike Sapphire timepiece is the first minute repeater watch whose case is made entirely of corundum crystal, better known as sapphire. By merging container and content, musical expression and transparency, Chopard has created a veritable horological musical instrument.
The L.U.C Strike One timepiece picks up the aesthetic codes inaugurated with the L.U.C XPS 1860 model, starting with its solid gold dial in ruthenium grey, bearing a snailed rim and a hand-guilloché centre adorned with a honeycomb pattern. The beehive is one of the emblems that Louis-Ulysse Chopard chose to represent his workshops.
Technical Specifications:
L.U.C Strike One
Ref. 161949-5001
Numbered 25-piece limited edition in ethical 18-carat rose gold
Case:
Ethical 18-carat rose gold
Total diameter 40.00 mm
Thickness 9.86 mm
Crown in ethical 18-carat rose gold with L.U.C logo 7.80 mm
Vertical satin-brushed caseband
Polished bezel and case-back, hand-engraved case-back
Exhibition back with sapphire crystal
Movement:
Mechanical self-winding L.U.C 96.32-L
Number of components 275
Total diameter 33.00 mm
Thickness 5.6 mm
Number of jewels 33
Frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve 65 hours
Two barrels –Chopard Twin technology
Bridges adorned with the Côtes de Genève motif
Chime in passing
Chopard-patented monobloc sapphire crystal and gong
Balance-spring with Phillips terminal curve
Chronometer-certified by the COSC
Dial and hands:
Dial in ethical 18-carat rose gold obtained by galvanic treatment
Hand-guilloché central medallion with honeycomb motif
Chapter ring with snailed concentric circle pattern
Applied gilded herringbone-type hour-markers
Gilded Dauphine fusée-type hours and minutes hands
Gilded baton-type small seconds hand
Snailed small seconds counter
Railway-type minutes track engraved on the sapphire crystal
Functions and displays:
Chime-in-passing mechanism striking Chopard-patented monobloc sapphire crystal/gong system
Central display of the hours and minutes
Small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock
“Chime/silence” aperture at 12 o’clock
Stop-seconds function
Strap and buckle:
Strap in hand-sewn grey alligator leather with grey alligator lining
Pin buckle in polished and satin-brushed ethical 18-carat rose gold
Price:
CHF 63,000
L.U.C Full Strike Sapphire
Ref. 168604-9001
Numbered five-piece limited edition in sapphire
Case:
Transparent sapphire
Total diameter 42.50 mm
Thickness 11.55 mm
Crown with integrated strikework pusher
in sapphire, with L.U.C logo 8.80 mm
Polished caseband, bezel and case-back, engraved case-back
Exhibition case-back fitted with sapphire crystal
Sapphire crystal with two Chopard-patented integrated monobloc gongs
Movement:
Mechanical hand-wound L.U.C 08.01-L
Number of components 533
Total diameter 37.20 mm
Thickness 7.97 mm
Number of jewels 63
Frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve 60 hours
Mainplate and bridges in untreated nickel silver
Bridges adorned with Côtes de Genève motif
Minute repeater
Chopard-patented monobloc sapphire crystal and gongs
Chopard-patented variable-inertia balance
Chopard-patented clutch-lever device serving to block the strikework so as to avoid losing power reserve during information capture
Chopard-patented dedicated ratchet-driving mechanism serving to avoid pauses during chiming
Strikework-activation device serving to act on the pusher whether it is chiming or not, in normal, low, continuous or fast mode (patent pending)
Balance-spring with Phillips terminal curve
Chronometer-certified by the COSC
Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark
Dial and hands:
Openworked sapphire dial
Applied logo plate in 18-carat white gold with black transfers
Satin-brushed chapter ring
Satin-brushed small seconds
Railway-type minutes track engraved on the sapphire crystal
Black transfers
Applied rhodium-plated herringbone-type hour-markers
Applied rhodium-plated Dauphine hours and minutes hands
Rhodium-plated baton-type small seconds hand
Rhodium-plated baton-type movement power-reserve and strikework power-reserve hands
Functions:
Minute repeater striking sapphire gongs (Chopard-patented system)
Central display of the hours and minutes
Small seconds display at 6 o’clock
Concentric display of the watch and strikework power reserves at 2 o’clock
Stop-seconds function
Strap and buckle:
Strap in hand-sewn grey alligator leather with grey alligator lining
Folding clasp in polished and satin-brushed ethical 18-carat white gold
Price:
On Request
L.U.C Full Strike Tourbillon
Ref. 161987-5001
Numbered 20-piece limited edition in ethical 18-carat rose gold
Case:
Ethical 18-carat rose gold
Total diameter 42.5 mm
Thickness 12.58 mm
Crown with integrated strikework pusher
in ethical 18-carat rose gold with L.U.C logo 8.80 mm
Vertical satin-brushed caseband
Polished bezel and case-back, hand-engraved case-back
Exhibition back with sapphire crystal
Movement:
Mechanical hand-wound L.U.C 08.02-L
Number of components 568
Total diameter 37.20 mm
Thickness 8.9 mm
Number of jewels 61
Frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve 50 hours
Mainplate and bridges in untreated nickel silver
Bridges adorned with Côtes de Genève motif
Chopard-patented one-minute tourbillon regulator equipped with a Chopard-patented monobloc pallet-lever
Minute repeater
Chopard-patented monobloc sapphire crystal and gongs
Chopard-patented variable-inertia balance
Chopard-patented clutch-lever device serving to block the strikework so as to avoid losing power reserve during information capture
Chopard-patented dedicated ratchet-driving mechanism serving to avoid pauses during chiming
Strikework-activation device serving to act on the pusher whether while it is chiming or not, in normal, low, continuous or fast mode (Patent pending)
Balance-spring with Phillips terminal curve
Chronometer-certified by the COSC
Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark
Dial and hands:
Dial in ruthenium grey hand-guilloché 18-carat rose gold
Chapter ring with snailed concentric circle pattern
Applied gilded Roman numerals
White transferred power-reserve graduations
Gilded Dauphine fusée-type hours and minutes hands
Gilded baton-type small seconds hand
Gilded baton-type power-reserve and strikework power-reserve hands
Railway-type minutes track engraved on the sapphire crystal
Tourbillon bridge in glare-proofed sapphire crystal
Functions:
Minute repeater striking sapphire gongs (Chopard-patented system)
Tourbillon with small seconds display at 6 o’clock
Central display of the hours and minutes
Concentric display of the watch and strikework power reserves at 2 o’clock
Stop-seconds function
Strap and clasp:
Strap in hand-sewn grey alligator leather with grey alligator lining
Folding clasp in polished and satin-brushed ethical 18-carat rose gold
Price:
On Request
For more information please visit Chopard