An aquiline pair from Chopard
Inspired by the grace of the eagle and the majesty of the Alps, Chopard’s Alpine Eagle collection welcomes a series of interpretations of the Alpine Eagle Frozen timepiece and a new 44 mm-diameter chronograph – the Alpine Eagle XL Chrono – introducing two novel features
Alpine Eagle Frozen
A timepiece straight from the glaciers, the Alpine Eagle Frozen welcomes new timepieces crafted in ethical 18-carat white or rose gold, with their 41 or 36 mm-diameter cases, bezels and integrated bracelets entirely set with precious stones. The timepieces are equipped with mechanical self-winding movements Chopard 01.03-C (60-hour power reserve) and Chopard 09.01-C (42-hour power reserve). Thanks to their abundance of diamonds and blue or rainbow-coloured sapphires, they evoke tiny flakes of frost covering glaciers and spectacular skies, reminiscent of Alpine peaks.
The new Alpine Eagle Frozen timepieces add a majestic touch with the richness of their precious stones magnificently highlighting the art of gem-setting – thanks to the maison’s in-house artisans, who have patiently paved the entire case, the dial and each bracelet link with hundreds of diamonds.
The watch bezel, a distinctive characteristic of the collection with its eight indexed screws, is also adorned with baguette-cut precious stones, alternatively offering an all diamond-set option, as well as a bezel set with sapphires; and another no less appealing variation graced with multicoloured sapphires in a rainbow-hued gradient. A challenge that requires no less than 20 hours of meticulous work for each timepiece.
These new gem-set models join the Alpine Eagle collection launched in 2019, which already includes numerous variations in Small (36 mm), Large (41 mm) and Extra-Large sizes with a chronograph movement (44 mm), in Lucent Steel A223 and/or ethical gold, as well as an exclusive model in titanium equipped with a high-frequency movement.
Thanks to the sparkle of precious stones, Chopard confirms the profound inspiration the collection draws from Nature, duly celebrated as the greatest architect. In this instance, the design was guided by the glaciers, colourful skies and everlasting snows of the immaculate, glistening Alpine peaks.
Alpine Eagle Frozen features the emblematic elements of the collection’s pure and assertive design: the eight indexed screws that secure the bezel to a round case with stylised flanks; the integrated bracelet; along with the compass rose, which has been guiding adventurers since antiquity, engraved on the gold crown. The hours and minutes can be read off on the dial by day and night thanks to facetted hands and rhodium-plated Roman numerals enhanced with Grade X1 SuperLuminova.
The mechanical self-winding movement is visible through a sapphire crystal caseback. The 182-component Chopard 01.03-C calibre powering the 41 mm Large models is meticulously crafted by the artisans of the maison. Subject to strict specifications, it guarantees a power reserve of 60 hours as well as excellent reliability. The Chopard 09.01-C movement housed in the Small 36 mm references is endowed with up to 42 hours of power reserve.
Alpine Eagle XL Chrono
Bearing ultimate testimony to the expertise and inventiveness of Chopard’s workshops, the Alpine Eagle collection welcomes a new 44 mm-diameter chronograph introducing two novel features: a bi-material case crafted in ethical gold and ceramised titanium; and a calfskin leather strap. Beneath the Pitch Black dial of the new Alpine Eagle XL Chrono model beats the Chopard 03.05-C flyback chronograph movement. The design of this calibre featuring chronometer-certified precision has earned Chopard three patents.
The new Alpine Eagle XL Chrono model is entirely aligned with Louis Sullivan’s “form follows function” principle. On the right-hand side, the chronograph pushers are subtly and discreetly integrated on either side of the protective bumpers so as to preserve the Alpine Eagle’s characteristic harmony of form and symmetry.
On the Alpine Eagle XL Chrono model, harmony also reigns supreme at the heart of the Pitch Black dial. Drawing inspiration from the colours of alpine flora and fauna, Chopard’s Co-President and creator of the collection, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, wanted this hue as a reference to the intense black of mountain nights when wildlife reclaims its rights, reminding us of the extent to which night-time lighting linked to humans and urbanisation disrupts the way of life of surrounding animal species. As on all Alpine Eagle models, the dial retains its texture and radiant pattern, evoking the eagle’s iris. The feather-shaped seconds hand flies over this highly legible display punctuated by raised counters.
The addition of black counters for the 30-minute, small seconds and 12-hour indications – respectively positioned at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock – has been carefully designed to enhance the legibility of measurements. This is also the case of the red inlays punctuating the hands linked to the chronograph function as well as the 100, 160 and 240 graduations on the tachymeter scale. Divided into four sections, this tachymeter graduation features intervals varying from 5, 10, 20 or 40km/h per line so as to ensure perfect calculation of average speed measurements.
The extra-large 44-millimetre case of the Alpine Eagle XL Chrono is crafted in ethical 18-carat rose gold and ceramised titanium – a first in watchmaking aesthetics, and even more so in the Alpine Eagle XL Chrono range, thus far available in Lucent Steel A223 and/or ethical rose gold.
The 18-carat rose gold used to make the case is sourced from an ethical supply chain, as Chopard has been doing since July 2018; while the use of ceramised titanium reflects the avant-garde spirit of the workshops. This light and ultra-resistant metal is obtained through a process of titanium oxidation using electro-plasma technology – a treatment that gives it a hardness of 1000 Vickers and a resistance to shocks and scratches comparable to that of ceramics. Developed in the aerospace and automotive industries, it has an anthracite grey colour that does not fade over time and gives the entire watch a sporty, ultra-contemporary look.
The Alpine Eagle XL Chrono is also the collection’s first series-produced timepiece with a black calf leather strap. Until now, only the Alpine Eagle XL Chrono Only Watch – a one-of-a-kind model designed to support the Monegasque Association against Muscular Dystrophy – had departed from the iconic metal bracelet. Like the latter, the leather strap retains the Alpine Eagle’s characteristic embossed central cap as well as a highly contemporary graphic design. And because style is all about details, its red bridle stitching subtly echoes the chronograph function indications on the dial.
At the heart of the case beats a highly sophisticated chronograph movement endowed with a precision chronometer certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). Equipped with a central rotor in 22-carat rose gold, Chopard Calibre 03.05-C has a 60-hour power reserve and features an elaborate design guaranteeing accurate adjustments as well as optimal use of the timekeeping functions.
Equipped with a column wheel, it represents the culmination of several technical innovations for which Chopard has been awarded three patents, filed for the development of L.U.C Calibre 03.03-L, devised by the engineers of Chopard Manufacture for the L.U.C Chrono One timepiece. First presented in 2006, this chronograph movement equipped with a column wheel, vertical clutch, flyback and small seconds reset functions, as well as a particularly precise jumping minute counter, remains the most innovative in the world. In 2022, the L.U.C. collection will celebrate its 25th anniversary.
