Chopard presents its Baselworld 2016 novelties
From jewellery to watches, the renowned luxury brand Chopard made an exciting revelation of its remarkable offers for the year 2016. During the annual Baselworld exhibition, Chopard has raised the excitement from the jewellery and watch aficionados with the host of outstanding collections that await them in the stores around the world
Sparkling jewels and fascinating timepieces are the hallmark of the latest collections from Chopard. The Happy Diamond’s timepiece that was initially meant for watches is being revived to attract the feminine market with the use of prong-set diamonds. The Happy Dreams collection of stunning jewellery pieces are also going to make the ladies’ hearts beat faster. Meanwhile, the Precious Chopard collection marks the brand as sheer genius in Haute Joaillerie. On one hand, the L.U.C Perpetual Chrono, L.U.C XP 35 mm Esprit de Fleurier Peony and L.U.C XPS 1860 are indeed amazing treats for watch connoisseurs.
Happy Diamonds
Looking back, the first Happy Diamonds model was a men’s watch, a large cushion-shaped timepiece with an 18-carat white gold case and bracelet framing a black dial magnificently highlighting the first moving diamonds. This iconic creation, which won the prestigious Golden Rose of Baden-Baden in 1976, inspired a model celebrating the 40th anniversary of the invention of moving diamonds.
Picking up the initial cushion shape, but this time designed for women, today’s Happy Diamonds watch is a precious jewellery model exuding a charm that is both vintage and contemporary. The prong-set diamonds encircling the dial emphasise its gentle curves, while new mobile diamonds whirl freely across a textured white mother-of-pearl background. There are more of them than ever and they are also larger as well as in different sizes, thereby accentuating their whirling dance and the sense of diamond-studded profusion. Inside this playground, a mini subdial, also ringed with diamonds, bears the watch hands.
Happy Dreams
Chopard presents a new jewellery collection drawn from the theme of its famous free-spinning diamonds. In the Happy Dreams collections, diamonds swirl across textured white mother-of-pearl forming a soft, airy cocoon. Another new feature of these models lies in the fact that all diamonds – including the moving variety – are prong-set, endowing them with an even more striking aura of freedom and ethereal grace. This precious setting technique reveals the diamond in all its pristine purity and nobility.
It comprises of earrings, a necklace, a ring and a large pendant. The latter, composed of four interlacing circles, is graced with beautifully balanced proportions. Three moving diamonds dance in the foreground, while the other circles – each set with diamonds – are also lit up by a shimmering textured pearl background. The other models feature similar designs but in even daintier sizes, with three or four delicately interwoven gem-set circles of which one is adorned with a prong-set moving diamond.
Precious Chopard Collection
The Geneva-based Manufacture is unveiling a splendid Haute Joaillerie collection named “Precious Chopard”. Arrayed in sparkling precious stones and meticulously tailored using the skills of the finest jewellers, this collection comprises a watch, a pair of earrings and a ring, each of which picks up this laced-edge petal motif. The preview presentation of the Precious Chopard collection features its sapphire interpretation, imbued with a deep blue shade that endows the three creations with splendidly noble elegance.
The spectacular watch is set with pear-cut blue sapphires, brilliant-cut pastel sapphires and white diamonds, composing a subtle and airy lacework pattern. On the dial, baguette-cut sapphires surround a dainty corolla evoking a floral motif with snow-set sapphires and diamonds. The watch bracelet picks up this ornamental jewellery lacework theme and the model is also available with a satin strap. The earrings and the ring are graced with the same delicate curves, finely adorned with a lacy pattern of pear-cut sapphires and hemmed with diamonds, while the ring is crowned by a brilliant-cut central blue sapphire.
L.U.C Perpetual Chrono
An authentic collector’s watch for modern gentlemen, the new L.U.C Perpetual Chrono from Chopard combines a hand-wound chronograph and a finely crafted perpetual calendar within an unprecedented L.U.C movement, Calibre 3.10-L. The L.U.C Perpetual Chrono flaunts one of the most sophisticated styles and constructions in the world of Haute Horlogerie, while meeting the highest technical ethical and aesthetic standards. Issued in a “Fairmined” 18-carat white gold, the 45mm case 20-piece edition is intended for watchmaking connoisseurs and devotees of exceptional objects.
The dial of the L.U.C Perpetual Chrono is coated with grey ruthenium. It is adorned with a hand-guilloché motif that creates subtle light effects radiating from the large twin-aperture date display. The choice of noble materials extends right the way through to L.U.C Calibre 03.10-L, which is made of nickel silver, a naturally light grey alloy that ideally lends itself to surface treatment but cannot tolerate scratches.
Entirely developed and produced in the Chopard Haute Horlogerie workshops, L.U.C Calibre 03.10-L is built around a column wheel that controls all chronograph operations including the flyback function. The zero-reset system for the counters and the central sweep seconds hand is handled by progressive-contact hammers guaranteeing optimal precision. It ensures smooth yet firm activation of the timing-related components via a vertical coupling clutch. This was the exceptional base mechanism chosen to house the perpetual calendar of the L.U.C Perpetual Chrono.
This calendar is recognisable by its large twin-aperture date display, complemented by indications of the day, the month and the leap or non-year nature of the year, while the finishing touches are set by a day/night indication and an orbital moon-phase display. The latter guarantees graphic and accurate readings of the age of the moon, with a mere one-day deviation in 122 years. Since the original configuration of this calendar uses the same areas as the chronograph – both involving indications at 3 and 9 o’clock – the architecture of the perpetual calendar had to be adjusted to offset the day/night indicator by a few millimetres. This arrangement determined the specific layout of the dial and its counters.
The strap of the L.U.C Perpetual Chrono is made of hand-sewn large-scaled black alligator leather. Given that a L.U.C watch will be admired from every angle, Chopard has also made the lining in chestnut brown small-scaled alligator leather.
L.U.C XP 35 mm Esprit de Fleurier Peony
Its understated elegance and its technical sophistication have made the L.U.C XP a flagship model among the Chopard Haute Horlogerie collection of L.U.C watches. In 2014, Chopard created a version with a 35mm diameter, in smaller size, intended for women. The beating heart is the L.U.C 96.23-L calibre. It’s produced by Chopard Manufacture and graced with Fleurisanne engraving, an almost extinct handcraft.
Today, the peony unfurls its silky petals and delicate scents on the famous Chopard timepiece. Where beauty meets precision, a gorgeous peony blossoms in an 8-piece limited edition watch: The L.U.C XP 35 mm Esprit de Fleurier Peony. It adorns the dial and the manufacture movement of the L.U.C XP 35 m Esprit de Fleurier Peony, an eminently feminine model governed by the principles of Haute Horlogerie. The dainty curves of the peony bloom on the Tahitian mother-of-pearl dial, where this majestic flower appears clothed in gold and decked in diamonds finely set into the rose gold dial base.
This watch features a movement that is endowed with the patented Twin® technology, involving two stacked coaxial barrels ensuring a 65-hour power reserve. Accommodating such a self-winding movement within a 7.5 mm ultra-thin case is a daunting technical challenge. The clever micro-rotor construction has enabled the master-watchmakers of Chopard Manufacture to accomplish this feat and successfully magnify the beauty of L.U.C Calibre 96.23-L.
L.U.C XPS 1860
The elegant and distinctive L.U.C XPS 1860 by Chopard pays homage to the first watch in the L.U.C collection, the L.U.C 1860, launched 20 years ago at the creation of Chopard Manufacture. Like the latter, the L.U.C XPS 1860 is distinguished by its respect for the grand watchmaking traditions and for chronometry or timekeeping precision – two key elements that Chopard Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele was determined to incorporate within the L.U.C collection.
This new model with its hand-guilloché dial and ultra-thin case is a contemporary interpretation of a great classic, combining discreet elegance and sobriety with the first Chopard Manufacture movement: the L.U.C Calibre 96.01-L. The first movement created by Chopard Manufacture, it is automatically wound via a 22-carat gold micro-rotor, a rare horological speciality that is practical as well as ensuring slimness. It is endowed with Twin® technology, ensuring a 65-hour power reserve well beyond the usual standards for ultra-thin watches.
With its 40mm case featuring refined finishing, its contemporary Dauphine-type hands, its elegant applied hour-markers, the L.U.C. XPS 1860 offers a new take on this historical watch. Its short, ergonomic lugs as well as its total thickness of just 7.2 mm, it is very much part of the ultra-thin category. Featuring a small seconds at 6 o’clock, its elegance is enhanced by its distinctive dial on which the central part bears a sophisticated hand-guilloché motif radiating out from the logo at 12 o’clock. Like all L.U.C watches with a seconds indication, it is chronometer-certified by the COSC. It bears the prestigious Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark.
The L.U.C XPS 1860 comes in a version with an 18-carat rose gold case, produced in a 100-piece limited series featuring a gold dial. The year 1860 in its name refers to the date when Louis-Ulysse Chopard founded his watch manufactory.
