Contemporary, refined and assertive, the new Alpine Eagle sports chic timepiece collection is a state-of-the-art reinterpretation of the St. Moritz, the first watch created in 1980 by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, now co-president of Chopard. Imagined and personally designed by him, Alpine Eagle is driven by his passion for the Alps and by the lofty power of the eagle that reigns supreme there
It was in 1980 that Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, then a 22-year-old employee in the family Manufacture, submitted an idea to his father for a watch to be named St. Moritz. The first sports watch from the Maison as well as the first timepiece made of steel in its workshops, the St. Moritz was profoundly innovative for Chopard, then a specialist in gold and diamond-set gold watches.
With Alpine Eagle, history is repeating itself, since it was at the insistence of his son Karl-Fritz, secretly supported by his grandfather Karl, that Karl-Friedrich Scheufele looked into the updating of the St. Moritz. At first reluctant, he was won over by his son’s strength of conviction, just as he himself had been able to win his father’s support 40 years ago.
Belonging to the select circle of watches with an integrated case and bracelet, this timepiece presents a design that is both refined and contemporary, featuring a wealth of references to the Alpine eagle and its biotope. Its rock-like textured dial evoke an eagle’s iris, its hands call to mind the raptor’s feathers and the cold glinting steel is reminiscent of glaciers.
The gently tapered Alpine Eagle bracelet comprises a single ingot-shaped link, topped by a raised central cap. The case is distinguished by a protrusion protecting the crown engraved with a compass rose, an instrument that has helped adventurers find their way since ancient times. Today, it becomes the emblem of contemporary eagles capable of choosing the right direction in the pursuit of their destiny.
Alpine Eagle’s round bezel is punctuated by eight screws, grouped in pairs at the four cardinal points. Their slots are set at a tangent to the circle of the bezel, a sign of high-quality finishing and sophisticated aesthetic purpose. These screws also serve a technical function by guaranteeing the water resistance of the watch to 100 metres. All Alpine Eagle’s flat surfaces are satin-brushed, a finish carefully crafted to create light effects further enhanced by polished chamfers. The hours and minutes hands, like the hour-markers, are coated with Super-LumiNova Grade X1 to enhance nocturnal legibility. Like the snow, torrents and rock of the Alps, which change their appearance according to the light conditions, and inspired Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, the Alpine Eagle constantly alternates between polished and matt finishes.
To bring the Alpine Eagle purpose to life, Chopard has created a new material that is as rich, precious and complex as gold, transforming the dream of Renaissance alchemists into glowing reality. Lucent Steel A223 is a steel resulting from a re-smelting process featuring three unique characteristics.
Thanks to its hypoallergenic composition, Lucent Steel A223 has properties comparable to surgical steel, making it highly dermo-compatible. This alloy with its 223 Vickers’ strength is also 50 percent more resistant to abrasion than conventional steels and has a unique hardness. Finally, due to its superior homogeneous crystal structure, its purity enables it to reflect light in a unique way. Like diamond, this innovative steel has far less impurities than conventional steel, guaranteeing a brilliance and brightness comparable to gold.
The industrialisation of this new alloy required four years of research and development, as it had to be manufactured to extremely strict specifications, significantly increasing its manufacturing time as well as wear and tear on machining tools. Lucent Steel A223 is now a rare and extraordinarily precious metal, stemming from a very complex development and manufacturing process.
The Alpine Eagle 41 mm welcomes the 01.01-C calibre with a 60-hour power reserve, while the 36 mm models host the 09.01-C calibre with a 42-hour power reserve – with the latter 8-ligne movement being one of the smallest to receive COSC certification. Both are visible through a transparent sapphire crystal back. Thanks to its vertically integrated production process, Chopard has produced and assembled all Alpine Eagle components in-house, from all the components of its movements to the making of its case and bracelet, whether in steel and/or gold.
Karl-Friedrich Scheufele is a hiking and skiing enthusiast who finds inspiration and serenity in the high altitudes of Switzerland. Sensitive to Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan’s initiative, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele joined the Alp Action programme in the 2000s. Today, in unveiling his new Alpine Eagle collection, he sought to associate this collection with a new sustainable approach, thus become the founding member of the newly formed Eagle Wings Foundation.
Issued in ten references in steel, gold, bi-material or diamond-set gold, Alpine Eagle collection is available in unisex models in two different 41 mm and 36 mm diameters.
