Unveiled final yr throughout Watches and Wonders, the Chopard L.U.C 1860 in Lucent Metal with a guilloché salmon dial is a watch that left fairly an impression on us. However there’s extra to this timepiece than its magnificence, its compact dimensions or its mixture of supplies and colors – salmon over metal is, by far, considered one of our favorite combos right here at MONOCHROME. It’s a watch with historic significance, each mechanically and design-wise, which is why we’ve elected this Chopard L.U.C for our newest video evaluate.
Chopard, and particularly the L.U.C assortment (named after the model’s founder Louis-Ulysse Chopard) is thought for its good-looking, elegant watches with impeccable execution. However greater than something, this assortment launched in 1996 has secured the model a place on the map of high-end watchmaking. With the L.U.C Assortment, Chopard turned a part of the elite of Geneva-based Haute Horlogerie, along with among the most revered manufacturers of the area. And it was all down to 1 motion, the emblematic calibre 96, which is mainly the identical because the watch we’ll evaluate at this time. And as well as, the watch that housed it first was very shut in design and proportions to this good-looking, extraordinarily elegant Chopard L.U.C 1860 Salmon Dial… Many causes to go deeper into the main points.
For that reason, and earlier than we begin speaking about what’s, objectively, a really stunning watch, we have to dive into historical past and take a look at the rise of Chopard as a top-tier manufacture. For that reason, I invite you to look at our video evaluate, which explains the beginning of the L.U.C assortment and its inaugural motion, the Calibre 96, but in addition to have an in depth take a look at this in-depth article a part of the Collector’s Nook column, retracing the historical past of the creation of this motion and the primary watches to be geared up with it. With this motion and this assortment, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, the Co-President of Chopard, had an bold plan: reworking Chopard from a model largely recognized for jewelry to a correct watchmaker. And he actually succeeded.
What to say about this watch…? It’d effectively be probably the most elegant and interesting gown watches we’ve seen lately. Chopard determined right here to return to the roots of this assortment with a case that measures 36.5mm in diameter and a slim profile of 8.2mm. Restrained, elegant, virtually old style however in an enthralling manner – and but, with such presence on the wrist. And after a number of L.U.C watches in treasured metals, it’s right here executed in metal, or Lucent Metal A223 to be exact – an ethically sourced proprietary alloy with extra sheen and resistance to scratches.
Beneath the sapphire caseback is the calibre L.U.C 96.40, a barely modernized model of the motion that began all of it in 1996. It’s wound by a strong 22-carat gold rotor adorned with a guilloché sample. It is usually licensed by the Geneva Seal, which means that the ornament has been executed in keeping with extremely demanding requirements and the precision has been licensed by the COSC as a chronometer.
However I invite you to look at the video, which has all the main points concerning what’s, objectively, a surprising (and fairly costly too) watch. For extra particulars, please seek the advice of our hands-on article right here, in addition to our in-depth take a look at the historical past of L.U.C and the calibre 96.
