WATCH & JEWELRY /
SIHH＆BASEL
March 30, 2015
CHOPARD | A Simpler Take on the Mille Miglia Chronograph, Alongside High Jewelry and a Rich Collection
CHOPARD | Chopard
From Driver's Chrono to Simple Models
High Jewelry and a Rich Collection Unveiled
Last year, Chopard celebrated its 150th anniversary with a spectacular collection. This year, attractive new pieces have arrived in both the men's mechanical collection and the high jewelry collection. As a serious watch brand,High Jewelryit has further solidified its position.
Reporting and text by Yasuhito Shibuya
The L.U.C Collection of In-House Movements Further Enriched
Founded in 1860, Chopard is a venerable maison. To revive its tradition as a manufacture, the in-house movement "L.U.C" development project, initiated in the mid-1990s under the direction of current president Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, has evolved year by year since the debut of the first model in 1997, culminating today in the "L.U.C" collection of men's watches, including complication models. Last year, to commemorate the 150th anniversary, a Grand Complication model "All-in-One" featuring a perpetual calendar andTourbillonand a tonneau-shaped tourbillon model "Engine One" with a shock-absorbing mechanism were among the diverse models introduced, showcasing its status as one of Switzerland's leading manufacture brands.
The first highlight of 2011 is the "L.U.C 1937," a simple, classic three-hand model with a calendar, which is the regular production version of the new standard automatic movement "L.U.C Caliber 1.010" that debuted in a limited edition last year. This is Chopard's new standard watch, a perfect fusion of cutting-edge mechanical movement and the classic style that is a major trend this year. Additionally, the renewed model of the in-houseChronographmodel "L.U.C Chrono One," known for its excellent performance, is also something watch enthusiasts should check out.
The Racing Collection for Car Enthusiasts is Not to Be Missed
Alongside the L.U.C collection, another annual highlight is the "Classic Racing Collection," a natural offering from Chopard, a long-time supporter of the Mille Miglia, the world's most elegant road car event. This year, limited editions include the "Superfast Chrono Split Seconds" with an all-black DLC-coated body and split-seconds chronograph function, and the "Mille Miglia GT XL Chrono Rosso Corsa" with a vibrant dial color reminiscent of classic Italian racing red, each produced in a limited run of 1000 pieces.
Both are appealing models, and I highly recommend seeing them in person. However, if I had to choose just one, I would recommend the "Mille Miglia GT XL Chrono Rosso Corsa" with its Italian racing red dial, which is sure to warm your heart and brighten your day. The combination of the vivid red stitching and the black Barenia leather strap will undoubtedly add a touch of flair to your wrist, even in formal settings.
L.U.C 1937
The combination of a porcelain-type dial and Roman numeral indices is elegant.
This is a simple, mid-size, three-hand calendar model equipped with the "L.U.C Caliber 1.010" automatic movement with a unidirectional rotor, which debuted in a limited edition in 2010. Like last year's limited model, its accuracy is certified by an official testing institute. On the other hand, it has been finished as a more chic and understated wristwatch, with the crown positioned at the standard 3 o'clock position, the omission of a crown guard, and the adoption of a new block-letter logo. In addition to the porcelain-type white dial model shown, there is also a model with a satin-finished silver-plated dial. Both pair exceptionally well with suits.
Automatic, 42mm stainless steel case, hand-stitched alligator strap with brown alligator lining, see-through case back, chronometer certified, 50m water resistance, 890,000 yen (estimated price). Scheduled for release this autumn.
Mille Miglia GT XL Chrono Rosso Corsa
Wear Italy's classic national color, vivid red, on your wrist.
This is a nostalgic yet sporty mechanical chronograph that features the vivid Italian red used on the bodywork of Italian racing cars like Alfa Romeo and Ferrari, which dominated the racing world in the 1950s and 60s. The sapphire crystal, with the numbers 6 and 12 printed on it, the stepped sub-dials, and the tachymeter scale engraved on the bezel, which have been used in the Mille Miglia collection before, along with the red dial, create a racing atmosphere.
Automatic, 44mm titanium case, black Barenia strap with red stitching, see-through case back, chronometer certified, limited to 1000 pieces worldwide, 876,750 yen. Scheduled for release this summer.
Chopard Japan Press
Tel. 03-5414-2520