But even in all that activity, the heavy blue sunray dial up is probably the best possible canvas to contrast all the polished elements and indicators delineating the information on every register. Note that the sunray texture ratdiates not from the middle, but from the Chopard logo. The Lunar One’s alternating brushed and polished platinum case measures a very full 43mm wide, and squeezing this watch in a case any smaller will be just about impossible. The fact that the watch is 11.47mm thick will likely keep it from seeming too large on the wrist for people who might be prone to a smaller case.The subdials do seem to me to be squeezing the numerals round them. It gives me the same feeling like I am unfortunate enough to have the middle seat on a plane, packed between 2 people too wide for their own chairs. The sensation of those subdials being somewhat “bloated” definitely leaves the idea of the opinion being even 1 millimeter narrower seem as a balloon-popping proposition.The Calibre 96.13-L beating inside is considered to be Chopard’s crown jewel, barely a small accomplishment at a stable of pretty intriguing calibers at both ends of the complication spectrum. Requiring modification only once every 122 years (hypothetically speaking), the perpetual calendar nicely matches the moon phase indicator, but it’s no typical moon phase indicator using a static aperture displaying the present shape of the moon. This one is an “astronomical moon phase” complication which orbits the 6:00 register in view of its proper stage and astronomical positioning at the night skies.
But even as a Chinese myself, I can’t help but believe they likely took the Chinese styling cues too much better. As for me, I think Chopard should have ceased in the engravings about the case and abandon the dial simple. But hey, what do I know? I am sure there is a market for marginally over-the-top unique pieces like this. The Chopard L.U.C Perpetual T: Spirit of the Chinese Zodiac is a one-off piece and price is currently only available on request. A staple of the Chopard L.U.C collection, the Chopard L.U.C Lunar One perpetual calendar, has become an underdog hero for high-end watch collectors since the model’s debut over a decade ago. Today, I examine a more recent limited edition version of this L.U.C Lunar One (reference 161927-9001) at a 950 platinum case using a cool blue dial. It’s a very Chopard product, showcasing a great deal of what the manufacturer works best, and at a price that, relatively speaking, is very decent.A couple of decades ago, I seen Chopard’s production center in Fleurier where they create L.U.C set watches. While all Chopard watches are technically speaking luxury products, the L.U.C collection is where collectors actually put their focus given the movements. Many L.U.C watches are more conventional in their own fashion, but with a wholesome dose of (tasteful) masculinity depending on the proportions, dimensions, and strong presence of these watches overall.Each L.U.C movement is made in-house by Chopard, and contains finishing (decoration into the metallic components) which in my view rivals those which are considered the very best in the industry. A close look at the in-house made quality L.U.C 96.13-L automated movement through the back of the case shows careful attention, beautiful classic lines, excellent surface treatments, and also a focus on practical utility that we watch lovers seek in timepieces we really wear.
The sole legitimate gripe I feel merits the demonstration of the motion is that it only seems to take up 60% or so of their caseback. It’s typical for picky watch collectors to have instances sized around the motion (in this case the instance is 43mm wide and the motion is 33mm wide), instead of movements put into instances that are bigger than necessary. This is a catchy discussion point because in the end of the day, Chopard Watches Price List Philippines Replica (along with pretty much any other watch company), doesn’t want to be limited in how they size instances based on the movement sizes. That said, there is a distinctive appeal in viewing a sapphire crystal display caseback on the back of this watch which takes up virtually the whole area — compared to situations in which the situation dimensions and motion do not necessarily appear to match. Again, this is a small stage that allowed me to simply go over the subject. I truly don’t think anyone is going to avoid purchasing this otherwise very good watch due to the motion to case size ratio.A talk of this Chopard L.U.C 96.13-L mechanical movement should start with the fact that it’s both COSC Chronometer certified for accuracy, as well as certified together with the Geneva Seal (Poinçon de Genève). The former is a more basic certification of movement performance and accuracy, whereas the Seal of Geneva is a bit more complicated in what it asserts about a watch. In its most modern form, the Seal of Geneva in the exact same time attests to the fact that a motion was produced from the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland, abides by specific decoration standards, and additionally adheres to certain performance criteria. In a lot of ways, having COSC certificate as well as the Geneva Seal is somewhat redundant. Although with both, Chopard gets to add additional bragging rights to each bit, while printing “Chronometer” on the Lunar One’s dial.
It had been his thought and endeavor to create Chopard to a vertically integrated and, therefore, safely independent, watch manufacture — their first movement they created in 1996 and since then have been on a roll, with self-developed chronographs, insanely complex perpetual calendar chronograph, “All In One” watches, and simply the best sounding minute repeater into date.All this, and yet the Scheufele family stays almost completely behind the scenes of Chopard — in fact, that “Grand Cru” designation is the only event I could think of when it is something private to them which was inserted to a Chopard watch. It’s the most bashful and timid way, since they are putting a reference to something that is their personal hobby and fire on a Chopard watch.The connected story is that the Scheufele family have recently obtained a vineyard and chateau — after some 20 decades of study, to fulfill their enthusiasm for wine-making. In reality, I have gotten to know Karl-Friedrich Scheufele as an obsessive perfectionist because of his passions, namely wine and watches, as well as vintage cars. The motivations that led him to pursue the vineyard basically offer the exact same sort of drive that resulted in his creation and achievement of the Chopard L.U.C division.However, Chopard should ideally find a way to charge the Scheufele’s for what they have done to make Chopard to exactly what it is and turn this into a private, relatable component — but, with all the best will in the world, I seriously doubt the above-mentioned story is going to be received and then forwarded on the customer by even the most inspired Chopard sales team. Maybe if more people were educated regarding the Scheufele family and their role in creating Chopard exactly what it is now, there are a stronger link between this watch and the way its identity is both introduced and promoted.
Chopard is a Swiss luxury company focused on watches, jewellery and accessoires. In 1963 Karl Scheufele obtained Chopard; Scheufele is a descendant of a dynasty of watchmakers and jewelers from Germany.After the purchase Chopard immediately gained traction among collectors, it is now one of the leading luxury watch companies and operates entirely independent as a family-run brand. The Chopard manufacture in Fleurier produces L.U.C moves that could be discovered in several Chopard timepieces. Being a real luxury focused brand Chopard is equally popular for its Chopard men’s watches and the diamond watches it produces for women.For the previous few decades, Chopard has celebrated the Chinese zodiac by releasing a special edition of this L.U.C XP Urushi watch ever year. This season, as an example, it was the L.U.C XP Urushi Year of the Rooster, which features an exquisite handcrafted Rooster on the dial. For 2018, Chopard has opted to go one step further and has only released a one-off piece known as the Chopard L.U.C Perpetual T: Spirit of the Chinese Zodiac.Chopard’s L.U.C set is home to the brand’s most lavish artisanal watches, and the L.U.C Perpetual T: Spirit of the Chinese Zodiac follows in this tradition. The highlight of the watch has to be the case. It sports a 43mm-wide 18k rose gold case that is about 15mm thick, and the entire case is hand-engraved with all the 12 Chinese zodiac signs using the champlevé technique. This means the situation is first engraved by hand and then full of material. In the instance of the Chopard L.U.C Perpetual T: Spirit of the Chinese Zodiac watch, the case is first engraved and then filled with black patina to create pictures in the Chinese Zodiac.
At 6 o’clock, you can see the moments sub-dial using a hand that’s much like the minutes and hours hand in that it’s also gilded, but it isn’t done in precisely the exact same style. I appreciate Chopard’s own-designed and proprietary font and red color used to signify that the time increments at 15, 45, and 60 and even though I wasn’t certain about the markers in between the digits initially, it’s something I quite like today. Also, a notable detail is that these markers — equally the numerals and the little points between them — are so modest, even with my great near-sight I could hardly take them out.Additionally, as is normal for so many L.U.C watches, there’s the date window positioned at the base of the seconds sub-dial, mixed into the minute path to minimize its influence on the dial’s aesthetics. “To date or not to date?” — that is always the question, but I can love Chopard sticking to its thought of incorporating this excess bit of performance. Again, to be taken into account is, in addition, the simple fact that this is one of those smaller date dividers — consider the sub-40mm size of this watch and the proportionally yet smaller date window, and the distraction-factor is in fact minimized.The display case-back allows a view into the Geneva Seal accepted 97.01-L Calibre movement that, like the 97.03-L found in the L.U.C Tonneau view, is a tonneau-shaped automated movement. The motion steps at 28.15mm by 27.60mm at just 3.3mm thick and consists of 197 components, and has 29 jewels.Chopard calls the L.U.C Heritage Grand Cru “the only tonneau shape watch wound by an automatic motion” — although the Clé de Cartier, many Richard Mille pieces, and even some Franck Muller models spring to mind as other watches which match this description.The Parmigiani Fleurier Kalpa Hebdomadaire is indeed a tonneau shaped watch with a tonneau shaped movement, but one that is a manual wind, but the RM 67-01 (hands-on here) is very much a tonneau-shaped motion at a tonneau watch.
Chopard has just acquired the Hotel de Vendôme, a luxury hotel located at the Place Vendome in Paris famed for its string of luxury stores. With Chopard’s flagship boutique on the ground level of the hotel, this purchase ensures Chopard will continue to be present in a vital retail location.
Illustrating the growing hunger for prime locations in the most expensive shopping districts amongst luxury brands, Chopard recently bought Union Hôtelière Parisienne (UHP), the company which owns the Hotel de Vendome, which sits on the Place Vendome. With just 29 rooms and 10 suites, the Hotel de Vendome is small, but definitely extravagant, with rates averaging US$1500 a night. More importantly, on the ground level of the hotel is Chopard’s flagship Paris store, making this take-over as much about diversification as securing the boutique’s location. Now that Chopard owns UHP, the threat of getting turfed out in favour of another watch brand has passed. Though the purchase of UHP diversifies Chopard’s portfolio, along the lines of what Armani and Bulgari have done with their own brand hotels, this reinforces an important trend in the luxury watch business – the scramble for the best retail locations. Three years ago Richemont purchased the former Old England store in Paris, located just a short walk from the Hotel de Vendome, for an estimated €70 million, turning it into a massive, 2200 sq m multi-brand watch boutique with an adjoining Cartier store. Unlike luxury goods brands like Louis Vuitton and Hermes, which already have stores in prime locations, watch brands are relatively late to the game. However, thanks to a decade of unbelievable prosperity, all the big brands have built up enormous war chests. Much of this money will go not towards acquisitions of other watch companies, but instead on real estate for retail boutiques, which give brands better margins and greater control over the customer experience (as opposed to independent retailers).