The only legitimate complaint I feel merits the presentation of the movement is that it only seems to take up 60% or so of their caseback. It is typical for high heeled watch collectors to have cases sized around the movement (in this instance the instance is 43mm wide and the motion is 33mm wide), instead of movements put into cases which are bigger than necessary. This is a catchy discussion point because in the end of the afternoon, Chopard Watches Reputation Replica (along with pretty much any other watch company), doesn’t wish to be restricted in how they size instances dependent on the movement dimensions. That said, there’s a distinctive appeal in viewing a sapphire crystal screen caseback on the rear of the watch that takes up almost the entire area — as opposed to situations where the situation size and motion do not necessarily seem to match. Again, this is a little stage that enabled me to simply discuss the subject. I really don’t think anybody is going to avoid buying this otherwise very good watch because of the motion to the event size ratio.A talk of the Chopard L.U.C 96.13-L mechanical movement should begin 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 functionality and accuracy, whereas the Seal of Geneva is somewhat more complicated in what it claims about a watch. In its most modern type, the Seal of Geneva in precisely the exact same time attests to the fact that a movement was produced in the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland, abides by specific ribbon standards, and also conforms to certain performance criteria. In a lot of ways, using COSC certificate as well as the Geneva Seal is a bit redundant. Though with both, Chopard has to add additional bragging rights to each bit, while printing “Chronometer” on the Lunar One’s dial up.
A large and unattractive jewelled Chopard watch made for Muammar Gaddafi will soon go under the hammer at Antiquorum’s upcoming Hong Kong auction.
Antiquorum auctioneers continues to build its rogue’s gallery of timepieces: having sold a Patek Philippe Nautilus once owned by a yakuza boss earlier in 2015, the auction house will soon sell a possibly unique (thank goodness) Chopard chronograph made for Muammar Gaddafi. Created for the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Libyan revolution, and a watch Chopard surely regrets, it’s in white gold and unappealingly set with diamonds and emeralds. In the ostentatiously gauche style of the late Libyan leader, the dial is dark green with a silkscreened image of Gaddafi along with independence leaders of other nations. This gaudy chronograph is just one of a several hundred watches Chopard created for the Libyan revolution anniversary celebrations in 2009.
A controversial move at the time, Chopard’s creations for the anniversary event included a series of L.U.C XP watches featuring a stylised map of Africa on the dial (one of which Sotheby’s sold in 2013). And several news reports at the time also note that guests at the celebrations were each given a Chopard wristwatch with an African map on the dial, with Libya marked by a single diamond. Chopard, however, is not the only watchmaker to have made wristwatches for unsavoury leaders, though it’s probably the most recent. Timepieces made by Patek Philippe featuring the emblem of Saddam’s Iraq continue to pop up regularly at watch auctions. But such happenings are increasingly rare, especially for established brands, given their awareness of the resulting bad press. The Gaddafi chronograph is estimated at US$32,000 to US$62,000, and will be available at Antiquorum’s October 25 auction in Hong Kong.