Editor’s note: Like you, we are also excited for the Watches & Wonders 2022 novelties. Before we get to dive deep into them, here’s our preview & Gut Reaction Review (Grr…) of the new Chopard L.U.C Full Strike. For our detailed hands-on reviews, please head to our dedicated reviews section here. This is NOT a sponsored post.
Trio of New Chopard L.U.C Full Strike In A Nutshell
Now not only raising the bar for the Watches & Wonders 2022 and chiming watches in general but also setting a new benchmark — and also celebrating the 25th anniversary of the L.U.C collection — is Chopard with its trio of chiming watches using the monobloc sapphire crystal and gong system: L.U.C Full Strike Tourbillon, L.U.C Full Strike Sapphire and L.U.C Strike One.
But the Chopard L.U.C Full Strike trio aren’t just exceptional beauties to look at or also just ace in the mechanical department; they all bear significant musical prowess courtesy the work of two brothers, virtuoso cellist and violinist Gautier and Renaud Capuçon.
The New Chopard L.U.C Strike One
The new Chopard L.U.C Strike One 161949-5001 features a 40mm diameter and 9.86mm thick ethical 18-carat rose gold case. It is released as a 25-piece limited series with a guilloché ethical 18-carat rose gold dial obtained by galvanic treatment. Impressively, the dial features a hand-guilloché central medallion with honeycomb motif that is framed by a chapter ring with snailed concentric circle pattern. On this base appliqué gilded herringbone-type hour-markers and dauphine fusée-type hours and minutes hands help in revealing the mysteries of time. The dial also showcases a “Chime/silence” aperture at 12’o clock.
Inside the new Chopard L.U.C Strike One ticks the COSC-certified L.U.C 96.32-L which is a manual-winding mechanical movement developed and manufactured in-house measuring 33mm x 5.6mm. The movement comprises 275 components, 33 jewels, beats at the frequency of 4Hz (28’800 A/h) and provides with a 65-hour power reserve (courtesy two barrels feat. The Chopard Twin technology).
The New Chopard L.U.C Full Strike Tourbillon
The new Chopard L.U.C Full Strike trio is not just a treat for your ears, but is also provides a feast for the eyes. My favourite out of the three is the L.U.C Full Strike Tourbillon, especially given my affinity for guilloché and Roman numerals.
The new Chopard L.U.C Full Strike Tourbillon ref. 161987-5001 features a 42.5mm diameter and 12.58mm thick ethical 18-carat rose gold case. It is released as a 20-piece limited series with a gorgeous 18-carat rose gold dial in ruthenium grey topped with sunray hand-guilloché (quite like my Cartier Ronde actually though the Cartier dial is stamped). There is a chapter ring with snailed concentric circle pattern and the dial features applied gilded Roman numerals and white transferred power-reserve graduations. The gilded Dauphine fusée-type hours and minutes hands along with gilded baton-type small seconds hand aide in telling the time. The dial also features a Tourbillon bridge in glare-proofed sapphire crystal.
Inside the new Chopard L.U.C Full Strike Tourbillon ticks the COSC-certified L.U.C 08.02-L which is a manual-winding mechanical movement developed and manufactured in-house measuring 37.2mm x 8.9mm. The movement comprises a whopping 568 components, 61 jewels, beats at the frequency of 4Hz (28’800 A/h) and provides with a 50-hour power reserve.
The New Chopard L.U.C Full Strike Sapphire
The new Chopard L.U.C Full Strike Sapphire ref. 168604-9001 features a 42.5mm diameter and 11.55mm thick transparent sapphire case. It is released as a 5-piece limited series with an openworked sapphire dial that features appliqué logo plate in 18-carat white gold with black transfers, a satin-brushed chapter ring, satin-brushed small seconds, railway-type minutes track engraved on the sapphire crystal, black transfers, applied rhodium-plated herringbone-type hour-markers and rhodium-plated dauphine hours and minutes hands, along with rhodium-plated baton-type movement power-reserve indicator and strike-work power-reserve hands. I love the concept but personally the deal is a bit messy for me.
Inside the new Chopard L.U.C Full Strike Sapphire ticks the COSC-certified L.U.C 08.01-L which is a manual-winding mechanical movement developed and manufactured in-house measuring 37.2mm x 7.97.6mm. The movement comprises 533 components, 63 jewels, beats at the frequency of 4Hz (28’800 A/h) and provides with a 60-hour power reserve.
Quotable
“In 2018, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele attended a concert by violinist Renaud Capuçon at the Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad. The expressive manner in which Capuçon played helped Chopard’s Co-President realise that a minute repeater watch should be thought of as a musical instrument and deliver something more: emotion.”
Press Release
Quick Parting Thoughts On The New Chopard L.U.C Full Strike Trio
From the first chiming pocket watches used by the clergy before the dawn of wide-spread electricity to the modern benchmarks set by the likes of the Patek Philippe 5078, Patek Philippe 5750P “Advanced Research” Fortissimo, Patek Philippe Grande Sonnerie 6301P, and Patek Philippe Minute Repeater 5303R-001 to name a few from a significant player in this field, sound and mechanics have always had a fascinating bond.
Chopard itself in 2016 — for the 20th anniversary of L.U.C collection that won the “Aiguille d’Or” best-in-show award at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève — released the L.U.C Full Strike model, the Maison’s first minute repeater watch that was a result of more than six years work totalling 17,000 hours of development.
For the 25th anniversary of the L.U.C collection, Chopard is pulling all stops. Firing on all cylinders, the new L.U.C Full Strike Trio ensure that the brand’s importance and relevance in the watchmaking industry is cemented in all spheres.
Stunning and mechanically well endowed; Refreshingly ethical and delightfully musical. Tune in to the chiming charms of the new Chopard L.U.C Full Strike collection.
To find out more about the new L.U.C Full Strike Trio and their other watches, please head to their website here. All images unless otherwise stated are courtesy are © Chopard, All rights reserved. Make sure to check out our reviews of other Watches & Wonders 2022 novelties here.
