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Chopard has unveiled its most complicated watch ever - the new L.U.C Grand Strike combines the melodies of grande sonnerie, petite sonnerie, and minute repeater, powered by proprietary sapphire crystal gongs. The timepiece combines 686 movement components, 11,000 hours of development, and ten patents - five of them conceived specifically for this watch.
Housed in a 43 mm 18K ethical white gold case, the timepiece is remarkably compact for such a complication. It features a dial-less construction and a sapphire exhibition caseback, allowing a complete view of the movement. The case is combined with a vertical satin-brushed caseband, a polished bezel, and a sliding selector next to the crown to effortlessly switch between the grande sonnerie (G), petite sonnerie (P), and silence (S). The two polished steel hammers that chime the watch can be seen at the 10 o’clock position. At 6 o’clock, a one-minute tourbillon is combined with a small-seconds indication, while a concentric double power-reserve display at 2 o’clock tracks both the movement and strikework reserves. Completing the aesthetics are solid 18K ethical white gold hands and markers, while the sapphire crystal carries an engraved railway minutes track.
Powering the mechanism is the hand-wound L.U.C 08.03-L calibre, which operates at 28,800 vph or 4 Hz, and offers a 70-hour autonomy for timekeeping and at least 12 hours for the sonnerie in full grande sonnerie mode. It carries both COSC chronometer certification and the Poinçon de Genève.
The most distinctive acoustic element of the L.U.C Grand Strike lies in its patented sapphire crystal gongs, designed as a single monobloc with the dial itself. The watch employs nine additional functional patents which cover enhanced security systems to protect the movement against accidental mishandling, optimised chiming cadence, energy-efficient strikework barrels, anti-shock hammer geometry, a variable-inertia balance, and a monobloc pallet lever. Chopard has employed traditional German silver (maillechort) for the plates and bridges for its warm patina that develops over time, decorated it with Côtes de Genève, and paired it with a mirror-polished steel tourbillon bridge.
The Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike (Ref. 161994-1001) is delivered with interchangeable hand-sewn straps in grey or dark blue alligator leather, closed with an 18K ethical white gold folding clasp engraved with the L.U.C logo.
Chopard has unveiled its most complicated watch ever - the new L.U.C Grand Strike combines the melodies of grande sonnerie, petite sonnerie, and minute repeater, powered by proprietary sapphire crystal gongs. The timepiece combines 686 movement components, 11,000 hours of development, and ten patents - five of them conceived specifically for this watch.
Housed in a 43 mm 18K ethical white gold case, the timepiece is remarkably compact for such a complication. It features a dial-less construction and a sapphire exhibition caseback, allowing a complete view of the movement. The case is combined with a vertical satin-brushed caseband, a polished bezel, and a sliding selector next to the crown to effortlessly switch between the grande sonnerie (G), petite sonnerie (P), and silence (S). The two polished steel hammers that chime the watch can be seen at the 10 o’clock position. At 6 o’clock, a one-minute tourbillon is combined with a small-seconds indication, while a concentric double power-reserve display at 2 o’clock tracks both the movement and strikework reserves. Completing the aesthetics are solid 18K ethical white gold hands and markers, while the sapphire crystal carries an engraved railway minutes track.
Powering the mechanism is the hand-wound L.U.C 08.03-L calibre, which operates at 28,800 vph or 4 Hz, and offers a 70-hour autonomy for timekeeping and at least 12 hours for the sonnerie in full grande sonnerie mode. It carries both COSC chronometer certification and the Poinçon de Genève.
The most distinctive acoustic element of the L.U.C Grand Strike lies in its patented sapphire crystal gongs, designed as a single monobloc with the dial itself. The watch employs nine additional functional patents which cover enhanced security systems to protect the movement against accidental mishandling, optimised chiming cadence, energy-efficient strikework barrels, anti-shock hammer geometry, a variable-inertia balance, and a monobloc pallet lever. Chopard has employed traditional German silver (maillechort) for the plates and bridges for its warm patina that develops over time, decorated it with Côtes de Genève, and paired it with a mirror-polished steel tourbillon bridge.
The Chopard L.U.C Grand Strike (Ref. 161994-1001) is delivered with interchangeable hand-sewn straps in grey or dark blue alligator leather, closed with an 18K ethical white gold folding clasp engraved with the L.U.C logo.
