To mark the 50th anniversary of the Scheufele family’s ownership of Chopard, the Swiss manufacturer launched L.U.C. 1963 50th Anniversary Chronometer watch.
The year 1963 is one of the most important years in the Chopard history. This is the year in which Paul André Chopard, the grandson of Chopard’s founding father Louis-Ulysse Chopard, met Mr. Karl Scheufele who later decided to purchase the company. Since that time, Mr. Scheufele has been Co-President of the Geneva-based watch manufacturer and the company has been operated as a completely independent family-owned business.
Chopard L.U.C 1963 Chronometer Watch
The celebratory Chopard watch comes with two prestigious certifications: the Geneva Seal (the Poinçon de Geneve quality hallmark) and COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute). The beating heart of this vintage-inspired timepiece is a pocket-watch movement L.U.C 63.01-L that is a direct successor of the chronometers that Chopard was still making in 1963.
This mechanical hand-wound mechanism consists of 151 parts and provides no less than 60 hours of power reserve. The mechanism is created three years ago in Chopard’s workshop in partnership with the Ecole d’Horlogerie de Geneve (Geneva Watchmaking School).
Chopard L.U.C 1963 Chronometer Watch Case
As far as the finishing of the movement is concerned, it includes circular-graining, chamfering, polishing, beveled nickel silver bridges, Côtes de Geneve decoration, finely gilded inscriptions and elegant swan’s-neck index assembly. The masterfully handmade mechanism is visible through a sapphire crystal exhibition case back.
Chopard L.U.C 1963 Chronometer Watch Case Back
The watch case is shielded on the front with a glare-proofed sapphire crystal and it is constructed to resist water pressure of up to 50 meters (about 165 feet). The case measures 44mm in diameter and 11.50mm in thickness. Chopard offered two versions of the L.U.C 1963 50th Anniversary Chronometer, each issued in only 50 specimens. The first one with the referent number 161963-5001 is available in 18-karat rose gold, while the model with the reference 161963-9001 is housed in a platinum case.
Underneath the front sapphire glass lies a porcelain-white dial with dauphine hands, thick black Roman numerals that run almost all the way to the edge and an off-centered small seconds subsidiary dial at the 9 o’clock position.
The L.U.C 1963 50th Anniversary Chronometer is attached to a hand-sewn brown alligator leather strap, lined with cognac-toned alligator leather and finished with a pin buckle in rose gold or platinum.
The new Chopard watch in rose gold comes with the retail price of $37,580, while the price tag for platinum version is not yet announced.
