It took more than six years of research and development for Chopard’s team to create the brand’s first ever minute repeater dubbed L.U.C Full Strike. This exceptional watch is a part of the L.U.C collection which has already included the L.U.C Strike One model launched in 2010, which chimes each striking hour, but this newcomer is tooled with a minute repeater which has been completely developed, produced and assembled in-house. Chopard L.U.C Full Strike celebrates the 20th anniversary of the L.U.C’s manufacture in Fleurier, Switzerland.
The new in-house manufactured minute repeater mechanism comes in the form of a classic column-wheel chronograph movement.
The new Chopard’s watch features an openworked gold dial which comprises a substantial number of technical solutions that make it one of the most innovative minute repeaters on the watchmaking market. The watch chimes the hours, quarters and minutes on transparent crystal gongs. These sapphire rings are an integral part of the watch glass. Visible at 10 o’clock, this unique technical solution to the traditional constraints on resonance incurred when using brass or gold gongs significantly adds to the overall effect of the open-worked dial.
Its beautiful dial also features the minute repeater’s strike governor at the 8 o’clock position, as well as the dual power reserve indicator placed at the 2 o’clock position, which shows both the striking mechanism’s rate of depletion, together with the movement’s autonomy. The most impressive thing about this newcomer is the amazing tone which is literally unlike anything else you have ever heard in a wristwatch.
Chopard L.U.C Full Strike Watch Dual Power Reserve Indicator
Chopard L.U.C Full Strike Watch is housed in an elegant Fairmined rose gold case which measures 42.50mm in diameter and 11.55mm in thickness. The beating heart of the brand’s first in-house manufactured minute repeater timepiece is the new caliber 08.01-L which comprises a series of security systems that keeps it safe from all the inappropriate handling operations that can damage minute repeaters.
The large movement’s bridges and plates are covered with Côtes de Genève striping diagonally, which looks quite impressive, while the movement’s edges are chamfered and polished.
Chopard L.U.C Full Strike Watch Movement Caliber 08.01-L
The mechanism power reserve is teamed up with a semi-toothed wheel, so when the reserve drops too low, it deactivates the minute repeater chime, thus ensuring that the new L.U.C Full Strike Watch cannot sound fully, because of the lack of energy. The movement operates at the rapid frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) and it can store enough energy to keep the watch working for approximately 60 hours. The impeccable mechanism consists of 500 individual parts.
The caliber 08.01-L, as well as the case of the L.U.C Full Strike bear the Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark which guarantees the highest Haute Horlogerie standards.
The Chopard L.U.C Full Strike (ref. 161947-5001) comes with an elegant, double-sided, hand-sewn alligator leather strap. The watch is produced in the limited quantity of only 20 pieces. The retail price is 265,000 Swiss francs.
