Chopard Innovative L.U.C Louis-Ulysse - The Tribute Watch

The new Chopard L.U.C Louis-Ulysse – The Tribute watch celebrates the brand’s 150-th anniversary and pays tribute to Louis-Ulysse Chopard, the brand’s founder.

The new Chopard watch represents a pocket-watch that can in no time become a wristwatch. The watch is also a modern reinterpretation of an ingenious invention that allowed a pocket-watch to be worn on the wrist. The invention was introduced by Karl Scheufele I in 1912. The timepiece will be offered in a limited number of 150 pieces.

According to horological literature, Karl Scheufele I received a patent for special lugs to be used for fastening a pocket-watch and turning it into a wristwatch. Inspired by this idea, the Chopard designers and watchmakers have given birth to the L.U.C Louis Ulysse – The Tribute watch to be magically transformed from a pocket-watch into a wristwatch in just one swift move, and then switched back to a pocket-watch.

The “adjustable lugs” system introduced by Karl Scheufele I has inspired the development of a remarkably reliable cradle system for much more comfortable handling. The case is positioned inside the cradle and reliably clasped between the adjustable lugs with help of just a quarter-turn of the cradle base. Then, the watch’s owner can easily switch it back to a pocket-watch.

The 49.6mm-in-diameter case of the L.U.C Louis-Ulysse – The Tribute watch is sculptured from 18K white gold and demonstrates satin-brushed and polished finishes. It boasts 30-meter water-resistance. The case construction stands out due to its bow and its crown found at 12 o'clock.

The innovative Chopard watch accommodates the new L.U.C EHG Pocket Watch movement, a proprietary hand-wound movement created by the brand specially for the students at the Geneva Watchmaking School as a way to help them create their “school piece” as the apogee of their studies. Meant for the local watchmaking school, the Chopard movement provides support for training and apprentice watchmakers, and pays homage to the city of Geneva, welcoming Chopard since 1937.

The movement operates at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour and gives an advantage of an 80-hour power reserve. The COSC-chronometer-certified mechanism animates the hour and minute hands, and small seconds featured at 6 o'clock. Its bridges are embellished with “Cotes de Geneve” motif.

The movement is crowned by the prestigious Poincon de Geneve quality hallmark. Watch lover may admire the movement via the watch’s exhibition case-back.

The “lacquered ceramic” dial is shielded by a glare-resistant cambered sapphire crystal. It is highlighted by the signature “L.U.Chopard 1860” at 12 o'clock, reflecting the practice of Louis-Ulysse Chopard. You will also notice the red L.U.C logo found at 6 o'clock.

The dial of the watch demonstrates the signature characteristics of the L.U.C collection: black Dauphine fusee-like hour and minute hands, Roman letters and numerals suggested by a dial of a classic Chopard watch and the style popular in the 1940s and 1950s, yet presented in a rather square-cut, modern version.

The Chopard L.U.C Louis-Ulysse – The Tribute watch embraces the wrist with a hand-sewn matte black alligator leather strap equipped with a pin buckle featuring the Chopard logo. The watch is offered with a chain for the pocket-watch variation.
The timepiece is to be unveiled at Baselworld 2010.

Enjoy a fine selection of elegant Chopard watches: