CHOPARD L.U.C 1963 Limited Edition

The quintessential chronometer

With its blend of elegance, precision and aesthetic purity, the L.U.C 1963 is a natural descendant of the great historical chronometers. It brings the watch back to the fundamentals of its vocation: namely to provide the clearest, most accurate and most appealing display of time. Featuring a shape dictated by a hand-wound movement bearing the Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark, its dial occupies almost the entire diameter of its generously sized rose gold case. 2014 marks 50 years of the Scheufele family at the helm of Chopard. This 50^th anniversary is being celebrated in due style by a watch with a powerful presence distinguished by a classic aesthetic appearance underwritten by the finest modern technical expertise.

The Swiss chronometers of yesteryear embodied watchmaking’s quest for progress and precision. While these large-sized pocket-watch models were essentially dedicated to the cause of rating regularity, they forged in parallel a pure, uncluttered aesthetic that became a benchmark.  The L.U.C 1963 echoes this two-fold tradition. A wristwatch equipped with a pocket-watch movement, it is a direct descendant of the chronometers that Chopard was still producing in 1963, the year the Scheufele family acquired the Geneva-based company. Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Co-President of Chopard, explains the approach behind this model: “We had a very classical approach, reminiscent of the watches that my father used to make just after the takeover: models with white dials and black Roman numerals. Such was the classic aesthetic of the era and which my father deliberately cultivated.”

The case of the L.U.C 1963 strikes a perfect balance between elegance and opulent sizing. Jutting slightly out from the 44 mm-diameter case, the lugs gently mould the curve of the wrist. The sides of the 18-carat rose gold case are cambered and brushed, while the slender rounded bezel is polished. The pure, translucent porcelain-style white dial bears a small seconds subdial at 9 o’clock, dauphine hands, black Roman numerals and a rail track minute circle – all representing direct references to the golden era of chronometers. Nonetheless, each of these elements has been reworked. The small seconds subtly overlaps the minute track and bears red Arabic numerals ensuring a lively yet discreet presence. The design of the dauphine hands are typical of the new L.U.C collections. The Roman numerals follow the round shape of the dial and feature alternating solid and slender bars, while the minute track is composed of uninterrupted black ‘rails’ with ‘sleepers’ that never touch and thus create a lighter effect on this key structural element within the L.U.C 1963 aesthetic. Nonetheless, the most striking feature of this dial is undoubtedly its size, since it occupies almost the entire diameter of the watch. This substantial opening of 36.7 mm is a direct consequence of the presence of the L.U.C Calibre 63.01-L.

Chopard fashions all its L.U.C calibres in harmony with the finest horological traditions. In this respect, the finishing of its movements is considered to be just as essential as their mechanical construction. Circular-graining, chamfering, Côtes de Genève and polishing are extensively employed and all hand-crafted in the Chopard Manufacture workshops. They endow the L.U.C 1963 with a noble pedigree that is granted by the prestigious Poinçon de Genève – a hallmark awarded only to watches displaying the highest degree of aesthetic and mechanical quality. The L.U.C 1963 is in a league of its own within the L.U.C collections in terms of both its nature and its spirit. In keeping with this rare and exclusive nature, only 50 of this model will be produced, all clearly destined for devotees of classical Fine Watchmaking.