Press release
To mark its 150th anniversary, Chopard presents one of the major complications of the watchmaking art: the Equation of Time which, in association with the Perpetual Calendar, provides a mechanical reflection of the fabulous dance of the heavenly bodies. Further enhanced with a Tourbillon, this masterpiece of complexity – chronometer-certified by the COSC and bearing the Poinçon de Genève – is naturally issued in a strictly limited edition.
High-end watchmaking welcomes a major new reference model with the L.U.C 150 “all in one” watch, admirably showcasing the brand's in-house movement manufacturing expertise as the brand prepares to celebrate its 150th anniversary. This exceptional timepiece beats to the cadence of the new hand-wound L.U.C 4TQE calibre, entirely designed, developed and produced by Chopard Manufacture. It represents a superlative crowning accomplishment of the work undertaken by Chopard Manufacture since its creation in 1996.
Chronometer-certified by the COSC and bearing the prestigious Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark, the L.U.C 4TQE movement houses four barrels endowing it with a seven-day power reserve. It powers displays of the hours, minutes, small seconds on the tourbillon, a perpetual calendar showing a 24-hour indication, the day of the week, the date through a window, the month, the leap year, the power reserve, along with a 24-hour indication, the equation of time, sunrise and sunset times and moon phases. Comprising 516 parts and 42 jewels, the L.U.C 4TQE movement beats at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations/hour.
A rare complication, the equation of time shows the difference between true solar time (that of nature) and mean solar time (or civilian time). The Earth follows an elliptical orbit around the earth, and its axis is also inclined in relation to the plane of the equator. This means that the period of time between two passages of the sun through the highest point in the sky (noon) is not the same length throughout the year. It lasts exactly 24 hours just four times a year (on April 15th, June 14th, September 1st and December 24th). For the rest of the year, the elapsed time is sometimes shorter and sometimes longer. The difference between true solar time and mean solar time – which may vary between minus 16 minutes and 23 seconds on November 4th to plus 14 minutes and 22 seconds on February 11th – is referred to as the equation of time. The display of this difference between “natural” and “civil” time is one of the complications featured in the new L.U.C 150 “all in one” model.
The 46 mm-diameter case of the L.U.C 150 “all in one” is crafted in white gold and water-resistant to 30 metres. It adopts the new style of the L.U.C complication models unveiled for the brand's 150th anniversary. Vertical satin-brushed finishes and lugs with polished tops are part of this renewal, as are the newly shaped hands, the new fonts and the redesigned Roman numerals enhancing the dial.
The multiple indications and complications of this perpetual calendar, equation of time and tourbillon watch are displayed on the gold guilloché-worked upper dial, as well as on the second dial on the case-back side. In addition to the hours, minutes and small seconds on the tourbillon at 6 o'clock, the upper dial displays the perpetual calendar with 24-hour indication and the day of the week at 9 o'clock, the large date window at 12 o'clock, along with the month and the leap year at 3 o'clock. The equally guilloché-worked gold plate of the dial on the case-back bears the equation of time, power reserve, 24-hour day/night indication, sunrise and sunset times, as well as the astronomical orbital moon-phase display depicting the dance of the heavenly bodies – set to coincide with Geneva – and its mechanical expression.
The new L.U.C 150 “all in one” is fitted with a half-glossy alligator leather strap with a gold pin buckle adorned with the Chopard logo. It is issued in a strictly limited edition of 15 in white gold, 15 in rose gold and 15 in white gold set with baguette-cut diamonds.
Technical details
Case:
• In 18-carat white or rose gold
• Satin-brushed/polished
• Diameter 46.00 mm
• Thickness 18.50 mm
• Water-resistant to 30 metres
• Gold crown with L.U.C logo 8.50 mm
• Multi-layered glareproof sapphire crystals front and back
Movement:
• Hand-wound, tourbillon L.U.C 4TQE
• Total diameter 33.00 mm
• Thickness 11.75 mm
• Number of jewels 42
• Frequency 28,800 vph
• 4 barrels
• Power reserve 189 hours (7 days)
• Chronometer certification (COSC)
• Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark
Dial and hands:
• Hand-guilloché upper and lower dials
• Silvered snailed hollowed counters
• Black applied Roman numerals
• Black Dauphine fusée hour and minutes hands
• Black hands for the small seconds, perpetual calendar, equation of time and 24-hour day/night indication
• Red hands for the power-reserve and sunrise and sunset indications
Functions and displays:
Upper dial
• Central hour and minute hands
• Small seconds displayed on the tourbillon at 6 o'clock
• Perpetual calendar with 24-hour indication and day of the week at 9 o'clock
• Display of the month and leap year at 3 o'clock
• Large date window at 12 o'clock
Lower dial
• Display of the equation of time, power reserve, the-hour day/night indication, sunrise and sunset times in Geneva, and the astronomical orbital moon-phase
Strap and buckle
• Black hand-sewn half-glossy alligator leather lined with brown alligator leather
• Gold pin buckle
Ref. 161925-1001 white gold 15-piece limited edition
Ref. 161925-5001 rose gold 15-piece limited edition
Ref. 171925-1001 white gold with bezel set with baguette-cut diamonds
15-piece limited edition
