A defining emblem of the Manufacture, the beehive rises as a metaphor for the harmonious collective spirit that animates its workshops. Three bees hover across its surface, symbolising the three generations of the Scheufele family who have faithfully preserved its legacy.
Developed according to an exacting set of specifications in line with those of Chopard Manufacture, this limited edition of ten chiming mechanical table clocks has been realised in collaboration with L’Epée 1839 — the only Swiss manufacture specialised in complicated clockmaking.
The Beehive Table Clock will be made available exclusively in Chopard boutiques.
The Beehive: a living symbol of Chopard Manufacture
As the dwelling place of bees, the beehive stands as a symbol of labour, constancy, and ceaseless activity – a perfectly organised structure in which each role contributes to a greater whole. For centuries, bees have embodied vital energy and renewal, often associated with the soul and the sustaining forces of life, a symbolism echoed across cultures and civilisations from ancient Egypt and classical Greece to Celtic and Welsh traditions, Indian philosophical texts, and later European traditions.
Seen through this lens, the Beehive Table Clock becomes a direct expression of the values that lie at the heart of Chopard Manufacture: industriousness, precision and collective skill. This symbolism was consciously revived in 1996, when Karl‑Friedrich Scheufele adopted the bee as the emblem of the newly founded Chopard Manufacture in Fleurier, paying tribute to the heritage of Louis‑Ulysse Chopard, who had already used the beehive motif in the 19th century. On early pocket watches, beehives were finely engraved on movement bridges and hinged casebacks.
Today, the beehive also carries a contemporary significance as a symbol of environmental responsibility, given the bee’s essential role in natural ecosystems. This symbolism takes on a tangible form at Chopard Manufacture in Fleurier, where real beehives are maintained within the garden of the Chopard Forum.
A true Objet d’Art
These layers of meaning find material expression in the Beehive Table Clock itself, starting with the glass ring segments, which are curved on their exterior and inner surfaces to evoke the form of traditional beehives, dating back to mediaeval European apiculture. Unlike the precise geometry of natural honeycombs, these historical manmade hives, shaped like upside-down woven baskets, bore the individual imprint of the artisans who crafted them by hand.
In the same aesthetic vein, the brass movement plates and steel base are gilded, evoking a hive overflowing with honey — the golden treasure of nature’s most diligent labourers, known for its near‑eternal longevity.
Measuring 25.8 cm in height, with a diameter of 16.5 cm at its widest point, the Beehive Table Clock consists of seven tiers of rounded glass segments, encircling a multi-level mechanical movement, held up by a reinforced base of galvanised steel. Borosilicate glass is used throughout for its exceptional clarity, thermal resistance and hardness. To preserve the pristine exterior surfaces, the hour and minute markings are etched on the inner surface of the glass rings, where their matte finish ensures optimal legibility.
The exterior of the Beehive Table Clock is adorned with three bees, symbolising three generations of the Scheufele family, in 18-carat ethical yellow gold, handcrafted in Chopard’s Haute Joaillerie atelier in Geneva. Each one is cast using the traditional lost-wax technique, then finished by hand and set with alternating rows of yellow sapphires (6.45 cts) and black diamonds (6.29 cts) forming the banded body, with black spinels (3.06 cts) for the eyes. Their diaphanous wings are adorned with diamond brilliants and crafted from rock crystal, a natural mineral chosen to echo the iconic Palme d’Or of the Cannes Film Festival, a trophy made by the same atelier since 1998. Beyond their symbolic and decorative presence, the bees also serve a functional role. Two of them are poised such that the stinger at the end of their abdomen serves as a precise marker for the indication of hours and minutes, which is displayed via rotating glass rings. The third bee is perched near the apex of the clock, its head pointing towards the active chiming mode as shown by the selector.
Three chiming modes are displayed on the selector: active (ON), silent (OFF) and on demand (DEM). For ease of use, the selector switches only between active and silent modes. In active mode, the Beehive Table Clock automatically chimes the number of hours on the hour, and once during the half hours. When set to silent, the chime is completely de-activated. In either mode, the selector can be manually rotated to activate the chime on demand, which will denote the number of hours of the current time. Upon release, the spring-loaded mode selector instantaneously returns to the previously selected mode (active or silent).
Interacting with the Beehive Table Clock is designed to be intuitive and tactile. The time is set by manually rotating the glass segment that bears the minutes. To allow winding and setting without marking the glass, both the minute segment and the winding segment are fitted with discreet crenelated rings, enhancing grip while enriching the sensory experience. The uppermost glass tier is an essential component of the chiming mechanism: formed like a shallow cloche, it functions as a glass bell that, when struck on its inner surface by a small golden hammer, makes an acoustic report of the time.
Winding the double-barrel movement is achieved by rotating the crown on the lowermost tier. Turning it clockwise winds the barrel that drives the timekeeping function of the clock, while turning it counterclockwise winds the chiming barrel. Each barrel has eight days of autonomy when fully wound – when the chiming mode is active. If the Beehive Table Clock is left in silent mode and manually triggered to activate chiming on demand, it can chime up to a maximum of 1,440 times if fully wound (or 120 times at 12 o’clock on demand).
Shared savoir-faire : when two Manufactures join forces
Requiring over two years of development, the Beehive Table Clock was conceived by Chopard Manufacture and built in partnership with revered Swiss clockmakers L’Épée 1839. As is the norm with all Chopard Manufacture’s creations, exceptional levels of attention went into every detail of the clock.
For both Manufactures, the project involved rethinking the use of glass as a core structural and acoustic element within a chiming mechanism — a shared challenge that required new approaches. This complexity gave rise to a process in which expertise was shared, exchanged, and mutually expanded.
To perfect the acoustic performance of the chime, Chopard partnered with HEPIA (Haute Ecole du Paysage, d’Ingénierie et d’Architecture de Genève) to conduct an in‑depth scientific analysis. The academic team studied the acoustic properties of glass and compared them with those of sapphire, while ensuring the chime could be homologated with Chopard’s renowned sonneries. Beyond material analysis, the research also explored how variations in the geometry of the bell influence its frequency response and natural modes of vibration. Through extensive testing, this collaborative work made it possible to reproduce, as faithfully as possible, the Maison’s signature crystal‑clear sound — a defining characteristic of its chiming L.U.C timepieces, traditionally achieved through their patented monobloc sapphire crystal case and gongs.
Chopard Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele sums it up perfectly:
“As we celebrate 30 years of “Chopard Manufacture” in Fleurier, the Beehive table clock pays tribute to our 1996 relaunch of integrated movement production. It also refers to the initial logo, used by Louis-Ulysse Chopard, after the company's founding in 1860,- symbolising labour, precision and dedication. Last, but not least this clock is meant to remind us of the essential role bees play in our ecosystem ! My sincere thanks for a fruitful collaboration go to l'Épée, to Chopard's High Jewellery department and all the passionate artisans who assisted in creating this outstanding Objet d'Art.”
