Following “Sound of Eternity” limited editions in ethical gold, hardened steel, platinum and sapphire, Chopard has preserved the purity of sound of L.U.C Calibre 08.01-L by integrating this patented minute repeater mechanism with monobloc sapphire gongs into a 42.50 mm-diameter case made of anthracite ceramicised titanium. Combining technical innovation with bold styling, this certified chronometer issued in a an exclusive 20-piece edition is the first in the Full Strike family to feature a dial whose verdigris shade has been subtly enhanced by meticulous finishing. It is honoured by the prestigious Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark.
In 2016, the first L.U.C Full Strike model heralded a a novel way of generating and propagating the sound of a minute repeater. By using solid sapphire gongs and having the sapphire crystal serve as a resonator, as well as by combining these two components into a single, monobloc entity, Chopard offered incomparable tonal richness and acoustic intensity. This crystal-clear, inalterable sound earned the first L.U.C Full Strike model in rose gold the ultimate “Aiguille d’Or” award at the 2017 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.
The case: an innovative material
The use of ceramicised titanium for the new L.U.C Full Strike model represents a new feat in Chopard Manufacture's art of fitting its exceptional minute repeater movement inside a case whose material in no way alters the purity of the sound, since the sapphire crystal is directly connected to the gongs, with which it forms a robust whole. It is the latter that vibrates and excites the surrounding air, forming a perfect loudspeaker. In so doing, it generates the sound and musicality of the L.U.C Full Strike timepiece.
Widely used in fields such as aerospace, the automotive industry and the production of medical components, ceramicised titanium is obtained by oxidising the surface layers of titanium at extreme temperatures using electro-plasma technology. The result is a metal with an attractive anthracite colour, offering the combined advantages of titanium and ceramics. The ceramicised titanium used to make the L.U.C Full Strike case – and which the workshops had already used for the L.U.C GMT One Black and L.U.C Time Traveler One Black models – is therefore both very light and shock-resistant, while boasting a superior hardness of around 1,000 Vickers (Hv). By way of comparison, standard grade 5 titanium has a hardness of 300 Vickers. This vastly improves the metal's coefficient of friction as well as its resistance to wear and corrosion. Machining this innovative metal involves very strict and complex specifications, as the raw elements composing it must be of the highest level of purity. Thanks to this constraint, ceramicised titanium is a highly dermo-compatible material which – along with its light weight – makes the L.U.C Full Strike timepiece extremely comfortable to wear.
The case measures 42.50 millimetres in diameter and 11.55 millimetres thick: pleasingly balanced proportions that remain identical to previous versions of L.U.C Full Strike and contribute to the L.U.C collection’s characteristic elegance.
The dial: a colourful look for a daring overall effect
This model features a verdigris dial ensuring elegant chromatic harmony with the anthracite case. This is the first time that Chopard has associated its minute repeater with such a splash of colour: a daring move that demonstrates the Manufacture's contemporary approach to Haute Horlogerie.
The centre is finely frosted, while the chapter ring and small seconds counter feature an opaline finish creating a velvety appearance. A cut-out between 9 and 11 o'clock reveals the bead-blasted steel hammers, whose surface has been PVD-treated to match the case colour. These hammers are positioned at dial level and thus clearly visible, forming an integral part of the watch's design.
The railway-type minutes track is engraved on the crystal and painted, complementing a chapter ring punctuated by applied herringbone-shaped hour-markers in a matt metallic black shade – like the case – facing anthracite transferred counterparts on the inner ring.
The dial is also punctuated by the small seconds counter at 6 o'clock, the "L.U.CHOPARD" logo capsule at 3 o'clock, as well as the concentric power reserve indicator at 2 o'clock: two hands indicate the energy remaining in the barrel driving the movement (which as a 60-hour power reserve), and in the barrel driving the minute repeater.
The refinement of this model is acknowledged by the prestigious Poinçon de Genève, which applies to the construction and finishing of both the movement and the case.
The movement: an unprecedented chronometer with a patented sound mechanism
The L.U.C Full Strike watch inherits the unique advances characterising the L.U.C 08.01-L movement with its four Chopard-patented technical systems.
In a minute repeater mechanism, the energy used by the strikework is provided each time the winding lever is activated. Here, the energy comes from a separate, dedicated barrel wound directly by the crown. This enables the L.U.C Full Strike model to chime the most complex and energy-intensive time of day (or night) – namely 12 hours and 59 minutes – up to 12 times. This exceptional autonomy is due to several factors. It benefits from the contribution of a patented clutch-lever mechanism ensuring that the strikework going train is blocked to avoid losing power reserve during the information capture that controls the minute repeater.
This autonomy is moreover also the result of Chopard Manufacture's experience in multiple barrels. The founding movement of the L.U.C collection – L.U.C Calibre 96.01-L introduced in 1996 – already featured Chopard Twin technology, whose two superimposed barrels deliver long-lasting and reliable force. Since it has an autonomous energy source, the strikework systematically respects the defined rhythm, with no pauses between the hours and quarters, or between the quarters and minutes, whatever the time and however many times it chimes.
Keen to preserve the user-friendliness of the minute repeater and to make its operation as secure as possible, Chopard Manufacture has introduced a large number of innovative systems. Thus, if the barrel no longer has sufficient force to power the minute repeater, a safety mechanism blocks its release. Chopard has also filed a patent for a new strikework-activation device. As soon as it is activated, the pusher is disengaged, thereby making it impossible to disturb the running of the minute repeater or to damage it.
L.U.C Calibre 08.01-L operates at a 4 Hertz frequency, thereby guaranteeing enhanced rate stability and representing a rare feature on a minute repeater. To ensure even greater precision, the L.U.C Full Strike is equipped with a mechanism that stops the seconds hand at 6 o'clock when the crown is pulled out. This stop-second mechanism ensures that the time is set with perfect accuracy. The precision of the movement is chronometer-certified by the COSC (Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute), a guarantee to which Chopard Manufacture has long been committed.
L.U.C: elegance and Fine Watchmaking in timeless symbiosis
Since 1996, Chopard Manufacture has been perpetuating watchmaking expertise and reflecting the inspired vision of Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, committed to a quest for innovation and to defending a heritage passed on by generations of watchmakers – true artisans of watchmaking emotions – since the time of Louis-Ulysse Chopard, founder of the Maison in 1860.
Movement development, finished product design, precious metal smelting, case stamping and machining, calibre components, engraving and traditional hand-crafted finishes, Grand Feu enamel, surface treatments, polishing, assembly, adjustments and quality controls: its Swiss workshops in Geneva and Fleurier enable Chopard to master the full range of watch production operations involved in each creation of the L.U.C collection.
The work of experienced artisans, these timepieces, whose simple and pure design expresses a high degree of mechanical sophistication, beat to the rhythm of the emotions experienced by the contemporary gentlemen for whom they are intended.
