The first we knew that something exciting was cooking at Chopard was when a beautiful rose-coloured package arrived in the WorldTempus office with strict instructions not to open until April 20th. The excitement in the office was electric. What could it be? What could be going on? Could there be candy inside? We managed to resist until the evening of the 19th and then took a vote and ripped the box open!
The first thing that caught our attention (being in the media business) was a luxurious gold-embossed magazine with a photograph of movie star Julia Roberts on the cover wearing a brand-new Chopard Happy Sport timepiece. On closer inspection, we discovered that the actress is the new face of the collection.
Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts has had an extraordinary career, capturing our hearts with her roles as Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman (1990), Anna Scott in Notting Hill (1999), and later with her portrayal of the activist Erin Brockovich in the film of the same name in 2000, for which she earned an Oscar for best actress.
In addition to her talent as an actress, she is also known for her infectious laugh and mega-watt smile that lights up the big screen. It was this joie de vivre and her free spirit that made her the perfect choice for Chopard and its Happy Sport Collection.
Chopard was also a great fit for the actress, “Chopard just represents this timeless idea of elegance and sparkle and being ladylike,” she shared. On the question of sustainability, she added, “I would say that the idea of responsible luxury is something that not enough brands pay attention to. The thing with a Masion like Chopard is that it has really pioneered the idea of having a conscience, leading the charge and setting an example for other brands to follow.”
Capturing the Moment
To celebrate this new collaboration, Chopard’s Co-Founder and Creative Director Caroline Scheufele called upon film director Xavier Dolan and photographer Sebastien Laverdière to capture Julia Roberts wearing the new Happy Sport in both moving and still images. The pair succeeded in recording a happy moment that is impossible to watch without smiling too.
The Happy Sport Collection
The Happy Sport Collection was designed by Caroline Scheufele in 1993. “I wanted a watch that I could wear all day long – at the gym, in the office, or for a dinner town,” she explained. She was inspired by a previous Chopard collection from 1976 that had diamonds floating on the dial. This timepiece had remained in her mind as she remembers her mother saying “Diamonds are happier when they are free.”
For her Happy Sport, Caroline Scheufele designed a system where diamonds were set into metal capsules, allowing them to twirl like spinning tops between two sapphire crystals. Although a simple idea, it was a feat of engineering to achieve as adding two layers of sapphire crystal and diamonds on top of the dial would normally have made the timepiece overly thick. Thanks to her team of micro-engineers, a solution was found to make her dream a reality.
Not only were these dancing diamonds something brand-new at the time, but also the combination of a steel case and diamonds was pretty much unheard of back in the early 1990s. Almost 30 years on and the timepiece has truly become a watchmaking icon.
New Limited Editions – Happy Sport The First
In addition to the launch of the new campaign with Julia Roberts, Chopard is unveiling a new collection of timepieces called Happy Sport The First. Twelve references are being unveiled in a new 33mm size that has been inspired by the proportions of the Golden Ratio. Models come in a choice of sustainable Lucent A223 steel or 18-karat ethical gold and include seven happy diamonds on the dial. there are also options for more sparkle on the bezel, case, crown, and bracelet... just in case you weren’t smiling already!
