March 12, 2012: Chopard’s new Baselworld Collection is as scintillating as always with a set of four different watches – Chopard Classic, Imperiale Tourbillon, LUC Lunar One and Mille Miglia Lady.
Available in 18-carat rose, white or yellow gold, Chopard Classic is equipped with Chopard Calibre 01.04-C, a new mechanical self-winding movement entirely developed in-house. The Calibre 01.04-C drives the hour and minute hands, along with small seconds and a date display at 3 o’clock. Beating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, it guarantees a generous 60-hour power reserve. The beautifully rounded 38 mm-diameter case features an 18-carat gold crown and an exhibition back. The Classic is fitted with a matt black alligator leather strap fitted with an 18-carat gold pin buckle.
The Imperiale Tourbillon houses the hand-wound L.U.C 02.14-L (4T2I) calibre which is equipped with four stacked and series-coupled barrels. This patented Quattro technology ensures over 9 days of autonomy. It drives the hour and minute hands, the small seconds visible on the 1-minute tourbillon visible at 6 o’clock, as well as a power-reserve indicator highlighted at 12 o’clock. A masterpiece indeed, the 18-carat white gold is set using the snow setting technique. It is also adorned with a row of baguette-cut diamonds and a power-reserve indicator set with amethysts. The white gold crown features baguette- and briolette-cut diamonds, while oval-cut cabochons and baguette-cut diamonds adorn the bezel, lugs and bracelet. The tourbillon bridge at 6 o’clock reflects the distinctive motif of the Imperiale collection and is held in place by four screws with amethyst-set heads.
Chronometer-certified by the COSC and stamped with the Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark, the mechanical self-winding L.U.C 96.13-L (L.U.C 96QP) calibre is housed within the L.U.C Lunar One model, which is endowed with an approximately 70-hour power reserve. It drives the hours, minutes, small seconds at 6 o’clock, a perpetual calendar with large twin-aperture date display at 12 o’clock, days of the week and 24-hour indication at 9 o’clock, as well as months and leap years at 3 o’clock.
The moon phases are displayed with great precision and in an unusual manner, since they rotate around the small seconds axis. Their degree of precision amounts to a mere difference of 57.2 seconds between two lunar cycles, meaning one day in 122 years! The L.U.C Lunar One is designed to match the evolution in the criteria of the Poinçon de Genève hallmark, which as of 2012 no longer merely set the seal of approval on the craftsmanship of the movement alone, but on that of the watch as a whole. Water-resistant to 50 metres, it is fitted with a new semi-matt or matt black hand-sewn alligator leather strap featuring a cognac-coloured alligator leather lining and secured by an 18-carat rose gold pin buckle.
Immaculately white and immediately recognisable due to its rubber strap featuring the famous 1960s Dunlop Racing tyre-tread motif, the Mille Miglia Lady is a worthy descendant of its predecessors. The collection’s signature characteristics have a more feminine interpretation thanks to a clever choice of colours and materials – exemplified by the mother-of-pearl dial, the pristine strap and the sparkle of the diamond-set bezel. Inherently elegant, refined and extremely comfortable to wear, the Mille Miglia Lady houses a COSC-certified mechanical self-winding movement with a 42-hour power reserve driving indications of the hours, minutes, date and small seconds, as well as a chronograph function with sweep seconds hand and 30-minute and 12-hour counters. Water-resistant to 50 metres, it is also available in an all-steel version.
