Chopard's legacy in the world of luxury timepieces dates back to 1860 when Louis-Ulysse Chopard established his workshop in Sonvilier, Switzerland. Over the decades, Chopard has evolved from a humble watchmaker to a global powerhouse, renowned for its exquisite jewelry and precision timepieces. The L.U.C collection, named after the founder, represents the pinnacle of Chopard's watchmaking expertise, showcasing the brand's mastery of traditional techniques and cutting-edge technology.
The L.U.C Flying T Twin Perpetual is a testament to Chopard's dedication to pushing the boundaries of watchmaking. This timepiece combines two of the most challenging complications in horology: a flying tourbillon and a large-date perpetual calendar. The flying tourbillon, a mesmerizing spectacle of engineering, appears to float within its cage, defying gravity and captivating the eye. The large-date perpetual calendar, a marvel of mechanical complexity, accurately displays the date, day, and month, accounting for leap years, ensuring that the wearer never needs to manually adjust the calendar.
Courtesy of Chopard
At the heart of this horological marvel lies the L.U.C Calibre 96.36-L, a movement that embodies Chopard's technical prowess. This 6-millimeter-thick movement is a marvel of miniaturization, packing a plethora of complications into a compact space. The flying tourbillon, a delicate dance of gears and springs, is a testament to Chopard's mastery of precision engineering. The large-date perpetual calendar, a complex mechanism of levers and wheels, ensures that the date display remains accurate, even during the shorter months and leap years.
The L.U.C Flying T Twin Perpetual is more than just a technical marvel; it's a work of art. The 40.5-millimeter case, crafted from ethical 18k yellow gold, exudes an aura of understated luxury. The slender, bassiné profile of the case is a nod to classic watchmaking traditions, while the modern dimensions ensure a comfortable fit on the wrist. The forest green dial, a rich and vibrant hue, is a testament to Chopard's mastery of color and texture. The hand-guilloché finish, a traditional technique that involves engraving intricate patterns onto the dial, adds depth and dimension to the timepiece.
The dial of the L.U.C Flying T Twin Perpetual is a canvas of intricate details. The gold dial, treated with a green PVD coating, features a hand-crafted sunburst guilloché finish that radiates from the center, drawing the eye towards the complications at 6 o'clock. The applied hour markers and hands, crafted from 18k yellow gold, provide a striking contrast against the verdant backdrop. The large date display, positioned at 12 o'clock, is framed by a delicate aperture, while the day and month displays are nestled within subdials at 9 and 3 o'clock, respectively.
Courtesy of Chopard
The flying tourbillon, a mesmerizing spectacle of engineering, is prominently displayed at 6 o'clock. This intricate mechanism, consisting of a rotating cage that houses the balance wheel, escapement, and balance spring, appears to float within its aperture, defying gravity and captivating the eye. The tourbillon's constant rotation compensates for the effects of gravity on the watch's accuracy, ensuring precise timekeeping. The rhythmic dance of the tourbillon is a constant reminder of the mechanical complexity that lies beneath the surface of this horological masterpiece.
The L.U.C Flying T Twin Perpetual is a testament to Chopard's commitment to craftsmanship. Every component of this timepiece, from the movement to the case to the dial, is meticulously crafted by skilled artisans. The hand-guilloché finish on the dial, a traditional technique that requires years of training to master, is a testament to Chopard's dedication to preserving traditional watchmaking techniques. The intricate patterns, engraved onto the dial with the utmost precision, create a mesmerizing play of light and shadow, adding depth and dimension to the timepiece.
Courtesy of Chopard
The case of the L.U.C Flying T Twin Perpetual is a study in understated luxury. Crafted from ethical 18k yellow gold, the case exudes a warm, inviting glow. The slender, bassiné profile is a nod to classic watchmaking traditions, while the modern dimensions ensure a comfortable fit on the wrist. The polished surfaces of the case reflect light beautifully, highlighting the intricate details of the design. The see-through sapphire crystal case back reveals the intricate workings of the L.U.C Calibre 96.36-L, allowing the wearer to admire the complex dance of gears and levers that power this horological masterpiece.
The L.U.C Flying T Twin Perpetual is equipped with an ingenious interchangeable strap system that allows the wearer to customize the look of the timepiece to suit their mood or occasion. The watch comes with two straps: a green alligator leather strap with a soft-touch finish and a brown calfskin grain leather strap with a matte finish. Both straps are hand-sewn with matching tones, ensuring a seamless transition from case to strap. The 18k yellow gold folding clasp provides a secure and comfortable fit, ensuring that the watch remains securely fastened to the wrist.
Courtesy of Chopard
The L.U.C Calibre 96.36-L, the heart of this horological masterpiece, is a marvel of engineering. This self-winding mechanical movement boasts a power reserve of approximately 65 hours, thanks to Chopard's L.U.C Twin Technology, which utilizes two stacked barrels. The movement operates at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour), ensuring precise timekeeping. The movement is comprised of 319 individual parts, each meticulously crafted and finished to the highest standards. The movement is also chronometer-certified, a testament to its accuracy and reliability.
The technical specifications of the L.U.C Flying T Twin Perpetual are a testament to Chopard's engineering prowess. The watch features a 40.5-millimeter case crafted from ethical 18k yellow gold, with a thickness of 11.63 millimeters. The dial, made of gold with a green PVD coating, boasts a hand-crafted sunburst guilloché finish. The see-through sapphire crystal case back reveals the intricate workings of the L.U.C Calibre 96.36-L. The movement, a self-winding mechanical marvel, features a date, small seconds, hours, and minutes functions, along with a tourbillon and perpetual calendar complications. With a power reserve of approximately 65 hours and a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour), the movement is a testament to Chopard's technical expertise.
Courtesy of Chopard
The L.U.C Flying T Twin Perpetual is a horological masterpiece that showcases Chopard's dedication to innovation and craftsmanship. The combination of a flying tourbillon and a large-date perpetual calendar is a rare feat of engineering, and the aesthetic refinement of the watch is a testament to Chopard's artistic vision. The intricate details, from the hand-guilloché dial to the polished case to the complex movement, all come together to create a timepiece that is both technically impressive and visually stunning.
The L.U.C Flying T Twin Perpetual is a rare and exclusive timepiece, reflecting its exceptional craftsmanship and technical complexity. The price of this horological masterpiece is set at $184,000. This price point places the watch firmly in the realm of ultra-luxury timepieces, making it accessible only to the most discerning collectors. Due to the limited production of this model and the high demand for Chopard's L.U.C collection, availability may be limited.
Case: 40.5 mm diameter, 11.63 mm thick, ethical 18k yellow gold, slender bassiné profile, see-through sapphire crystal case-back.
Movement: L.U.C Calibre 96.36-L, self-winding mechanical, 6.00 mm thick, Ø 33.00 mm, 319 parts, 25 jewels, 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) frequency, 65-hour power reserve, L.U.C Twin Technology (two stacked barrels), flying tourbillon, perpetual calendar with large date display, chronometer-certified, Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark.
Dial: Gold with green color obtained by PVD, hand-crafted sunburst guilloché finish.
Strap: Green alligator leather strap (soft touch) with hand-sewn matching tones, brown calfskin grain leather strap (matt) with hand-sewn matching tones, interchangeable strap system, 18k yellow gold folding clasp.
Price: $184,000
Reference Number: 161989-0001
Notes: Combines a flying tourbillon and a large-date perpetual calendar. Features a hand-guilloché dial.