Chopard L.U.C Perpetual Twin CronotempVs Club Edition

Perpetual Twin, a perpetual calendar with its union of the practical and the poetic, is the ultimate expression of elegance and sophistication for the modern gentleman. This year Chopard is presenting its celebrated perpetual calendar, in collaboration with CronotempVs that offers the gentleman connoisseurs a new expression of artful style and horological finesse. With this version of the L.U.C Perpetual Twin, Manufacture Chopard perpetuates the historic bond between the brand and the private watch collectors club CronotempVs. A story that began 10 years ago with the first club watch, the L.U.C Tech-Twist. With an unseen to date granulated gold dial and blackened indices, this perpetual calendar seals a relationship that will last for many decades to come. 

Launched in 2016 on the 20th anniversary of Chopard Manufacture, the L.U.C Perpetual Twin is recognised for its combination of purist-pleasing Haute Horlogerie and the practicality of an automatic steel wristwatch designed to be worn every day. Indeed, it remains the only chronometer-certified perpetual calendar in stainless steel currently on the market, a reflection of Chopard’s absolute commitment to superior quality in every watch it makes.

Chopard now presents this modern timepiece once more in robust stainless steel, with a newly-refined dial in a rich and urbane shade of blue. Additionally, the L.U.C Perpetual Twin is presented for the first time in 18-carat rose gold, with a subtle grey dial.

The magnificent gold-granulated dial sets the scene for a perfect legibility in all conditions. The visibility on month and date has been improved with an increased contrast. A big date forms the focal point of the layout, with sub-dials for the perpetual calendar day, month and leap year indications, and small seconds at 6 o’clock. Minimalist applied hour markers bring quiet poise to this discreet and perfectly balanced design. As a hidden detail, even if this is the tenth watch so far, the “V” has been rhodinated in silver since this is a series 5 (calendar complication) of the collection.

Technical mastery: a perpetual calendar chronometer

Visible beneath a sapphire crystal caseback, the movement powering the L.U.C Perpetual Twin, mechanical automatic calibre L.U.C 96.22-L, is a work of true technical and artisanal mastery. Hand-made by Chopard’s skilled watchmakers, it exhibits the finest traditions of hand-finishing, and has been certified as a chronometer by the experts of Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC) – a rare distinction for perpetual calendar watches, and one that guarantees utmost precision and reliability.

Chopard’s watchmakers also ensured that elegance is built into the watch from the calibre outwards, thank to a 22-carat gold micro-rotor that sits within the plane of the movement, keeping the entire mechanism to just 6 mm in depth. Chopard Twin Technology, meanwhile, employs dual barrels to deliver an extended power reserve of 65 hours, meaning that the watch will continue running when left untouched for over two-and-a-half days.

The gentleman’s way

The L.U.C Perpetual Twin is in every way the watch of the modern gentleman – a quietly sophisticated statement of culture and elegance, for the man who naturally advocates for art, aesthetics, handcraft and style. And as such, it is a timepiece conveying the essence of Chopard watchmaking: a refined celebration of the watchmaker’s art, that is both distinctive and utterly discreet.

Total mastery

Movement construction, product design, gold smelting, case stamping and machining, movement components, traditional hand-crafted decorations, surface treatments, polishing, assembly, movement adjustment and quality control: all operations involved in watch production are performed in-house by Chopard Manufacture. The Maison applies them to the making of each timepiece in the L.U.C collection paying tribute to the founder whose initials it bears: Louis-Ulysse Chopard. Profoundly attached to the pure lines and subtle details that made his watches such highly sought-after items, Louis-Ulysse Chopard already knew how to attire gentlemen with beautiful pocket-watches back in his day.

25 years of excellence, innovation and tradition

In 2021, Chopard is proud to mark the 25th anniversary of the creation of Chopard Manufacture in Fleurier. In 1996, when Swiss watchmaking was still emerging from the struggles of the quartz crisis, Chopard Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele committed to defending and restoring the ancestral crafts and techniques passed down through generations of watchmakers. In the village of Fleurier, where watchmaking heritage goes back over 200 years, Chopard Manufacture would become a force for the finest techniques in traditional watchmaking, hand finishing and artistic crafts. 

In parallel, it has been able to innovate across the full range of modern watch production operations, from case and dial-making to movement development, advanced metallurgy and component manufacture. In particular, it has put chronometry – the ultimate measure of horological excellence – at the heart of all its activities.

Technical specifications:

Chopard L.U.C Perpetual Twin CronotempVs Club Edition

Reference: 168561-30043

Limited edition of 21 pieces

Case

• Material: Stainless steel
• Diameter: 43 mm
• Thickness: 11.47 mm
• Stainless steel crown with L.U.C logo: 6.50 mm
• Glass: Glareproofed sapphire crystal
• Polished bezel and case-back
• Exhibition back engaved with club watch engaving
• Water-resistant to 30 meters

Dial and hands

• Perpetual calendar dials (large-aperture date, day of the week, month and leap years)
• Black Dauphine-type hour, minute, day, month and small seconds hands 
• Rhodiumed red-tipped triangular leap-year hand
• Black Roman numerals

Movement

• Mechanical self-winding L.U.C 96.22-L
• Diameter:  33.00 mm
• Thickness:  6.00 mm
• Number of jewels: 29
• Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
• Power reserve of 65 hours
• Chronometer-certified (COSC)

Functions/Indications

• Central display of the hours and minutes
• Small seconds display at 6 o’clock
• Large date display at 12 o’clock
• Day of the week and month displays at 9 and 3 o’clock respectively
• Offset leap-year display between 2 and 3 o’clock.

Strap and buckle

• Hand-sewn black alligator leather with alligator leather lining
• Steel pin buckle 

MSRP: EUR 27'200

For more information, please visit cronotempvscollectors.com