PHORLOGERIE1
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The Chopard 16/1860/2 was first introduced in 1997, while the Dufour Simplicity was unveiled at Baseworld 2000 (in 34mm initially). While both models probably had been in the making for a few years before their introduction dates, it is difficult to imagine that Chopard took its design from the Dufour Simplicity given the multiple years between their introduction. Both the 1860 as well as the Simplicity had their dials produced by Metalem. Personally I prefer the dial design of the Chopard given its lack of numerals and the smaller sub second window.
Watches and Wonders 2023: Chopard LUC 1860 Lucent Steel, Salmon Dial.
I always had a problem with the LUC 1860... The date on the dial. I liked a lot of things on this reference, but the date always turned me off. It is small, it makes a hole in the dial, it kills the dial. You can imagine my surprise when I saw this watch ...
This watch is truly amazing my friend! If there was one thing, only one thing I could change to it would be to have darker hands (like almost black like in some Patek) instead of the silver looking handā¦
It would make the dial pop even more and give better legibility in some lightings
It's just too good.
I can't find a single flaw. This and the Tank Normale were the absolute winners of W&W in my opinion. Hopefully other brands will take notes and start offering 36mm dress watches once again. Some brands keep messing up the proportions *cough* Patek *c...
I love this one too!
I have not seen it in person, but the photos alone show a magnificent piece. Lucky to those who are able to get one. I am the contrarian here, but I prefer a little more wrist size because 36mm gets lost on my wrist. 39mm would be good for me, although I ...
Thanks, mon ami. Good to know about the color and how it wears
For now, the AE XPS hopefully will be on my wrist first one of these days.
This is perfection. Incredible.
This is the tiniest of āflawsā but the crown could have had just slightly shallower teeth but that is nitpicking. A wonderful watch.
lovely LUC and I agree it is at its best without the date window...
personally I think the overall value for this timepiece is great for this price range from any brand. also the ONLY WATCH pistachio dial is cool. Best, mahesh.,
Yes!
I personally donāt have a problem with date windows on dials, however same as you Iām bothered when they cut in to any other indication such as minute markers, or seconds dial indicators. Here we donāt have that issue and I love the clean design filtered ...
I love this watch...
...great size. Like you, I am not a fan of date windows on what is clearly a very elegant dress watch. A couple of nitpicks; No inward angles on the movement and a relatively small balance wheel. And I would have liked the sub-seconds dial to be a bit low...
This one is still tugging at my heart . . .
Although my primary target was the Alpine Eagle 41 XPS, this is L.U.C 1860 is absolutely gorgeous in the metalššš. The dial is exquisitely detailed: I may have to add this to the target list! Thanks for report, Nico!š„ ...
I have hard time to choose between these 2, also...
I have hard time to choose between these 2,
Lovely photos and essay, Nico! I am a fan of the date, though.
I always prefer a date to a no-date model when the choice is available. The L.U.C. 1860 is no exception. On the wrist, the date blends in very well with this dial, mainly because the background color is the same as the dial color. ...
Very impressed with that dial!
The movement is stunning and being both GS and COSC just adds a sprinkle of sugar to quite a tasty cake indeed! Very impressed!
A great review of a great watch!
At this price point, I sadly wouldn't buy this watch. Yes, the dial is amazing. And it is supplied from that special dial maker! And the design is perfect. But the reason why I wouldn't buy this watch is mainly because of the price point and the fact that...
Agreed.
The VC 82172 in gold is about the same price as the Chopard 1860. So that's why I find the VC to be such a good value!
Oui oui!
I'm sad though. I wanted to acquire the 82172 Vacheron Constantin in white gold. And I made an inquiry a year ago with a boutique manager... The silly boutique manager never got back to me. And now they recently discontinued it. How sad.
Homerun
Chopard did very well to re-introduce it. It will be a strong seller. While I am team no-date as well, the 1860 is the only watch I own with a date. As mentioned here before, due to its execution and position it blends very well and you don't notice it as...
Any truth to some mythology
that chopard has some lineage to Dufour Simplicity, there has been plenty hearsay in this regard over the years?
Thanks for sharing your knowledge
many publications have made circumstantial claims but none with as much clarification as you have done regarding the dial originsš
Dufour did a visual presentation in late 2015 that I attended where he compared his finishing to the finishing of a high-end brand by critiquing it...
He didn't name the movement or the brand in his photos but it was the 1.96.
Yes, the resemblance and the timing are uncanny for the similar Metalem dials to be purely coincidental.
I remember how (pleasantly) surprised I was to see Dufour pick this particular watch, the L.U.C. 1860, to critique. I have always thought of the LUC 1860 as the "poor man's Simplicity." Which metal and dial combination do you have? And did you count the b...
Must be referring to
āthe caliber 1.96 is probably the finest automatic movement being produced in Switzerlandā at that timeā¦.
I would pick this over any entry level Patek
Iād put this in the same category as the Breguet 5177 email grand feu (blue) in terms of value / features for the money.
Recently got a 40mm XP ..
and it looks smaller than 40mm on the wrist. I think 36.5mm must look absolutely tiny.
Waiting list
Iām fourth on the waiting list for this watch at the Chopard boutique. They predict March 2024 so Iāll post a lot of photos of this when I pick it up next year. I once passed on a white gold 1860/2 LUC with a Hunter case in 2018 at nakano broadway in Japa...
Not yet
Donāt count your chickens before they are on your wrist! I hope I can get it in March 2024 as the boutique forecasts
Queue
To chopardās credit, they didnāt suggest that purchasing an alpine eagle or a Diamond tennis bracelet or engagement ring would bump me up the list for the 1860 salmon dial