Chopard

MTF
[PuristS]
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Chopard Iconic Watches: The List

J.Sim1984,

I have consulted the current Mrs MTF and also past interviews with Mr Karl-Friedrich Scheufele for their opinion about Chopard Iconic Watches.

Here is a summary.

Firstly, Chopard currently have Four Iconic Collections: L.U.C, Mille Miglia/Classic Racing, Happy Sport and Imperiale.

There are other lines like Strada, Pushkin, Classic, Superfast, etc. but the Four main collections are recognised as the icons.

L.U.C

There are certain design codes incontrovertibly linked with the L.U.C Collection particularly the Roman numerals, case shape, hands (dauphine original and fusee versions), and small seconds display as well as 'functional rules' such as "all watches with seconds hands must be chronometer certified".

The original reference 16/1860/1 and 16/1860/2 with cal. 1.96 movement are the old icons from 1996.

The modern descendent icon is the L.U.C Qualite Fleurier.

An entry point L.U.C is the XP or XPS line. It is perhaps unfair to show the Fairmined Gold version as it has a premium price but will be the icon of the future.

Going up the price point and movement complexity is the L.U.C Quattro that is immediately recognisable since the 1998 launch..

The modern descendants are not dissimilar and offer the best finished longest power reserve manual wind slim chronometer in the business.

For many years, the so-called 'Presidents Watch' was the L.U.C Lunar One perpetual calendar that both Karl Scheufele III and Karl-Friedrich Scheufele wore to the office.

The original L.U.C Lunar One with the Roman numerals at 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock won the PuristS Purity Prize in 2009.

The Mk II version of the watch is a little more readable with bigger perpetual calendar sub-dials.

MILLE MIGLIA

The affordable Mille Miglia Collection is now iconic for Chopard with more than 25 years of evolution. The chronograph is synonymous with motor racing but we still await an in-house Chopard movement.

Meanwhile, the Mille Miglia GTS Power Control and Automatic models contain in-house Chopard movements to immediately be the icons of the Classic Racing line.

HAPPY SPORT

For ladies, the Happy Sport is the iconic Chopard watch. Even ladies who eschew quartz movements will accept a Happy Sport because of the fantastic 'dancing diamonds' on the dial.

These past couple of years, they have even equipped Happy Sports with Chopard mechanical automatic movements.

Is it possible for an iconic watch to be more iconic?

IMPERIALE

This is the Year of the Imperiale with a new advertising campaign. As with the Happy Sport, some of the high-end Imperiale contain Chopard mechanical automatic movements and the crème de la crème models feature a Chopard tourbillon for the affluent.

CONCLUSION

Depending on your gender, personal lifestyle and funds, there is a Chopard Icon for you.

I hope this list gives you a shortlist to choose from.

Personally, I chose at least one example from each the L.U.C and Mille Miglia Collections.

The current Mrs MTF chose at least one from each of the Happy Sport and L.U.C XP lines.

Regards,

MTF