Dateline: 11th October 2016. Location: London, U.K. Time Check: 12:00 GMT
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L.U.C Time Traveler One steel
Today, marked a timely milestone in Chopard history. Exactly at noon of Tuesday, 11th October 2016, Chopard co-president Mr Karl-Friedrich Scheufele announced the first worldtime watch in the L.U.C collection in London, home of Greenwich Mean Time. The L.U.C Time Traveler One is targeted at the modern nomad for the globetrotting lifestyle. It allows the owner to track the time in the 24 hourly time zones across the planet simultaneously. More than that, the superlative L.U.C finishing and aesthetic means that it is an indispensable timepiece for the gentleman traveller.
As 2016 is also the 20th anniversary year of the Chopard Manufacture, Chopard launched its first worldtime watch -- L.U.C Time Traveler One -- to be in the service of the long-haul travellers who need to remain in touch with several time zones. With a single glance, our intrepid explorers can read the time anywhere in the world. This elegant wrist instrument is purveyed in three versions offering variety of colour, appearance and preciousness; stainless steel, 18K rose gold and 950 platinum are available, each with its distinctive dial colour.
For the observer of the global nomads, the three dial colours signal the three levels of luxury afforded.
L.U.C Time Traveler One stainless steel: £10,040 GBP
L.U.C Time Traveler One 18K rose gold: £17,650 GBP
L.U.C Time Traveler One 950 platinum: £27,610 GBP
Notwithstanding the price paid, all the watches meet the high standards of the L.U.C collection by Chopard: excellence in terms of their mechanism and finishing, along with a refined aura intended for men of good taste in general – and in this particular case for modern-day nomads.
L.U.C Time Traveler One caseback
I quote from the Chopard information pamphlet released with this watch:
"Like the earth’s atmosphere, the L.U.C Time Traveler One operates in concentric layers. A discreet central arrow hand indicates the date, while a surrounding railway track circle serves to read off the hours and minutes of the local time zone – swept over by Dauphine-type hands typical of the watches in the L.U.C collection and adjusted via a crown positioned at 2 o’clock.
Moving a further step outwards, a large 24-hour graduated ring operates in coordination with the disc bearing the reference cities symbolising the 24 main time zones. Once they are synchronised with the local time zone via the 4 o’clock crown, no more adjustment is required. Travellers in a hurry, who are sometimes disorientated by successive changes of location and pace, can read off the time around the globe with the same hand as local time. This planet-wide vocation is echoed on the 4 o’clock crown bearing a modern stylised globe motif, while its 2 o’clock counterpart bears the L.U.C logo conveying an equally universal appeal."
Crown with Globe logo
The clear read-off of times in all time zones can be seen in the image below.
L.U.C Time Traveler One
Our traveller owner, who is normally based in London, has set his watch to 10:08 a.m. on the 15th day of the month, upon landing at Geneva airport. That is the Local Time. His Home Time hour is indicated by the numeral 9 under the marker for London. The minutes hand indicates that it is 09:08 back in London. He also knows that he just missed the Beijing office closing by 8 minutes because it is 17:08 there.
Three Different Dials for Three Different Metals
L.U.C Time Traveler One steel
The stainless steel L.U.C Time Traveler One features a sunburst black dial with contrasting orange accents. The worldtime ring stands out clearly, with a slate grey half indicating the night-time hours, and a silver-toned half showing daytime.
L.U.C Time Traveler One gold
The 18-carat rose gold L.U.C Time Traveler One has a dial that is entirely silver-toned, apart from the night-time hours that are shown in deep blue on its 24-hour disc.
L.U.C Time Traveler One platinum
The ultimate precious interpretation, the L.U.C Time Traveler One is the platinum case. The naturally grey shade of metal has inspired the subtle blue-tinged grey dial colour, while its worldtime ring is half silver-toned to mark the daytime hours.
In each of these three versions, the case of the L.U.C Time Traveler One measures 42 mm in diameter, an ideal size for any wrist and which ensures the legibility of the indications. Its extremely reasonable 12.09 mm thickness means it can be worn discreetly under a shirt sleeve, while its alternating satin-brushed and polished finishes endow it with the inherent sense of distinction shared by all L.U.C timepieces.
Universal L.U.C mechanism
L.U.C calibre 01.05-L
A complex yet user-friendly instrument, the L.U.C Time Traveler One is based on an all-new calibre entirely developed, produced and finished in the Chopard Manufacture workshops in Fleurier. Calibre 01.05-L is distinguished by a 6.52 mm thickness and a functional nature that appreciably simplifies its owner’s life. This self-winding movement has a 60-hour power reserve. It guarantees that the L.U.C Time Traveler One will be running smoothly and reliably after a well-deserved leisure weekend, during which it has remained safely on a bedside table.
Calibre 01.05-L is finished in accordance with the criteria governing the most prestigious watchmaking certifications, including decorations such as chamfering and Côtes de Genève applied to the various components. This meticulous finishing work may be viewed through a transparent case-back revealing the movement.
Finally, like all L.U.C watches equipped with a function indicating the seconds, the L.U.C Time Traveler One is chronometer-certified by the COSC. This approach stems from the determination of Chopard Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, a passionate devotee of fine watchmaking who devotes great importance to the independent certification of chronometric precision and has chosen to make the latter one of the fundamental principles of L.U.C watches ever since the creation of Chopard Manufacture in 1996.
Crafted in Fleurier
Technical details
Case:
- Stainless steel
- Total diameter: 42 mm
- Thickness: 12.09 mm
- Water resistance: 50 metres
- 2 partly satin-brushed stainless steel crowns with L.U.C logo and globe 6.50 mm
- Vertical satin-brushed case middle
- Polished bezel and case-back
- Exhibition back with glareproofed sapphire crystal
Movement:
- Mechanical self-winding L.U.C 01.05-L
- Number of components 262
- Total diameter: 35.30 mm
- Thickness: 6.52 mm
- Number of jewels: 39
- Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
- Power reserve: approx. 60 hours
- Bridges adorned with Côtes de Genève
- Chronometer-certified (COSC)
Dial and hands:
- Sunburst satin-brushed dial in a black colour achieved by galvanic treatment
- Finely snailed chapter ring
- Hour-markers and Arabic numerals painted with orange Super-LumiNova
- Black circular satin-brushed city disc with white and red transfers
- GMT function disc featuring a white varnished section for the hours between 6.30 am and 6.30 pm featuring black transferred markings; and a grey varnished section for the hours between 6.30 pm and 6.30 am featuring white transferred markings
- Dauphine-type hands: rhodiumed for the hours, enhanced with orange Super-LumiNova for the minutes
- Rhodiumed baton-type arrow-tipped date hand
- Orange baton-type central seconds hand
- Railway track chapter ring
Functions and displays:
- Central display of the hours, minutes, seconds and date
- City display on the outer dial disc
- Disc-type display of the GMT function
- 2 o’clock crown serving to adjust the date and the time in the main time zone
- 4 o’clock time serving to adjust the city disc
Strap and buckle:
- Alligator leather strap with alligator leather lining
- Stainless steel pin buckle
Ref. 168574-3001 – in stainless steel
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Case:
- 18-carat rose gold
- Total diameter: 42 mm
- Thickness: 12.09 mm
- Water resistance: 50 metres
- 2 partly satin-brushed 18-carat rose gold crowns with L.U.C logo and globe 6.50 mm
- Vertical satin-brushed case middle
- Polished bezel and case-back
- Exhibition back with glareproofed sapphire crystal
Dial and hands:
- Sunburst satin-brushed dial in a silver-toned colour achieved by galvanic treatment
- Finely snailed chapter ring
- Hour-markers painted with Super-LumiNova, black numerals and transfers
- Circular satin-brushed city disc in a silver tone achieved by galvanic treatment with black and red transfers
- Circular satin-brushed GMT function disc with a silver-toned section for the hours between 6.30 am and 6.30 pm featuring black transferred markings; and a midnight blue section for the hours between 6.30 pm and 6.30 am featuring white transferred markings
- Dauphine-type hands: metallic black for the hours, enhanced with Super-LumiNova for the minutes
- Metallic black baton-type arrow-tipped date hand
- Gilt baton-type central seconds hand
- Railway track chapter ring
Functions and displays:
- Central display of the hours, minutes, seconds and date
- City display on the outer dial disc
- Disc-type display of the GMT function
- 2 o’clock crown serving to adjust the date and the time in the main time zone
- 4 o’clock time serving to adjust the city disc
Strap and buckle:
- Alligator leather strap with alligator leather lining
- 18-carat rose gold pin buckle
Ref. 161942-5001 – in 18-carat rose gold
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Case:
- Platinum
- Total diameter: 42 mm
- Thickness: 12.09 mm
- Water resistance: 50 metres
- 2 partly satin-brushed platinum crowns with L.U.C logo and globe 6.50 mm
- Vertical satin-brushed case middle
- Polished bezel and case-back
- Exhibition back with glareproofed sapphire crystal
Dial and hands:
- Sunburst satin-brushed dial in a grey-blue colour achieved by galvanic treatment
- Finely snailed chapter ring
- Hour-markers and numerals painted with Super-LumiNova
- Circular satin-brushed city disc in a grey-blue tone achieved by galvanic treatment with white and red transfers
- Circular satin-brushed GMT function disc with a silver-toned section for the hours between 6.30 am and 6.30 pm featuring black transferred markings; and a grey-blue section for the hours between 6.30 pm and 6.30 am featuring white transferred markings
- Dauphine-type hands: rhodiumed for the hours, enhanced with Super-LumiNova for the minutes
- Rhodiumed baton-type arrow-tipped date hand
- Rhodiumed baton-type central seconds hand
- Railway track chapter ring
Functions and displays:
- Central display of the hours, minutes, seconds and date
- City display on the outer dial disc
- Disc-type display of the GMT function
- 2 o’clock crown serving to adjust the date and the time in the main time zone
- 4 o’clock time serving to adjust the city disc
Strap and buckle:
- Alligator leather strap with alligator leather lining
- 18-carat white gold pin buckle
Ref. 161942-9001 – in platinum
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