Chopard

CR
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I know exactly what you mean!...

I spent about 3 years looking for a preowned L.U.C. 1.96. It was the only Chopard model that I liked enough to want to own, and the movement arguably looked nicer than a Lange. I was toying with the idea of purchasing a new one, and I had made several inquiries. One day in June 2005, very coincidentally, I checked the Purists "collectors market" (or whatever it was called 7 years ago) and saw a 1.96 that had JUST been listed a few minutes earlier! The watch had exactly the dial color that I wanted (copper/salmon), and I thought the price was quite low. I went crazy! I tracked down the seller's work phone -- called him, emailed him, PM'd him, etc., saying, "I'll take it at your price, please hold it for me!" A few days later, it was mine, complete with all boxes and papers. The seller told me he had a TON of other buyers who wanted it -- some for more money than he was asking, if I remember correctly -- and that he had some regrets selling it. For the next few years, I'd continue to check the sales fora on the Purists and on other websites, just to see if any other 1.96s appear, but I'd really never see them.

One interesting sidenote ... when the watch arrived, I noticed that the date wheel had black numerals with a white background. I thought this was very strange, since I knew Chopard made a date wheel with copper/salmon background specifically to match my dial color. I contacted Chopard about changing the date wheel, and they said, "Oh, we have no idea why we would've put a white date wheel on that watch -- just send it to us and we'll change it for free." Now THAT'S service! [Pics below.]

Good luck in your hunt! I truly hope you find the watch you seek.