Indeed! I remember back when I was looking....

One of the things that really interested me about the 1.96 were all of the uncontested "expert opinions" that its movement was finished to a level that was at least on par with Lange and PP (but for a fraction of the price), and it had a beautiful, classic dial to match. I was amazed to see the movement in person -- it is truly captivating, and the micro-rotor is especially pleasing to the eye. I was always a bit surprised that more people didn't buy new 1.96s back when everyone was talking about them. At the time, people were speculating (and I agree) that most folks think "jewelry" (not horology) when they hear "Chopard," which means they're more dismissive of Chopard watches vs. many other brands. Even if that's true, the 1.96 is a standout -- a "sleeper," it seems.

Hard to find resale LUC 1.96

By: keltzar : July 25th, 2011-07:00

I've been looking for 2-3 years for a nice LUC 1.96 , preferably one with baguette diamonds: or simple black/white dial with gold markers... They all seem so difficult to find ... any idea where they are all lurking? Remove external commercial links. This...

Welcome!

By: Kong : July 26th, 2011-06:09

Hi Keltzar To source, please visit our collector marketplace. Perhaps this particular model is more treasured . You can approach the boutique to ask. Kong

1.96 too

By: keltzar : July 27th, 2011-11:58

Thanks Kong, hope you have been well... I have been to the retailers and the boutique several times over the last 2-3 years. Some of the sales people were not familiar with the older models... some just simply did not know what it is. The new LUC models a...

Which you are looking for?

By: Kong : July 28th, 2011-05:13

Hope you are well too, Kelvin. Which one you are looking for? 1860-2 ( with sapphire caseback) or the 1860-1 (half-hunter case)? The 1860-2, should still have some pieces. Kong

hi Kong I'm open to...

By: keltzar : July 28th, 2011-07:41

hi Kong I'm open to both options, its a question of affordability... my preference is the one with baguette diamond markers ... if not, then the white dial.. both in yellow gold.

I know exactly what you mean!...

By: CR : July 27th, 2011-06:16

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 inq...

1.96

By: keltzar : July 27th, 2011-11:56

Hi! Thanks for sharing your stories and your thoughts. From what I can gauge, my 3-yr long search will go on for sometime more ... AGree with you about the 1.96 ... and, the one I saw the one time which I would have bought if the condition was better, was...

Indeed! I remember back when I was looking....

By: CR : July 27th, 2011-21:58

That is the same sentiment...

By: keltzar : July 27th, 2011-23:08

That is the same sentiment i have. Thanks to the direction they took for some decades, a lot of people forgot that Chopard started out as a watch company before jewellery. I think the prices have of their LUC series has been rising in recent years. Certai...

Ah! The nigh impossible

By: MTF : July 28th, 2011-12:57

to find-for-sale model! They must be out there but nobody is selling this rare model....... Being white gold case, it has an unusual micro-rotor material -- platinum. Lucky you! MTF

I saved your email from 26 September 2003....

By: CR : July 28th, 2011-15:03

... when you helped me in my quest. I was debating the Series 1 (half-hunter) vs. the Series 2. Thanks again Melvyn

Wow! An old watch buddy from 2003

By: MTF : July 29th, 2011-08:45

I remember writing a long e-mail. So, it was YOU! I lost all my e-mail before the computer crash of 2008. Well, then you know the choice was the rigth one. I bet you would not sell it now....right? Regards, MTF

Yes, it was I...

By: CR : July 30th, 2011-14:12

And no, it's definitely a keeper! I don't wear it too often, but when I do, I'm as pleased with it as I was on the day it first arrived. Thanks again for your help those many years ago, Melvyn.

auctions houses?

By: aston.db4 : July 27th, 2011-22:19

You might want to try watch auctions from the large auction houses. Every few months they have a watch auction and there's a mix of discontinued and current model Chopard watches.

any will be fine!

By: keltzar : August 2nd, 2011-03:22

Thanks for the suggestion of auction houses. I'm signed up for 1-2 but they need a lot of work to even follow. Sigh. My preference is yellow gold, and I'm not too fussed whether series 1 or 2 ... more waiting, I suppose... but I may get distracted along t...

I have been interested and looking for it sometime...

By: KIH : July 30th, 2011-04:01

I found a few in YG, but I am a white metal guy, so the quest doesn't end.... I hope to bump into one soon! 1.96 is a very special movement and I agree that one of the, if not the, best automatic movement out there. Good luck! Ken

It brings smile to my face every time I wear it.

By: MrkK : July 30th, 2011-09:09

This is the very first series (I believe it called Series 1) with the hinged back and no bees. I used to own one with salmon dial pictured in the post above, but once the white dial became available couple of years ago I decided to swap them. The hinged b...

Nice Mr KK!!

By: Kong : August 2nd, 2011-21:17

Likewise, it always bring smile to my face too! Thanks for sharing. Later will post the Basel 2011 collection, would appreciate your inputs. Thanks for sharing the pics. Kong

It's a good watch that's a keeper for most collections...

By: patrick_y : August 9th, 2011-22:07

This watch is a keeper for most collections, so you will rarely ever find one for sale. The LUC 1.96 is also one of my favorite movements from the LUC line. I'm a big fan of micro-rotored movements, and the 1.96 is no exception. Good luck on finding your ...