Kong
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L.U.C Tourbillon Only Watch 2013 Edition
For the 2013 edition of Only Watch, a biennial charity watch auction
dedicated to fund the research on Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Chopard
unveils a unique L.U.C Tourbillon model featuring movement bridges
adorned with relief or “filet” engravings also known as Fleurisanne
engraving – a highly distinctive and now almost extinct traditional
skill typical of the Neuchâtel village of Fleurier.
An historical speciality of the village of Fleurier where the Chopard Manufacture has been established since 1996, hand-crafted, “filet” or Fleurisanne engraving is an artistic craft that has almost died out despite a glorious past in which it contributed to the reputation of the watchmakers from this area and the success the watches enjoyed as far afield as China. This highly distinctive and time-consuming art consists of relief-engraving decorative techniques on metal parts, generally gold movement bridges. Its specific nature stems from the fact that it does not involve engraving a motif as such but rather sculpting or ‘sparing’ it by hollowing out the material around it so as to make it stand out. The technique calls for total mastery of the tool and an extremely meticulous approach resulting in pieces that are truly unique in that each motif is entirely hand-crafted.
Perpetuating manual skills
The House of Chopard, which has shown a longstanding commitment to training the next generation of the watch industry, is deeply attached to perpetuating ancient skills, encouraging specialists in its decorative workshops to recapture this engraving technique in order to revive a local tradition. In 2010, Chopard’s 150th anniversary celebrations included the unveiling of the first 15-piece limited series of L.U.C Tourbillon watches featuring bridges adorned with floral motifs.
An exceptional one-of-a-kind model for Only Watch
For Only Watch 2013, Chopard has once again chosen to use this Fleurisanne engraving technique to personalise the movement of an exceptional one-of-a-kind model in which the different elements vividly testify to the extreme concern for detail that Chopard devotes to its watch creations.
This L.U.C Tourbillon Only Watch 2013 Edition is graced with a
rhodiumed 18-carat white gold hand-engraved dial bearing the
coat-of-arms of the Principality of Monaco surrounded by a DNA molecule –
a graphic reminder of the cause to which the Only Watch project is
devoted. Clothed in a 43 mm-diameter platinum case with contrasting
polished and brushed surfaces, the L.U.C 02.17-L Manufacture movement is
also decorated with a DNA molecule on the bridge side, crafted using
the Fleurisanne engraving technique.
Every bit as aesthetically fascinating as it is technically sophisticated, this precious timepiece boasts a 9-day power reserve thanks to Chopard’s patented Quattro® technology and is certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). The model is water-resistant to 50 metres and fitted with a matt black hand-sewn alligator leather strap with a cognac-coloured alligator lining.
Chopard’s in-house approach to watch manufacturing
Chopard is a family business with a strongly ingrained philosophy of independence. The steps involved in making L.U.C watches are all performed in-house at the group’s Meyrin and Fleurier production sites. Movement development, finished product design, gold casting, stamping and cases production, movement parts and bracelets, as well as traditional hand-crafted finishes, surface treatments, polishing, assembly, adjustments and quality controls: such is the comprehensive range of watch production operations fully mastered by Chopard and involved in the making of each watch in the L.U.C collection.
Only Watch
Recognized as the world’s first charity watch auction, the 5th edition of Only Watch will take place on September 28 in Monaco and will be conducted by the watch auctioneers, Antiquorum. Thirty three of the world’s leading watch manufactures have each donate a unique timepiece specially created for the occasion. The proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Monegasque Association against Muscular Dystrophy in order to help finance research for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a degenerative neuromuscular disease affecting 250,000 children, adolescents, and young adults around the world.
Case:
· Platinum case
· Diameter 43.00 mm
· Thickness 11.15 mm
· Water-resistant to 50 metres
· 18ct white gold crown with L.U.C logo 6.50 mm
· Glare-proofed sapphire crystals
· Exhibition back
Movement:
· Hand-wound Tourbillon movement L.U.C 02.17-L
· Mainplate and bridges in black rhodiumed 18ct rose gold
· Total diameter 29.70 mm
· Thickness 6.10 mm
· Number of jewels 33
· Frequency 28,800 vph (4Hz)
· 4 barrels, Quattro® technology
· Power reserve 216 hours (9 days)
· Bridges with “DNA” motif crafted using the raised or “fillet” Fleurisanne engraving technique
· Chronometer certified (COSC)
Dial and hands:
· Dial in hand-engraved silver-toned 18ct gold
· Gilded and superluminova-enhanced hour and minute hands
· Gilded small seconds and power-reserve display hands
Functions and displays:
· Central display of the hours and minutes
· Small seconds at 6 o’clock
· Power-reserve at 12 o’clock
Strap and buckle:
· Matt black hand-sewn alligator leather strap with cognac-coloured alligator lining
· 18ct white gold pin buckle
Ref. 161929-9001 – in platinum – one-of-a-kind model
An historical speciality of the village of Fleurier where the Chopard Manufacture has been established since 1996, hand-crafted, “filet” or Fleurisanne engraving is an artistic craft that has almost died out despite a glorious past in which it contributed to the reputation of the watchmakers from this area and the success the watches enjoyed as far afield as China. This highly distinctive and time-consuming art consists of relief-engraving decorative techniques on metal parts, generally gold movement bridges. Its specific nature stems from the fact that it does not involve engraving a motif as such but rather sculpting or ‘sparing’ it by hollowing out the material around it so as to make it stand out. The technique calls for total mastery of the tool and an extremely meticulous approach resulting in pieces that are truly unique in that each motif is entirely hand-crafted.
Perpetuating manual skills
The House of Chopard, which has shown a longstanding commitment to training the next generation of the watch industry, is deeply attached to perpetuating ancient skills, encouraging specialists in its decorative workshops to recapture this engraving technique in order to revive a local tradition. In 2010, Chopard’s 150th anniversary celebrations included the unveiling of the first 15-piece limited series of L.U.C Tourbillon watches featuring bridges adorned with floral motifs.
An exceptional one-of-a-kind model for Only Watch
For Only Watch 2013, Chopard has once again chosen to use this Fleurisanne engraving technique to personalise the movement of an exceptional one-of-a-kind model in which the different elements vividly testify to the extreme concern for detail that Chopard devotes to its watch creations.
Every bit as aesthetically fascinating as it is technically sophisticated, this precious timepiece boasts a 9-day power reserve thanks to Chopard’s patented Quattro® technology and is certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). The model is water-resistant to 50 metres and fitted with a matt black hand-sewn alligator leather strap with a cognac-coloured alligator lining.
Chopard’s in-house approach to watch manufacturing
Chopard is a family business with a strongly ingrained philosophy of independence. The steps involved in making L.U.C watches are all performed in-house at the group’s Meyrin and Fleurier production sites. Movement development, finished product design, gold casting, stamping and cases production, movement parts and bracelets, as well as traditional hand-crafted finishes, surface treatments, polishing, assembly, adjustments and quality controls: such is the comprehensive range of watch production operations fully mastered by Chopard and involved in the making of each watch in the L.U.C collection.
Only Watch
Recognized as the world’s first charity watch auction, the 5th edition of Only Watch will take place on September 28 in Monaco and will be conducted by the watch auctioneers, Antiquorum. Thirty three of the world’s leading watch manufactures have each donate a unique timepiece specially created for the occasion. The proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Monegasque Association against Muscular Dystrophy in order to help finance research for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a degenerative neuromuscular disease affecting 250,000 children, adolescents, and young adults around the world.
Technical Details
Case:
· Platinum case
· Diameter 43.00 mm
· Thickness 11.15 mm
· Water-resistant to 50 metres
· 18ct white gold crown with L.U.C logo 6.50 mm
· Glare-proofed sapphire crystals
· Exhibition back
Movement:
· Hand-wound Tourbillon movement L.U.C 02.17-L
· Mainplate and bridges in black rhodiumed 18ct rose gold
· Total diameter 29.70 mm
· Thickness 6.10 mm
· Number of jewels 33
· Frequency 28,800 vph (4Hz)
· 4 barrels, Quattro® technology
· Power reserve 216 hours (9 days)
· Bridges with “DNA” motif crafted using the raised or “fillet” Fleurisanne engraving technique
· Chronometer certified (COSC)
Dial and hands:
· Dial in hand-engraved silver-toned 18ct gold
· Gilded and superluminova-enhanced hour and minute hands
· Gilded small seconds and power-reserve display hands
Functions and displays:
· Central display of the hours and minutes
· Small seconds at 6 o’clock
· Power-reserve at 12 o’clock
Strap and buckle:
· Matt black hand-sewn alligator leather strap with cognac-coloured alligator lining
· 18ct white gold pin buckle
Ref. 161929-9001 – in platinum – one-of-a-kind model
Press Release
This message has been edited by Kong on 2013-07-10 07:29:59 This message has been edited by Kong on 2013-07-17 20:23:44
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L.U.C Tourbillon Only Watch 2013 Edition
For the 2013 edition of Only Watch, a biennial charity watch auction dedicated to fund the research on Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Chopard unveils a unique L.U.C Tourbillon model featuring movement bridges adorned with relief or “filet” engravings also k...
Not bad! The decoraton of the dial and movement is very interesting.
I hope to see that kind of finish in some other offers to come! Best, Nicolas
That's impressive
It's rare for me to love the pieces from Only Watch, but in this case the dial and movement detailing is very nice. Perhaps I have a new found appreciation of the Fleurisanne engraving technique after seeing some examples, and the time taken to create the...
Chopard Only Watch 2013: WoW and that's a rare comment
...from me. The rich depth of this Fleurier style of engraving is already rare and captivating but the deep meaning of the DNA motif is moving. I usually don't say "Wow" but have to break the rule for this Chopard Only Watch. It is an auction but I think ...
Hardly Surprising
.../that Chopard has produced such a delightfully decorated L.U.C. Beauty, to me, is often found in a "less is more" approach; in this case, though, the intricacy of the Fleurisanne engraving is irresistible, particularly as it adorns a movement as wonder...
AWESOME! Superbly executed
Great job here by Chopard of creating something special for the Only Watch. Thanks Kong.