Chopard L.U.C 1963 Chronograph Hand-Wound

Kong · 2014-03-27T10:05:47Z

Discover the Chopard L.U.C 1963 Chronograph, a hand-wound timepiece with Poinçon de Genève certification and a stunning Calibre 03.07-L movement.

Kong

WPS member · Chopard forum

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Kong introduces the Chopard L.U.C 1963 Chronograph, a hand-wound timepiece unveiled at BaselWorld 2014. This article highlights its classical elegance, technical sophistication, and the Poinçon de Genève hallmark, emphasizing its deep roots in traditional watchmaking and Karl-Friedrich Scheufele's personal passion.

Beneath its classically elegant appearance, the L.U.C 1963 Chronograph is a highly technical and sophisticated watch. Its hand-wound chronograph calibre is distinguished by a sophisticated technical construction and a particularly high degree of finishing that earns it the Poinçon de Genève hallmark. Its firm roots in the tradition of fine chronographs stems from a comprehensive aesthetic, technical and historical approach, as well as Karl-Friedrich’s personal passion for the purest expressions of traditional watchmaking.

Hand-wound chronographs embody a spirit of nobility, along with technical and aesthetic perfection. They are the grand classic when it comes to short-time measurements and since they are not fitted with an oscillating weight that conceals much of the movement, they are ideally suited to showcasing impeccable craftsmanship. The L.U.C 1963 Chronograph thus has all the attributes of a true horological aristocrat.

L.U.C 1963: a commemorative series
The L.U.C 1963 Chronograph is presented in conjunction with the L.U.C 1963. Both are named after the year the Scheufele family acquired the Maison Chopard and celebrate the 50th anniversary of this event. They share the same case design, echoing the pocket-watches produced by Chopard in the 1960’s. The case of the L.U.C 1963 Chronograph is made of 18-carat rose gold and features cambered sides with a brushed finish along with a polished and slender rounded bezel. Chopard’s Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele explains the origins of this project: “I had always dreamed of making a hand-wound chronograph. I have a real passion for this type of movement which represents the quintessence of traditional horology in its purest and noblest forms. This model was programmed ever since we launched the L.U.C. Chrono One in 2006 and for me, it is a dream come true.”

The 42 mm-diameter case of the L.U.C 1963 Chronograph is perfectly versatile. The elegance of its proportions is underlined by the execution of its deceptively classic-looking dial. The curved Roman numerals are a signature of the L.U.C collections, as are the dauphine hands, while the red chronograph hands clarify read-off, energise the dial and are a nod to the chronograph’s primary purpose: measuring sports events.

A hand-wound chronograph calibre with flyback function
The new L.U.C Calibre 03.07-L is a simpler and yet nobler version of Calibre 03.03-L: Chopard’s first in-house manufactured chronograph movement, which features automatic winding. The L.U.C 03.07-L movement picks its chief technical characteristics, the most visible being the flyback function that serves to perform successive timing operations without having to reset the counters to zero using the 4 o’clock pusher. Its vertical coupling-clutch ensures more reliable activation of the chronograph sweep-seconds hand. Finally, pulling out the crown resets the small seconds hand at 6 o’clock and keeps it motionless, thus enabling accurate synchronisation with a reference time. The latter function stems from the precision-timing vocation of the L.U.C 1963 Chronograph, which is highlighted on the dial by the inscription “Chronometer” and certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute, the COSC.

The differences between the L.U.C Calibre 03.07-L and its predecessor are visible from an aesthetic standpoint. Withdrawing the oscillating weights and its accompanying components ensures a completely unobstructed view of the movement. The parts required for the chronograph function occupy a significant part of the space visible on the back of the watch beneath the transparent sapphire crystal: the steel-coloured bridges, yokes, levers and column wheel stand out clearly against the gold-toned background. This contrast is further heightened by the variety of surface treatments: circular graining for the base, straight graining on the chronograph parts, along with a Côtes de Genève motif on the bridges. The latter are fashioned in nickel silver, a demanding alloy to work with, since potential scratches are irredeemable.

The deftly confident hand that decorates them cannot afford to make any mistakes as it polishes the angles in order to form the smooth, shiny contours. The shape of the bridges has indeed been completely redesigned. Their curves, dips, corners and tips are all complex shapes that are well worth accentuating and provide an ideal field of expression for hand-made workmanship. This approach is typical of the Chopard Manufacture workshops’ dedication to producing movements in harmony with the spirit of traditional Haute Horlogerie. The superbly accomplished result bears the Poinçon de Genève, a highly exclusive token of recognition rewarding the finest technical and aesthetic craftsmanship.

Chopard is hereby affirming its enduring attachment to the noble values of Haute Horlogerie and to its history. While the masterful 1963 Chronograph finds an entirely natural place within the L.U.C collection, it will be produced in a limited series of just 50 – one for every year since the Scheufele family took over Chopard.

A special model inspired by and intended for PuristS
A 2007 encounter between Karl-Friedrich Scheufele and the famous collectors group known as The PuristS, sparked the idea of a chronograph model primarily destined for them. It also spelt the start of an ongoing dialogue on the theme “what a chronograph intended for the PuristS would look like”, driven by a wish to create a timeless model embodying the very essence of historical chronographs. This has led to a steel version of the L.U.C 1963 Chronograph, the “PuristS” model featuring an extremely pure dial with no date, a nod to the first chronographs. This exceptional model is issued in a 50-piece limited series.

L.U.C 1963 Chronograph

Case
Material18ct rose gold

Total diameter
42.00 m

Thickness
11.50 mm

Water resistance
50 m

Crown
18ct rose gold crown with L.U.C logo

Crown size
8.00 mm

Glass
Glareproofed sapphire crystal

Back
Exhibition type

Movement:
TypeMechanical hand-wound L.U.C 03.07-L

Diameter
28.80 mm

Thickness
5.62 mm

Number of jewels
38

Frequency
28,800 vph (4 Hz)

Power reserve
60 hours

Finishing
Bridges adorned with Côtes de Genève motif

Certificates
COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute)
Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark

Dial
Sunburst satin-brushed silver-toned
Matt silver-toned counters

Hands
Gilded hour, minute and small seconds hands
Red sweep seconds-hand as well as hour and minute counter hands
Functions and displaysCentral hours and minutes
Small seconds at 6 o’clock

Chronograph
Sweep seconds-hand
30-minute counter at 3 o’clock
12-hour counter at 9 o’clock
Date between 4 and 5 o’clock

Strap and buckle:
Hand-sewn brown alligator leather, lined with cognac-toned alligator leather 18ct rose gold pin buckle

Reference
161964-5001

Limited edition
50

Press Release

Key Points from the Discussion

The L.U.C 1963 Chronograph's movement is highly praised for its design, which effectively highlights the high level of finishing and numerous anglaged angles on the bridges.
The case back's design, with its wider opening narrowing to the movement, is particularly attractive, creating an almost display-case effect that enhances the visual appeal of the caliber.
The chronograph levers' size not only provides strength but also allows for complex shapes with diverse finished surfaces, contributing to the movement's high aesthetic standards.
The L.U.C 1963 Chronograph, especially the PuristS version without a date, is anticipated to be a highly desirable timepiece, with its movement being a significant draw for collectors.
The new L.U.C Calibre 03.07-L is described as stunning, particularly in the PuristS Edition, which will feature a stainless steel case and no date, offering an attractive package.
The watch is recognized as a beautiful piece with an equally beautiful movement, benefiting from the high finishing standards seen in other L.U.C 1963 family members.

The Discussion

Spellbound

Mar 27, 2014

This new L.U.C Calibre 03.07-L is stunning ! And this is the movement in the PuristS Edition !? In stainless steel and no date ? The pricing certainly looks fair and attractive ! But I have always had a penchant for rose gold, and this L.U.C 1963 Chronograph is an extremely desirable package. Dean

Albi

Mar 27, 2014

First, the movement looks great: I love how the bridges are designed to highlight the high level of finishing, with all those angles! The movement is amazing to look at! Then, the way the movement is presented in the case back is very attractive to me, with the wider opening that narrows down to the movement itself, it seems almost like a display case. Dial and case are good too: I’m not usually a big fan of roman numerals, but the way Chopard does them is one of the few exceptions where I don’t

patrick_y

Mar 27, 2014

A beautiful watch with a beautiful movement. Since the watch is from the same family as the 1963 Chronometer (my favorite L.U.C in existence thus far), I'm sure it will be very well finished in the movement department. I really like how Chopard has done the back bezel of the case. It looks great!

Kong

Mar 27, 2014

Hi Dean Yes, same movement will be inside the PuristS Edition. Only the PuristS Edition has no date window. Pricing for this rose gold version, will have to revert to you later. Glad that one of the 2014 L.U.C attracted you :-) Kong

Spellbound

Mar 27, 2014

I am attracted to beautiful movements, the most important criteria in a watch for me, and both of these fit the bill. My target now is both, but need to start working again if I have a chance to achieve this dream by year end, and then have to be lucky enough to get one of the LE 50 pieces in each. Dean

Kong

Mar 27, 2014

actually no need to have new year resolution ... should be resolution after Basel. Watches can be such strong motivator :-) Maybe you get a clearer picture after seeing the 1963 Chronographs in metal. Kong

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