New Release
MTF's report on Chopard's L.U.C Black Tie collection celebrates the brand's 20-year partnership with the Cannes International Film Festival. The article introduces two limited-edition Haute Horlogerie timepieces, the L.U.C Lunar One Black Tie and the L.U.C XPS 1860 Black Tie, highlighting their Poinçon de Genève and COSC certifications. This piece offers a glimpse into Chopard's dedication to both high jewelry and fine watchmaking for red carpet events.
Horological tribute to the red carpet - #thegentlemansway
L.U.C Black Tie Collection
For its 20th year as Official Partner of the Cannes International Film Festival, Chopard presented two limited-edition Haute Horlogerie L.U.C watches.
The 8-piece L.U.C Lunar One Black Tie edition and the 20-piece L.U.C XPS 1860 Black Tie edition celebrate Chopard's passion for film-making.
These watches bear the Poinçon de Genève (Geneva Seal) quality hallmark and chronometer certificate by the COSC to attest to craftsmanship and precision of exclusive timepieces in tribute to male celebrities on the red carpet of La Croisette.
They complement the ravishing Red Carpet collection.
20 years of passion and dazzle
In 1998, co-president Caroline Scheufele interceded for Chopard to become Official Partner of the Cannes Film Festival and start the beautiful love affair.
Chopard has also crafted the Palme d'Or Trophy for the Cannes Festival for 20 years.
Since then, celebrity walks on the red carpet and legendary ‘climbing the steps’ ritual have been de rigueur whilst adorned with dazzling Chopard creations.
Araya Hargate in Chopard Red Carpet Collection
For the 70th Cannes Festival, the 2017 Red Carpet collection comprises 70 one-of-a-kind creations, glorifying the beauty of actresses.
Chopard accepts the incredible technical, artisanal and creative challenge each year to develop a new jewellery collection of the exact number of jewellery models as the Festival edition number.
Red Carpet necklace 819879-9001
Red Carpet ring 829800-9002
Red Carpet earrings 849915-1005
Marion Cotillard in Chopard Jewelry
Celebrating two decades of passion and glamour, Chopard did not forget the gentleman and revealed two limited-edition platinum L.U.C watches.
Footballer Kevin Trapp wears L.U.C Lunar One Black Tie escorting Model Izabel Goulart wearing Chopard jewelry
L.U.C Lunar One Black Tie - Ref.171927-9002 – 99 670 CHF / £82,060 / US$112,130
An eight-piece platinum limited series, this perpetual calendar timepiece with moon phases, orbital moon and large date is a flagship model in the top L.U.C collection by Chopard.
It is distinguished by L.U.C attributes: a sophisticated mechanism, timeless elegance, harmoniously balanced proportions, perfect legibility, along with alternating polished and satin-brushed case finishing.
Bewitching with baguette-cut diamonds on the bezel, this artisanal gem clearly displays its multiple functions on a sunburst satin-brushed galvanic black dial. The sunburst finish is centred on the double window date display and is lit up by baguette-cut diamonds as hour-markers.
The L.U.Chopard logo takes on a new golden glow, recognising the Palme d’Or that Chopard has supplied for 20 years, and echoes the emblem of the Cannes Festival engraved on the transparent case-back.
The clearly legible dial is animated by Dauphine-type hands, pristine white perpetual calendar displays, a railway track minute circle and the orbital moon appearing against a midnight blue star-studded sky.
The PuristSPro Purity Prize-winning 355-part mechanical self-winding Calibre 96.13-L from Chopard Manufacture, drives the watch.
It is equipped with a 22-carat gold micro-rotor and a double barrel (Twin® technology) ensuring a 65-hour power reserve.
L.U.C Lunar One Black Tie Technical Details
Case:
• 950 platinum
• Total diameter: 43.00 mm
• Thickness: 11.47 mm
• Water resistance: 50 m
• Platinum crown with L.U.C logo: 6.50 mm
• Case middle with vertical satin-brushed finish
• Bezel set with baguette-cut diamonds and polished case-back
• Exhibition back with Cannes International Film Festival logo
• Glare-proofed sapphire crystal
Movement:
• Mechanical self-winding: L.U.C 96.13-L
• Number of components: 355
• Diameter: 33.00 mm
• Thickness: 6.00 mm
• Number of jewels: 32
• Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
• Power reserve: 65 hours
• Bridges adorned with Côtes de Genève motif
• Guilloché-worked 22-carat gold micro-rotor with L.U.C logo
• Chronometer-certified by the COSC
• ‘Poinçon de Genève’ quality hallmark
Dial and hands:
• Galvanic black dial, sunburst satin-brushed motif centred around the date
• Gold-toned L.U.CHOPARD logo
• Rhodium-plated hours, minutes, day, month and small seconds hands
• Hour-markers set with baguette-cut diamonds
• Day/night and year indicated by white triangles
Functions and displays:
• Central display of the hours and minutes
• Small seconds display at 6 o’clock
• Perpetual calendar with day, date, month and leap-year cycle
• Large date display at 12 o’clock
• Day/night indicator at 9 o’clock
• Moon phases in a rotating aperture (orbital moon) at 6 o’clock
Strap and buckle:
• Hand-sewn matt black alligator leather strap with brown alligator leather lining
• Platinum folding clasp
Ref. 171927-9002 – Platinum 8-piece limited edition L.U.C Lunar One Black Tie
Colin Farrell wears L.U.C XPS Fairmined escorting Nicole Kidman
L.U.C XPS 1860 Black Tie - Ref.161946-9002 – 43,910 CHF / £36,160 / US$49,400
L.U.C XPS 1860 Black Tie
Masterful with elegant simplicity, the L.U.C XPS 1860 Black Tie is clad in platinum for this 20-piece limited edition.
Its 'extra plat' 40 mm-diameter case houses a blackened gold dial with a hand-guilloché centre and radiating motif.
The sunburst circumference is lit up by baguette-cut diamond hour-markers, swept over by Dauphine-type hands.
Endowed with the aesthetic codes of the L.U.C collection, this timepiece also features perfectly proportioned lines and houses an in-house manufactured ultra-thin mechanical self-winding movement.
Equipped with a 22-carat micro-rotor and a double barrel (Twin® technology) ensuring 65 hours of operating autonomy, the L.U.C 96.01-L movement measures 3.3 mm thick and displays remarkable precision, certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) and artisanal finishing achieving the ‘Poinçon de Genève’ (Geneva Seal) quality hallmark.
L.U.C XPS 1860 Black Tie Technical Details
Case:
• 950 platinum:
• Total diameter: 40.00 mm
• Thickness: 7.20 mm
• Water resistance: 30 metres
• 18-carat rose gold crown with L.U.C logo 5.00 mm
• Vertical satin-brushed flanks and inter-horn space, polished bezel and case-back
• Glare-proofed sapphire crystal
• Exhibition back with Cannes International Film Festival logo
Calibre L.U.C 96.01-L
Movement:
• Mechanical self-winding L.U.C 96.01-L
• Total diameter: 27.4 mm
• Thickness: 3.30 mm
• Number of jewels: 29
• Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
• Power reserve: 65 hours
• 22-carat gold micro-rotor
• Two barrels – Twin® technology
• Bridges adorned with Côtes de Genève motif
• Chronometer-certified (COSC)
• ‘Poinçon de Genève’ quality hallmark
Dial and hands:
• Black-toned gold dial, hand-guilloché centre, sunburst satin-brushed exterior
• Gold-toned L.U.CHOPARD logo
• Rhodium-plated Dauphine-type hours, minutes and small seconds hands
Functions and displays:
• Central display of the hours and minutes
• Small seconds display at 6 o’clock
• Date at 6 o’clock
Strap and buckle:
• Hand-sewn matt black alligator leather strap
• Platinum pin buckle
Ref. 161946-9002 – Platinum 20-piece limited edition L.U.C XPS 1860 Black Tie
#thegentlemansway
#chopard
The L.U.C 1860 reference is a notable offering within the L.U.C collection, distinguished by its focus on classical watchmaking principles and refined aesthetics. This particular model, introduced at Watches and Wonders 2023, represents a continuation of Chopard's commitment to high horology, emphasizing traditional craftsmanship and a discreet presentation. It is recognized for its balanced proportions and the integration of a finely finished movement, reflecting the brand's in-house manufacturing capabilities.
This reference features a case crafted from Lucent Steel, a proprietary alloy, measuring 36.5 mm in diameter. The watch is powered by the L.U.C 96.01-L automatic movement, which is visible through a sapphire crystal case back. This movement is equipped with a micro-rotor and offers a power reserve of approximately 65 hours. The dial is presented in a salmon color, complemented by a sapphire crystal on the front.
Appealing to collectors who value understated design and mechanical integrity, the L.U.C 1860 fits into the brand's lineup as a dress watch with significant horological merit. Its limited production and specific material choices contribute to its appeal among enthusiasts seeking a watch that combines traditional watchmaking with contemporary material science. The model is a testament to Chopard's ongoing development in its L.U.C range.
please no diamonds. Same with Patek'a nautilus anniversary and 5170P, which are near perfect watches sans diamonds. I guess it's a trend. I guess there's a specific market for them and I guess it's an easy way to increase profits by overpricing diamonds. I don't often speak negatively, but this trend is a shame in my subjective opinion. The only positive exception with a diamond on men's watches is the discreet placement on Patek's platinum models, where only the owner can see. I admit I like th
Edward, Thanks for your comments about the L.U.C Lunar One, which is a favourite model for PuristS since the original model was awarded the PuristSPro Purity Prize in 2009. The decoration of the best timepieces with gems, enamelling and engraving has always been the norm in watchmaking. Messrs. Breguet, Berthoud, Bovet and others always reserved the best decoration for their best clients; I'm talking about the actual watchmakers in history. That's "haute horlogerie". People did not decorate Comm
For your thoughtful and historical perspective. You of course are right both on gem set rarities not being a trend and regional and religious preferences. I was excited to see the Lunar One with a black dial, although your post including the blue dial beauty killed me. This is a watch I need to see in the metal. Kindest regards,
Indeed....I thought you might enjoy the killer blue dial platinum L.U.C Lunar One launched in March 2017. You need to ask at a Chopard Boutique A.S.A.P. The blue changes hue according to the ambient light because of the sun-ray pattern on the dial.... L.U.C Lunar One platinum L.U.C Lunar One platinum L.U.C Lunar One platinum
As much as I admire the horological and gem setting expertise exhibited in both watches shown, I still find it difficult to get sufficiently in touch with my Eastern European self (as per your description, MTF ) to seriously consider visible diamonds on a watch. It may be a bias - and I am sure Chopard will easily sell both limited editions - but it's one that will not be easy to overcome... I do, however applaud the diversity effort of Chopard - with male timepieces being presented as well as j
It is primarily a matter of the head, not the muscle And a small financial issue as well
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