This dinner will definitely belong to the category of unforgettable events:
A nice Place The Place Vendome, where the Chopard Paris Boutique is located, then the famous Restaurant " Le Costes ".
Great watches: The WHOLE LUC Collection!
Friendly people: Most of the attendance was composed of Purist Friends, and The LUC Team.
It was given to us the opportunity to discover ( or rediscover ) these watches, which have very interesting virtues, as we'll see .
First of all, the Chopard Paris Boutique, a place to visit, if someday you spend some time in Paris.
The welcome is warm, the guys here are enthusiasts and passionate.
It is always difficult to resist to nice watches, it is impossible to resist to the ...Champagne, eeeh, FX?
We were given a complete and captivating presentation of LUC watches, which can be summed as some tips or tools to appreciate the fine art of watchmaking.
" When the Beauty of the inside is as important as the Beauty of the inside ".
Patrick Werhli's eloquence is awesome, indeed.
Patrick gave us a definition of what can be considered as a Manufacture, which I loved a lot:
When the bars of metal ( SS 316 L, brass, Platinum, or Gold ) are transformed in cases, wheels, parts, bridges and mainplates.
In the LUC Chopard case, all ( or almost all ) is in house build and conceived.
The watches receive a very good level of finish, which is an important thing for LUC, and includes some nice technical details, as we'll see a bit later.
After this brilliant presentation. we went to the " Costes " for the dinner, and to admire not less than ...78 pieces ( Septante huit, as the Swiss guys use to say...
)
More than the food and the wines, which were excellent, the ambiance was really great with a Patrick at the top, as well as the whole Chopard Team, and some of the usual suspects, who attended the event.
This Guy looks like a Saint, don't you think?
Well, he was in shock when his wife fell in love with a superb LUC Watch she wanted for her...
She's happy, while he 's in shock!
For this event, People came from Norvegia, Belgium, USA, and every parts of France...
Our Aaron, and his Fiancée Shana:
And some old friends, like Laurent, or new friends, who all are watchnuts:
What is he looking at???
Our Host, Patrick:
Chrismas before Chrismas for our Mediterranean Friend Patrice, and our Pif Paf!
What is he saying???
" I've caught a fiiish biiig like thaaat "!
Aaah, these guys from Marseille ...
If I had to choose only one pic to make you feel how great was the dinner, its warm ambiance, then I'd opt for this one...
The blend of new and old friends is always awesome!
And the watches, will you tell me?
I wasn't able to take pics of all the watches here, so I made a selection, but I wasn't the only one with a camera, and I'm pretty sure that this post will be perfectly and nicely completed.
Please be indulgent with the quality of my pictures, as the light condition was superb for a Dinner, but not excellent for photos.
Anyway, here is my selection.
First of all, the Tech Twist Family.
An open dial, a crown at 4, an original display of the seconds and the date, at 7...
With or without tourbillon, micro rotor or manual ( 8 Days power reserve ), in both cases, a young and sporty interpretation of fine Horology.
The Tech Twist:
For the level of price, the finish of the movement is a real satisfaction, and the micro rotor is the cherry on the cake, original and nice.
If you prefer a sportier version, the blue dialed version is for you!
For the sporty tourbillon fans, the Tech Twist Tourbillon may be an interesting solution:
The Cotes De Genève bridge, contrasting with the black ring and curves makes it appealing.
The case back displays a ruthenium finished movement, which is another very nice detail
Let's not forget that all the LUC tourbillons are COSCED...The Beauty and the Precision, and that they associate this sophisitcation to an 8 days power reserve, which lasts, in reality 9 days.
If you prefer a " wiser " version of the Tourbillon, but with an original look, here you are:
On this version, the movement is not ruthenium finished, which would have been nice to see on such an original watch, IMO:
As we speak about original watches, the Strike One houses a lovely complication,
It strikes once each hour.
The Cotes De Genève open dial which are ending with big roman numbers gives a strong look to this 40,5mm watch.
Another cool detail is this hammer, visible at 12.
The only thing is that I find the sound a bit too weak, on this watch...Sad, as I would have been totally convinced!
Now, my 2 favourite The Perpetual Calendar Lunar one, and the Big Date.
Here again, you have a nice and original intepretation of a classic complication, and a superb display of the moon, with the exact position of the stars above your head.
Therefore, as Patrick described it, this is a " Child proof " Perpetual Calendar, which can be set backward without ruining the movement.
The style is less sporty than the Tech Twist, but it is still very dynamic, and young looking.
On this other watch, no more perpetual calendar, but a very nice double moonphase, one for the North Hemishpere, the other for the South Hemisphere.
These LUC Moonphases are really awesome!
To appreciate them more, I took a pic side by side...
And, as often this lovely micro rotor, housed in both of these watches:
To end with this global presentation, I can't resist to introduce you which is certainly my favourite simple watch, at LUC...
What a dial!
Sober and elegant at the same time...Pure Class!
This presentation was a real discovery for me, indeed.
LUC offers a different view on Horology, with its perception of Perfection, with a subtle touch of originality.
I appreciated, and would like to warmly thank the whole Chopard Team for this superb moment.
Best,
Nicolas
This message has been edited by amanico on 2009-11-25 12:56:02 This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2009-11-30 07:51:31 
