Chopard

I am looking for a timezone watch, and came across the LUC GMT in white gold w/ silver and black dials.  This is a gorgeous watch!  I have never seen it in the metal, so I was wandering if anyone out there had some wrist shots and movement pictures on this piece.  Also, what are the dimensions of this watch? i.e. diameter and height  Does it have a display back?  Any information or opinions on this piece would be greatly appreciated.

Godspeed,

Scott D

Hi Scott

I don't have a wristshot for this beautiful GMT.  Hope some of our friends have.

Meanwhile I will reply your questions :

1) The movement is the L.U.C 4.96 /1-H1. 

2) Case diameter is 38mm, Thickness is 9.90mm.

3) sapphire caseback

Additional info :

a) Chronometer certified (COSC)
b) Limited production quantity of 1860 per precious metal
c) Power reserve 65 hours
d) Hand-stiched croc straps with 18K gold buckle
e) The micro-rotor now is solid 22K gold.


It is a nice and classic piece with beautiful guilloche dial.
True GMT. Second-time zone could be adjusted independently by depressing the button at 8 o'clock.
However, might need to have a handy actuator to adjust the second time zone.

Hope it helps.

Kong

This message has been edited by Kong on 2007-12-10 10:04:49

Kong,

Thank you for your timely response, the information is much appreciated.  Do you know if the white gold is plated, and also can you PM me a list price on the white gold version?  Ive got to say Chopard is an excellent manufacture.  I was talking with Art (aka Dr No) and we both agreed that the quality and innovation of Chopard time pieces is first rate.  By the way Kong, I would like to say thank you fordoing such a marvelous job with this forum, and on many others.  I am astounded with your insight and presentations of the various brands.  Your contribution is both great and needed, many thanks.

Godspeed,

Scott D

Thanks Scot for the kind feedback.  I appreciate it.
It will not be easy without the support of many nice Mods, and Art is one of them.

I will try my best to help as buying a watch is not cheap exercise. 
When I started, I wish there was a sounding-board to get clarity for an upcoming purchase. 
Well, Bernard Cheong in this forum did just that  and hopefully I could extend that to our friends here.
I am still learning every moment, every day! And its fun


Some inputs to your questions:

I believe Chopard's years of know-how in the high-jewelery craft & business has placed her in a vantage position for intricate and complex precious metalwork. 

Starting  with the raw, Chopard controls the processes by preparing their own 'blends'. 
Chopard bought about 2.5 tons of high-grade gold every year which were smelted in Chopard Geneva and produced into various gold colours/shades (blends) like :  YG 2N & 3N; RG 4N and lastly WG.

To produce the raw WG alloy,13% of palladium was blended to a given mass of gold. After which the alloy is rhodium-plated.

Chopard pays extra attention/importance to the quality of their WG alloy to ensure their WG retains its original greyish colour after a few years of wear & tear; and not the ugly underlying shade of yellow showing through. A common complaint about WG in the market. 
The reason for this ugly patchy  yellow surfacing (after the plating worn-off) is some manufacturers just rhodium-plated the gold (skipping the palladium inclusion step) to provide the white colour.

Hope it helps.

Kong






This message has been edited by Kong on 2007-12-10 21:24:27

Thanks again Kong.  Now that I am armed with your information, nothing left but to venture off to the surrounding AD in the area to see if I can see one in the metal.  I am sure it is of the fine finishing quality that Chopard is famous for.  Ill keep you posted.

Godspeed,

Scott D

No message body

Hi Kong,

I intend to get myself a brand new LUC GMT (18k YG version) from a pre-owned watch dealer today.

Was wondering if it is possible to bring the watch to Chopard Boutique @ Takashimaya Singapore and request for their help to get a deployment buckle for it ?  I do not like the tang buckle because it will soon give way because of the usual wear and tear.

What is your advice ?  Do you happen to know how much it would cost for the deployment buckle (and the leather strap, if I end up having to purchase a new one) ?

Thanks.

Patrick

- Singapore

 

Welcome Patrick to our Chopard Forum.

I think you may have known, subsequent purchase of accessory like straps and deployant buckle will be very high price.

Another point to note, all the L.U.C pieces, the case and buckle materials should be the same. 
If your case is White Gold (WG), the buckle (be it ardillon or deployant) should be WG too.
Check the hallmark stamps...should see something like 750 (meaning 18K gold).

Ok, prices, I will PM you....but be prepared!

The GMT is a nice piece. 

Please post us some pictures once you've the L.U.C GMT on hand

Kong

Thanks, Kong for the welcome and the advice.  Got your PM too.

I have called up Chopard Boutique in Singapore.  However, their IT system is currently down and they can only get back to me on pricing by mid of next week.  Their verbal/unofficial quote on the pricing of the 18k YG DB is of the same price range as that for Patek.  I guess it doesn't help with the price of gold appreciating.  In any case, they will have to order the strap and the DB from Geneva, which is expected to take a few months.

BTW, the Singapore boutique also mentioned about an imminent price increase on Chopard watches come Feb 1.  (P.S. - Patek is also rumoured to do a price increase on Mar 1)

I am considering to buy a new croc-strap from Chopard, but am not comfortable with the normal buckle (tends to give way after a way, and the strap would be spoilt in no time due to wear and tear).

I happen to know of a watch-maker in Singapore who has helped me with changes from normal buckle to deployment buckle for my other watches (JLC perpetual calendar, Patek 5107 WG), so I may look for him.  For convenience, wouldn't mind going for a normal DB without the gold ...

Thanks again.

Patrick

 

Hi Patrick

If the boutique mention about the price increase in Feb, it should be it.

Chopard has not increased prices for the past 2 years! 

Though the rest of the brands have already gone at least 2 rounds with easily double-digit increase.
Indeed with gold price continuous appreciating, after touching USD900 per ounce, it doesn't help much.
Now even a major bank predicted by year end, it could be USD1000 per ounce!

It's a personal preference to use OEM deployant. No right or wrong

Do show us your watch once you've it!

Kong

Not good at photography, so only the above two shots are "decent" enough to share with everyone.

 

A nice piece!

I might change it to a black or darker brown straps.

If have time, could you post some more shots like a back shot under a NEW post

Thanks.

Kong

Have recently joined here, and want to thank you knowledgeable folks for all the info on Chopard I’m sucking up!

Yes, it does. A nice man from Metalem SA confirmed that by email