L.U.C Time Traveler One Black

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As freedom of travel becomes a reality once more for some, Chopard brings a new design and lightweight wearability to its most prestigious watch for globetrotters: the L.U.C Time Traveler One Black, a worldtime watch crafted by the artisans of Chopard Manufacture, produced as a limited edition of 250 pieces, according to the most sophisticated Fine Watchmaking criteria. It introduces a monochrome style ideal for the fast-paced lives of global citizens. Along with the new L.U.C. GMT One Black, it is the world’s first travel watch in ceramised grade 5 titanium, a material that is both ultra-light and very hard-wearing. Beating inside this timepiece is a movement of exceptional quality and invention: calibre L.U:C 01-05-L, created entirely in-house. This stunning fusion of innovative technology and traditional handcraft gives rise to the ultimate timepiece of a new generation of gentlemen travellers.

World time within reach

The L.U.C. Time Traveler One Black timepiece is the latest interpretation by Chopard Manufacture of one of watchmaking’s noblest travel complications: the worldtimer, showing the time in 24 zones around the world simultaneously. A symbol of travel at its most sophisticated and elegant, the worldtimer is also a valuable tool for those doing business in multiple corners of the world at any one time.

The L.U.C Time Traveler One Black achieves the feat of displaying complex information with absolute clarity via a series of concentrically arranged discs. A central date disc, indicated by a discreet hand, is surrounded by a chapter display for the hours and minutes of the local time zone, with Dauphine hands in the elegant style characterising the L.U.C collection, adjusted by a crown positioned at 2 o’clock.

The latter serves to adjust the time in the main time zone. A second crown at 4 o’clock is used to turn the disc bearing the reference cities of 24 time zones, synchronised on the city disc with local time. Wherever the wearer finds himself at a given moment, when the city for the local time zone is set to the 12 o’clock position, all the time zones around the globe will be correctly displayed.

An innovative and modern material

Chopard launched the L.U.C Time Traveler One to wide acclaim in 2016, offering an elegantly modern take on the worldtimer tradition. The new L.U.C. Time Traveler One Black adds an even more contemporary twist with its sleek monochrome palette and lightweight wearability. The result: a sporty travel watch suited to any occasion.

The use of ceramised grade 5 titanium for the L.U.C Time Traveler One Black marks a world first for travel watches and reflects Chopard’s ongoing commitment to harnessing the most innovative materials in the advancement of Fine Watchmaking.

Used in areas such as aerospace, automotive and medical component manufacturing, ceramised titanium is obtained by oxidising surface layers of titanium at extreme temperatures using electroplasma technology. This process improves the metal’s hardness – 700 Vickers (Hv) – along with its friction coefficient as well its wear and corrosion resistance. Ceramised titanium is also highly biocompatible.

Monochrome style

The ceramised titanium case of the L.U.C Time Traveler One Black is matched with a monochrome dial featuring a hand-applied vertical satin-brushed finish. Completing the look is a matching black strap in fully vegan rubber, crafted with an intricate fabric-like pattern. Made in Switzerland, the strap offers huge flexibility of usage thanks to its resistance to the effects of water or sweat, its high durability and its comfort on the wrist. In keeping with Chopard’s commitment to sustainable luxury, the strap has been subjected to stringent environmental tests including REACH certification for protecting human health and the environment from chemicals.

Certified precision around the world

The L.U.C Time Traveler One Black timepiece is powered by the acclaimed worldtimer movement L.U.C 01.05-L, first unveiled in 2016. Made in-house at Chopard Manufacture in Fleurier, Switzerland, this self-winding integrated-construction movement has a 60-hour power reserve and beats at 28,800 vph (4 Hz). Reflecting the high standards of the L.U.C collection, it is meticulously hand-finished, with beautifully chamfered bridges and Côtes de Geneve decoration visible through the display case-back.

For Chopard Manufacture, chronometric performance is as important to Fine Watchmaking as the beauty, finish and functionality of the watch. Like all L.U.C timepieces carrying a seconds indication, the L.U.C Time Traveler One Black is therefore “Chronometer”-certified by the COSC for accuracy and performance.

25 yers of excellence, innovation and tradition

In 2021, Chopard Manufacture is proud to mark the 25^th anniversary of its founding in Fleurier. In 1996, when Swiss watchmaking was still emerging from struggles of the quartz crisis, Chopard Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele committed to defending and restoring the crafts and techniques that had been passed down through generations of watchmakers. In the village of Fleurier, where watchmaking heritage goes back over 200 years, the Chopard Manufacture would become a force for the finest techniques in traditional watchmaking, hand finishing and artistic crafts. At the same time, it has been able to innovate across the full range of modern watch production operations, from case-making to movement development, advanced metallurgy and component manufacture. In particular, it has put chronometry – the ultimate measure of horological excellence – at the heart of all its activities.

It is thanks to this thriving hub of unique skills, and Karl-Friedrich Scheufele’s vision of what a modern Fine Watchmaking manufacture could be, that Chopard has been able to create timepieces that are truly valued by connoisseurs – gentlemen who recognise that passion and artistry will combine to create extraordinary masterpieces.

L.U.C Time Traveler One Black Technical Specifications and Price

Ref. 168574-3008 – in ceramised grade 5 titanium with black rubber strap, 250-piece limited edition

Functions and displays

Central display of the hours, minutes, seconds and date
Cities display on the outer dial disc
Disc-type GMT function display
Crown at 2 o’clock serving to adjust the date and time of the second time zone
Crown at 4 o’clock serving to adjust the cities disc
Stop-seconds function

Movement

Mechanical with automatic winding L.U.C 01.05-L
Number of components: 291
Total diameter: 35.30 mm
Thickness: 6.52 mm
Number of jewels: 39
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 60 hours
World time function
Bridges adorned with Côtes de Genève motif
Balance-spring with flat terminal curve
Chronometer-certified (COSC)

Case

Ceramised grade 5 titanium
Total diameter: 42 mm
Thickness: 12.09 mm
Water resistance: 50 metres
Ceramised grade 5 titanium crowns with
semi-satin-brushed L.U.C logo and globe: 6.50 mm
Sandblasted case middle, bezel and case-back
Exhibition case-back

Dial and hands

Dark grey dial achieved by galvanic treatment – hand-applied vertical satin-brushed finishing on central part
Snailed chapter ring
Hour-markers and Arabic numerals painted with Super-LumiNova^®
Circular satin-brushed city disc with white transfers
Circular satin-brushed GMT function disc, grey between 6.30 am and 6.30 pm with black transfers; and black between 6.30 pm and 6.30 am, with white transfers
Metallic black Dauphine-type hours and minutes hand, enhanced with Super-LumiNova^®
Metallic black baton-type arrow-tipped date hand
Metallic black baton-type central seconds hand
Railway track minute circle

Strap and buckle