Chopard presents a new edition of the L.U.C Skull One timepiece, a limited series of eight watches adorned with a Mexican calavera as a tribute to the Día de les Muertos. It beautifully combines a black dial with lacquered finishes and gilded hour-markers, a 40 mm case in beadblasted ethical 18-carat rose gold and a brown calfskin leather strap. Beneath this mischievous death mask beats the L.U.C 96.53-L mechanical self-winding movement, crafted by the Artisans of Chopard Manufacture.
A design inspired by ancient traditions
A syncretic tradition, born in the Aztec civilization and blended with Spanish Catholicism, the Día de los Muertos – Day of the Dead in Spanish – is a joyful celebration of the cycle of life and a reminder to be aware of the possibility of death, which in turn gives meaning to existence. It is an opportunity to offer gifts, offerings and libations to the deceased, and to maintain the bond that unites families on both sides of the final frontier. Macabre, yet in a manner that is all about parody, this festival gives Chopard the opportunity to revisit the vanitas theme.
The lacquered dial of the Skull One timepiece features sun, flower and heart-shaped motifs, as well as a moustache with rounded tips above a gentle gap-toothed smile. An emaciated, yet harmless-looking and even friendly skull provides a background against which the hours flow by, marked off by hands, Arabic numerals and gilded hour-markers echoing the extremely contemporary case in beadblasted ethical 18-carat rose gold.
A hand-stitched brown calfskin leather strap sets a final touch of elegance to this eight-piece limited edition. Responsibly sourced in accordance with stringent ethical criteria, this noble leather becomes even more beautiful when time enhances it with a light-brown patina.
An ultra-thin, accurate beating heart
The case of this new timepiece houses the L.U.C 96.53-L mechanical self-winding movement. Ultra-thin at a mere 3.3 mm, it is nonetheless equipped with two barrels based on L.U.C Twin technology and guaranteeing a 58-hour power reserve. It comes to life thanks to a micro-rotor in tungsten – a high-density alloy ensuring optimal winding and occupying minimal space within the watch case. With its movement bridges finely adorned with a “Côtes de Genève” pattern, it makes the L.U.C Skull One watch as beautiful inside as it is on the outside, which is why its precious calibre is made visible through a blackened transparent back reflecting the sombre aesthetic of this creation.
The L.U.C collection: 25 years of horological excellence
In 1997, Chopard Manufacture launched the first watch to emerge from its watchmaking workshops: the L.U.C 1860, equipped with the L.U.C 96.01-L movement. Since then, through the L.U.C collection, it has acquired comprehensive mastery of all the major horological complications. Between Fleurier and Geneva, Chopard Manufacture devises, develops, produces, assembles, decorates and certifies all its timepieces. Thanks to Karl-Friedrich Scheufele’s commitment to watchmaking traditions, the Manufacture maintains a high level of finishing by preserving numerous artistic crafts. Finally, it is rooted in a solid tradition of precision watchmaking, with all L.U.C. timepieces bearing a seconds indication earning chronometer certification.
L.U.C Skull One Technical Specifications
Ref. 161950-5001 – Eight-piece limited edition in beadblasted ethical 18-carat rose gold
Functions and displays
- Central display of the hours and minutes
Movement
- Mechanical self-winding L.U.C 96.53-L
- Number of components 172
- Total diameter 27.4 mm
- Thickness 3.30 mm
- Number of jewels 27
- Frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
- Power reserve 58 hours
- Two barrels – Chopard Twin technology
- Winding via a tungsten alloy micro-rotor
- Balance-spring with flat terminal curve
- Bridges adorned with Côtes de Genève motif
Case
- Beadblasted ethical 18-carat rose gold
- Total diameter 40.00 mm
- Thickness 7.20 mm
- Water resistance 30 metres
- Crown in beadblasted ethical 18-carat rose gold 5.00 mm
- Glare-proofed sapphire crystal
- Exhibition case-back – tinted glass
Dial and hands
- Dial in a black colour obtained by galvanic treatment, sunburst satin-brushed, with calavera motif
- Lacquered finish
- Gilt Arabic numerals and hour-markers
- Gilt Dauphine-type hours and minutes hands
Strap and buckle
- Brown calfskin leather strap with tone on tone stitching and lining
- Pin buckle in beadblasted ethical 18-carat rose gold
