Tokyo – April 18th, 2023 – Chopard presents a 100-piece limited edition adorned with an original monochrome dial to enrich its sporty-chic Alpine Eagle collection. This timepiece features a SHIKKOKU (darkest shade of black) dial, imbued with Japanese codes of simplicity, zen aesthetics and sense of purity echoing the exquisite balanced proportions of the Alpine Eagle’s identity. To celebrate the launch of this exclusive Japan-only model, Chopard welcomes a rugby player Keita Inagaki as the face of a new campaign. He is a well-known prop who figures prominently on the field. Matching the dignity, strength and elegance of the Alpine Eagle, he shares his insatiable quest with this collection: the challenge of the future like an eagle soaring up majestically into the sky of the Alps.
Chopard has chosen the Japan National Stadium as the venue for the unveiling of this new model of the Alpine Eagle collection. Like an eagle soaring over the Alps, every athlete who plays in this stadium aims for the top of the world. The National Stadium is called “Forest Stadium”, located in the grove of the Meiji Shrine, which connects the Inner Garden of the Shrine inheriting the historical greenery, to the Imperial Palace. The Stadium is in harmony with nature as the Tree of Life. It expresses the modern interpretation of the traditional “beauty of the eaves” preserved and handed down in Japanese architecture, gently connecting the architecture and the environment. The sustainable development at the heart of the Maison’s value; and the architectural design concept “Form follows function”, which is the source of inspiration for the Alpine Eagle collection; in addition, Keita Inagaki who is the top athlete and the Ambassador of the Alpine Eagle collection –– the National Stadium is the one and only venue that embodies all these things above at once.
Chopard Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele welcomed Keita Inagaki to the stage to celebrate the new partnership at the ANDON Hall (the main venue), tinged with the mysterious and serene Shikkoku colour. Along with the unveiling of the new Alpine Eagle Japan Limited Edition, a specially produced short film and campaign visuals are presented. At the interview with Keita Inagaki, he talked about his impressions of being appointed as an Ambassador and comments on this new model, his own styling as one of the fashion leaders in the rugby world, and his hopes and ambitions for the future.
Beyond the exhibition space where new and representative models are displayed, there is the Stadium’s field that can only be reached by those athletes who aim for the top and have mastered their own path. The guests had a lot of fun in the stadium where you can feel the warmth of the wood, and the event of the new Shikkoku-colour model of Alpine Eagle collection ended on a high note.
Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Co-President of Chopard, made the following comments on the Japan-only model and the appointment of Ambassador: “Japan is actually the biggest market for the Alpine Eagle watches in the world. In order to express our gratitude, we decided to announce the Japan limited edition ‘SHIKKOKU’. As the name suggests, the dial is intense black. Its hands tell the time, of course, but that’s not the main theme on this watch. It’s a very bold and powerful design, and I think you’ll feel special when you actually wear it on your wrist. I finally met Mr. Inagaki today and realized that nobody could wear this watch better than him.”
“I am truly honoured to have such a wonderful opportunity. As an Ambassador of this collection, I will do my best to convey its charm to everyone. Black is actually my favourite colour. I was impressed by the spirit of Chopard’s artisans because they are particular about true black even more than black. The design of the strap also complements its strength. It’s a watch that I want to wear all the time,” commented Keita Inagaki.
Alpine Eagle Japan Limited Edition
100-piece limited edition in Lucent Steel™ – A pure ‘SHIKKOKU’ dial joins Chopard’s sporty-chic collection in tribute to Japanese zen aesthetic codes
The Alpine Eagle collection of sporty-chic timepieces has been enriched by a 100-piece limited edition adorned with an original monochrome dial. It is crafted in Chopard’s exclusive ultra-resistant, highly luminous, responsible Lucent Steel™, composed of 80% recycled material. The new chronometer-certified Chopard 01.15-C movement featured in its 41-mm case has been specially developed by the Manufacture’s workshops as a variation of the 01.01-C calibre. This timepiece features a ‘SHIKKOKU’ dial, imbued with Japanese codes of simplicity, zen aesthetics and sense of purity echoing the balanced proportions of the Alpine Eagle’s identity. This exclusive model, whose design remains firmly inspired by the beauty of Nature, is sure to become a sought-after model for collectors in Japan.
A ‘SHIKKOKU’ dial: Japanese traditional beauties
A new colour makes its debut on the dial of this watch in the Alpine Eagle collection. Like Aletsch Blue, Bernina Grey or Picth Black, ‘SHIKKOKU’ is inspired by a palette of natural colours and evokes the wonderful lacquerware coatings which are true to Japanese culture and its ancestral crafts. Shikkoku is indeed considered to be the darkest shade of black: a symbol of nature, profound mystery and tranquillity, and thus pursuing the ideal of simplicity attached to zen aesthetics.
On this textured dial with its radiating pattern evoking the eye of an eagle, the indication of the hours, minutes and seconds provides an elegant monochrome design through tone-on-tone black hour-markers and hands – enhanced with Cool Gray Super-LumiNovato ensure visibility even in the dark. Unlike the usual Alpine Eagle large models, this dial does not feature any date indication: an aesthetic bias to ensure perfect overall symmetry and harmony.
Chopard 01.15-C Calibre: mechanical precision
This sense of balanced proportions has been made possible through a variation of the emblematic Chopard 01.01-C self-winding movement usually featured in the Alpine Eagle 41 models. The Chopard 01.15-C has been redesigned in order to remove the date mechanism, thus simplifying the dial’s look by eliminating the aperture-type date display between 4 and 5 o’clock. Visible through a transparent tinted glass caseback, the movement is certified by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute, a label of precision and excellence.
When fully wound, the mechanism enjoys a 60-hour power reserve. Constantly seeking to meet the highest standards of precision, Chopard watchmaker artisans have also equipped this movement with a stop-second function enabling the user to set the time to the nearest second.
Lucent Steel™: a sustainable material with exclusive properties
The latest Alpine Eagle model is entirely made of Lucent Steel™. In keeping with the sustainable approach to which the Manufacture is committed, this metal exclusive to Chopard is made from 80% recycled material. Thanks to its anti-allergenic composition, it has properties comparable to surgical steel, making it highly dermo-compatible. This alloy is also 50% more resistant to abrasion than conventional steels and has a unique hardness. Finally, thanks to a crystal structure boasting superior homogeneity, its purity enables uniquely shimmering light effects.
The Alpine Eagle collection
Devised by three generations of men in the Scheufele family, the Alpine Eagle collection is a modern reinterpretation of the St. Moritz, the first watch creation by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele (now Co-President of Chopard) in the late 1970s.
With its pure and assertive design, Alpine Eagle further enriches this heritage with powerful natural inspiration. The collection embodies sophisticated and resolutely contemporary elegance characterised by a round case with stylised raised sides, a crown engraved with the compass rose, a bezel with eight functional indexed screws, a textured dial with deep hues and luminescent indications, as well as an integrated metal bracelet.
Thanks to its independence and the integration of its various professions, Chopard performs all the production and assembly stages of the collection within its own watchmaking workshops, from movement to bracelet and including components as well as the case.
Alpine Eagle Japan Limited Edition Technical Specifications
Ref. 298600-3021 – in Lucent Steel™ with ‘SHIKKOKU’ dial / 100-piece limited edition / Only available in Japan
Functions:
- Hours, minutes, central sweep-seconds hand
- Stop-seconds function
Movement:
- Mechanical movement with automatic winding Chopard 01.15-C
- Number of components 196
- Diameter 28.80 mm
- Thickness 4.95 mm
- Number of jewels 31
- Frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
- Power reserve 60 hours
- Chronometer-certified
Case:
- Lucent Steel™
- Total diameter 41.00 mm
- Thickness 9.7 mm
- Water resistance 100 metres
- Crown in Lucent Steel™ with compass rose 7 mm
- Vertical satin-brushed caseband with polished chamfers
- Vertical satin-brushed bezel with eight indexed screws
- Glare-proofed sapphire crystal
- Exhibition case-back – tinted glass
Dial and hands:
- Brass stamped with a sunburst pattern inspired by the iris of the eagle, in a ‘SHIKKOKU’ color
- Glossy black hour-markers and numerals, enhanced by Cool Gray Super-LumiNova
- Glossy baton-type hours and minutes hands enhanced with Cool Gray Super-LumiNova
- Glossy black arrow-type seconds hand with eagle feather counterweight
Bracelet and clasp:
- Tapering bracelet in Lucent Steel™, wide links with satin-brushed sides and polished central cap, triple folding clasp in Lucent Steel™ with safety pushers
