Chopard L.U.C Lunar One

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The flagship creation of the Chopard Fine Watchmaking collection, the L.U.C Lunar One timepiece with perpetual calendar and astronomical moon phases is the only timepiece in this category equipped with a high-precision orbital moon-phase display appearing in a rotating aperture. Endowed with a rare degree of accuracy guaranteeing a time lag of only one day every 122 years, the chronometer-certified L.U.C. 96-13 L movement gives a new lease on life to an extremely limited 25-piece new series in ethical 18-carat rose gold. Graced with an elegant deep blue sunray-patterned dial, this embodiment of horological complexity is thus treated to a rare and precious interpretation such as only the most experienced Manufactures are capable of producing. In addition to its “chronometer” certifications, its high level of precision and finishing is acknowledged by the prestigious Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark.

A timepiece for discerning connoisseurs

The L.U.C Lunar One is a timepiece graced with exceptionally elegant, pleasing proportions. Its multiple indications, its elaborate finishing and its play on colours make it a watchmaking masterpiece. Its special status within the L.U.C Collection has led Karl-Friedrich Scheufele (Chopard Co-President) to interpret it in a 25-piece limited series made of ethical 18-carat rose gold. The 43 mm-diameter case is adorned with vertical satin-brushed sides along with a polished bezel and lugs, thereby creating pleasing textured effects that further enhance its visual depth and interest.

It makes an impeccable match with the multilevel dial whose surface is a deep and extremely elegant deep blue. Its sunray pattern radiates from the L.U.Chopard logo positioned at noon – a signature of the L.U.C Collection that naturally draws the gaze. Ensuring perfect readability, the white fonts of the perpetual calendar indications appear on a lower level, surrounded by bevelled rims that effectively highlight them. The large applied Roman numerals with their own distinctive font are mirror-polished. A deep blue sky, studded with the actual stars of the Northern Hemisphere, also features a depiction of the moon.

A one-day time lag in 122 years

The L.U.C 96.13-L movement is a gem in the crown of Chopard Manufacture. It ranks among one of the most accomplished horological complications in the realm of Swiss Haute Horlogerie. Its perpetual calendar always gives the correct date, whatever the length of the month and including February. It is distinguished by its unique moon-phase display. The latter is not merely a disc rotating beneath the dial, but instead a complex set of components indicating the exact appearance of the moon. This orbital moon, which moves around the small seconds axis, imitates the path of its celestial counterpart in the sky. Skilfully set by the finest Chopard watchmaking artisans, this display is a masterpiece of astronomical precision, with a discrepancy of only 57.2 seconds for the period between two new moons, meaning it will take 122 years to accumulate a one-day gap compared with the actual moon. Only then will it require adjustment.

The L.U.C Lunar One timepiece is one of the very rare perpetual self-winding calendars to be equipped with a micro-rotor. Made of solid 22-carat gold, the latter is incorporated within the movement thickness, making it slimmer and allowing the owner the best possible view thereof. Engraved with the L.U.C logo and finely guilloché-worked, it epitomises the extremely sophisticated finishing lavished on calibre L.U.C 96.13-L. Chopard Twin technology featuring two stacked barrels also enables it to ensure a 65-hour power reserve.

With its bevelled bridges adorned with a Côtes de Genève motif, its circular-grained baseplate, its mirror-polished steel parts and its regulator with swan’s neck adjustment, this movement not only meets the highest quality standards of Chopard Manufacture, but also bears the prestigious Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark to which Chopard has remained loyal for many years.

This twin aesthetic and technical certification is approved by an independent authority and governed by a law promulgated by the Canton of Geneva. It dictates the peerless criteria of excellence relating both to the case and the movement in terms of its structure, appearance and accuracy. In keeping with the decisions taken by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, the L.U.C Lunar One is also “Chronometer”-certified by the COSC, the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute.

Chopard’s in-house approach to Haute Horlogerie production

Chopard is a family Maison with a strongly ingrained philosophy of independence. The steps involved in making L.U.C timepieces are all performed at the Maison’s Geneva and Fleurier production sites.

Movement development, finished product design, gold smelting, case stamping and machining, calibre components, traditional hand-crafted finishes, surface treatments, polishing, assembly, adjustments and quality controls: Chopard masters the full range of watch production operations and applies them to each and every L.U.C creation.

These exceptional timepieces stemming from meticulous craftmanship meet the aspirations of the modern-day gentleman, speaking to him without artifice or pretention, through a subtle blend of artisanal expertise, distinction and emotions.

Chopard L.U.C Lunar One Technical Specifications and Price

Ref. 161927-5002 – in ethical 18-carat rose gold

Functions and displays:

Central display of the hours and minutes
Small seconds at 6 o’clock
Perpetual calendar with day, date, month and leap-year cycle
Outsize date display at 12 o’clock
Day/night indicator at 9 o’clock
High-precision moon phases appearing in a rotating aperture (orbital moon) at 6 o’clock

Movement:

Mechanical self-winding: L.U.C 96.13-L
Number of components: 355
Diameter: 33.00 mm
Thickness: 6.00 mm
Number of jewels: 32
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 65 hours
Two stacked barrels – Chopard Twin Technology
Bridges adorned with Côtes de Genève
Guilloché-worked micro-rotor in ethical 22-carat gold with L.U.C logo
Chronometer certified by the COSC
‘Poinçon de Genève’ quality hallmark

Case:

Ethical 18-carat rose gold
Total diameter: 43.00 mm
Thickness: 11.47 mm
Water resistance: 50 m
Ethical 18-carat rose gold crown with L.U.C logo: 6.50 mm
Vertical satin-brushed case middle
Polished bezel and case-back
Transparent exhibition case-back
Glare-proofed sapphire crystal

Dial and hands:

Galvanic blue dial, sunray satin-finished pattern centred around the L.U.Chopard logo
Rhodium-plated hours, minutes, day, month and small seconds hands
Day/night and year indicated by white triangles

Strap and buckle: