Chopard presents L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25 'Year of the Dragon’

A technical feat presented for the first time on the occasion of Chopard Manufacture's 25th anniversary, the L.U.C 98.06-L jumping-hour movement equips an exclusive new edition of the L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25 timepiece inspired by year of the dragon symbols. In this eight-piece limited series whose quality is certified by the Poinçon de Genève hallmark, the 40 mm-diameter case in ethical 18-carat yellow gold frames a dial enhancing the combination of several Artistic Crafts, ranging from Grand Feu enamel to micro-marquetry. Equipped with the four barrels characterising the exclusive Chopard Quattro technology offering an up to eight-day power reserve, the L.U.C 98.06-L movement places this model among the rare jumping-hour watches endowed with such autonomy.

Inspired by the year of the dragon and its rich symbolism, Chopard Manufacture merges the aesthetic theme of the Chinese zodiac with its jumping-hour watch. The first creature to appear in Chinese myths and legends, the dragon represents imperial authority, wealth and fertility, as well as being a sign of good fortune. Combining tradition and innovation, this exceptional L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25 model testifies to the Manufacture's dedication to the art of watchmaking and to celebrating the world's cultures.

Artistic Crafts: an extraordinary marquetry dragon comes to life on the dial

At the heart of the case in ethical 18-carat yellow gold – with its rounded shapes inspired by the hunter-type cases of the pocket watches once designed by Louis-Ulysse Chopard – the Manufacture has placed an exceptional dial featuring several Artistic Crafts. It all begins with a gold base on which an Artisan crafts a surface in Grand Feu enamel: a decorative technique cultivated since the 17th century and now perpetuated by only a handful of master Artisans, including one within Chopard Manufacture. Combining traditional skills with cutting-edge techniques, the enamel then undergoes laser ablation to create a spectacular dragon in relief. Its twisted body is crafted using miniature enamel painting and enhanced by a hand-engraved gold mane and moustache. The horns are made from six different types of wood in micro-marquetry. Finally, the bead clutched in the dragon's claws and the clouds through which it moves are made from mother-of-pearl. Orchestrating all these talents to embellish such a small surface is a veritable feat representative of Chopard Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele’s determination to create – with Chopard Manufacture – a centre of excellence dedicated to perpetuating traditional watchmaking expertise.

Chopard has chosen to pair this watch with a strap in salmon leather, featuring a texture evoking the scales on the dragon’s body.

Innovation: a jumping-hour function with a generous power reserve enabled by Chopard Quattro technology

With its L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25 timepiece, Chopard Manufacture presents its interpretation of a horological complication greatly prized by connoisseurs: the jumping hour. The L.U.C 98.06-L movement equipping this limited series is one of the few in this category of watches – which generally consume a great deal of energy – to offer up to eight days of power reserve. Thanks to the four stacked and series-coupled barrels based on the unique Chopard Quattro technology – which usually allows up to 216 hours of autonomy – the L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25 maintains a reserve above 190 hours despite the amount of energy required for the instant rotation of the hours disc. This power reserve can be tracked using the indicator engraved on the movement visible through the transparent case-back.

Together, the four barrels comprise almost two metres of spring. In addition to providing a more generous power reserve, they ensure greater accuracy because the energy transmitted is more evenly distributed. The energy delivered to the escapement is more constant, as is the amplitude, thus enabling high levels of chronometric (precision timekeeping) performance.

Visible through an exhibition case-back, this highly complicated mechanical hand-wound movement guarantees reliability and precision within an overall thickness of just 4.85 millimetres. The balance-spring is equipped with a Phillips terminal curve that guarantees the regulating organ’s precision throughout the movement’s operation – a feat of which only authentic Haute Horlogerie Manufactures are capable. It features a swan’s neck regulator enabling more precise timing of the balance frequency and hence the rate of the watch, by helping to fine-tune the active length of the balance-spring. In addition to its technical benefits, this device also endows the calibre with a more sophisticated aesthetic.

The L.U.C collection: 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.

L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25 'Year of the Dragon’. Eight-piece limited edition in ethical 18-carat yellow gold

Case:

Ethical 18-carat yellow gold

Total diameter 40.00 mm

Thickness 10.30 mm

Water resistance 50 metres

Crown in 18-carat yellow gold with L.U.C logo 7.00 mm

Vertical satin-brushed case-middle and interhorn space

Polished bezel and case-back

Glare-proofed sapphire crystal

Exhibition back

Movement:

Mechanical movement with manual winding L.U.C 98.06-L

Number of components 240

Total diameter 31.80 mm

Thickness 4.85 mm

Number of jewels 42

Frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz)

Power reserve 192 hours (8 days)

Jumping hours

Four barrels – exclusive Chopard Quattro® technology

Bridges with Côtes de Genève motif and gilded engravings

Swan’s neck fine adjustment

Balance-spring with Phillips terminal curve

Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark

Dial and hands:

Dial in ethical 18-carat yellow gold – Grand Feu enamel dial with dragon motif – appliques in ethical 18-carat yellow gold for the dragon’s mane and moustache – mother-of-pearl for the eyes

Gilded Dauphine fusée minutes hand

Gilded baton-type power-reserve indicator hand

Functions and displays:

Instantaneous jumping-hours display in a 6 o’clock aperture

Pointer-type central display of the minutes

Power-reserve indicator at 12 o’clock on the back of the watch

Balance-stop function enabling accurate adjustments of the hour (and the displayed minute)

Strap and buckle:

Hand-sewn strap in grey salmon leather

Polished and satin-brushed pin buckle in ethical 18-carat yellow gold

Ref. 161977-0001 – in ethical 18-carat yellow gold with grey salmon leather strap.

Numbered eight-piece limited edition.

L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25 'Year of the Dragon’

Photos: © Chopard