Chopard Honors the Spirit of the Samurai with a One-of-a-Kind L.U.C Full Strike Masterpiece

This timepiece embodies the encounter of Swiss Haute Horlogerie and Japanese traditions in an expressive work where every hand-engraved detail tells a story. Equipped with Chopard's iconic minute repeater movement, the L.U.C 08.01-L (itself hand-decorated), this timepiece offers unrivalled crystal-clear sound, enhanced by an acoustic presentation chest made of spruce wood. Through this creation, which has been awarded the Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark, Chopard celebrates the nobility of the gesture, the rigour of craftsmanship and the beauty of symbolism.

For more than 40 years, Chopard’s Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele has nurtured a passionate relationship with Japan, which he visits regularly. Fascinated by a culture that elevates everyday objects to the status of artworks, he admires Japanese craftsmanship, where rigorous discipline, aesthetic flair and humility unite in a quest for perfection. Each creation is the result of total commitment, masterful skill and infinite patience. Based on respect for traditional savoir-faire and enhancing subtle details, this philosophy naturally resonates with the approach behind the L.U.C collection, whose timepieces embody a demanding, sincere and deeply human vision of watchmaking.

The honour of Japanese warriors exalted by the art of hand engraving

Entirely engraved by Chopard's artisan, this watch becomes a narrative work, where each surface tells a story. The dial opens onto the menpō mask of a samurai: an emblematic figure whose code of honour, discipline and loyalty resonate with the values of Haute Horlogerie. Frightening the enemy with its ferocity, shaggy moustache and gaping mouth, it evokes the iron masks of the Edo period (1603-1868). This central character, both dramatic and powerful, sets the tone for a martial aesthetic imbued with strength and symbolism.

The caseband is transformed into a sculpted fresco featuring intense combat scenes alternating with meditative moments, illustrating the duality between martial discipline and a spiritual quest. Disturbing yet protective oni (ogres) engraved between the lugs keep watch over the warrior, embodying creatures from Japanese folklore in extreme detail. The bezel extends this experience with patterns inspired by traditional armour, such as flat kebiki odoshi cords (armour lacing) and ornaments evoking ancient masks. The hand-decorated movement is adorned with stylised waves and a komainu lion, a mythological animal similar to the guardian lion of temples; while the crown features an engraved peony symbolising honour, courage and strength. Each element of this one-of-a-kind creation is designed as a tribute to Japanese aesthetics and spirituality, where engraving becomes a language of its own, transforming the timepiece into a sculpted story.

A crystal-clear sound that is unique in the world

Equally sophisticated inside and out, this L.U.C Full Strike Spirit of the Warrior watch beats to the rhythm of an exceptional movement developed by Chopard Manufacture in 2016 and enhanced in this creation by hand-engraved decorations based on traditional motifs. L.U.C Calibre 08.01-L is a mechanical minute repeater movement which strikes the hours, quarters and minutes with timeless, crystal-clear notes. The glass protecting its dial, along with its gongs providing an audible indication of time, form a single whole. Machined in one piece from a block of sapphire, without any welding, screws or glue, it gives the L.U.C Full Strike a unique sound intensity. This as yet unmatched construction with its inalterable acoustics is the object of one of the many patents filed by Chopard during the 15,000 or so hours required to develop L.U.C Calibre 08.01-L: a feat acknowledged in 2017 by the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève which awarded the “Aiguille d’Or” best-in-show prize to the rose gold L.U.C Full Strike watch.

A patented strikework-pusher disengagement system

Minute repeaters are naturally exposed to the risk of breakage when mishandled. In order to provide the owner of a L.U.C Full Strike timepiece with a perfect experience, its movement has been the subject of numerous developments that secure its operation. Reactivating a chiming mechanism (strikework) while a sequence is already in progress can lead to breakage of certain components. To avoid this potential occurrence, L.U.C Calibre 08.01-L is equipped with a disengagement system for the chime activation pusher. When the watch is chiming, this pusher can be activated at will without affecting the movement, from which it is disconnected. Chopard has registered a patent for this ingenious feature.

Perfectly secured sound

When the minute repeater slide is not fully depressed, the striking sequence may be incomplete and the audible time indication inaccurate. For this reason, L.U.C Calibre 08.01-L is equipped with a separate barrel dedicated to the strikework. It stores enough energy for 12 complete soundings of the longest time, i.e. the 32 strokes heard at 12:59 pm (12 for the hours, three two-tone sequences for the quarters, 14 times for the remaining minutes). The strikework will not be activated if the barrel has insufficient energy for the entire set of strikes required. Moreover, the constant intensity of each strike on the gongs is guaranteed by this separate barrel. Finally, in a supremely refined touch, the time units not struck are skipped. This means the L.U.C Full Strike timepiece does not make a silent pause between the hours and quarters, nor between the quarters and minutes. On the contrary, it sounds them smoothly in direct succession, whatever the time. The strikework mechanism’s power reserve is indicated by the longer hand at 2 o'clock, appearing on the graduated counter topped by a bell. In the same space, on an adjacent scale, a slightly shorter hand indicates the movement's 60-hour power reserve.

A case designed to magnify both spirit and sound

To accompany this unique creation, Chopard has developed an exceptional presentation chest, designed as an aesthetic and acoustic enhancement of the watch. Housed in a black box lined with red kamosho, the L.U.C Full Strike Spirit of the Warrior model is presented in a refined setting highlighting its martial inspiration. At its heart, a spruce wood sound box has been specially designed to magnify the acoustics of the chiming mechanism, revealing the purity and tonal richness of the sapphire gong. Engraved on the case are words from the samurai code of honour – such as Justice, Courage, Sincerity and Loyalty – reinforcing the spiritual link between the object and Japanese heritage, making this outstanding housing far more than a presentation box but rather a true vessel of values.

Craftsmanship recognised by the Poinçon de Genève

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 accumulated mastery of all the major horological complications. Between Fleurier and Geneva, Chopard Manufacture conceives, develops, manufactures, assembles, decorates and certifies all its timepieces. Thanks to Karl-Friedrich Scheufele's commitment to watchmaking tradition combined with technical innovation, the Manufacture maintains a high level of finishing by preserving numerous Artistic crafts and skills.

The excellence of this L.U.C Full Strike Spirit of the Warrior timepiece is acknowledged by the Poinçon de Genève, which guarantees the quality and proper functioning of watches assembled in the canton. Stamped on the back of the watch and on the main bridge of the movement, it represents the coat of arms of the city of Geneva, consisting of a golden key and an eagle.