Still, given the weather I decided to dip my toes in again today and make some fresh shots of the LUC 8HF. 

A watch from the time, where Chopard was really trying to establish the technological basis for an ascent into higher spheres of horology. Prior to this they made their first in house chronograph movement as opposed to the simple route of buying an established brand (Minerva was one being considered). But the 8Hz was definitely something very novel and currently only bested by the 10 Hz movements of Breguet. 

The first generation 8HF, of which this is an example came in a titanium case and was limited to 100 pieces. The second one - better known here, as more members have them was all black and of mixed ceramic / titanium construction and added a PR indicator - that was limited to 250.

In addition to the movement the watch introduced some other firsts for Chopard, like the dauphine fusee hands, which subsequently became standard on most LUC pieces. As such the design was somewhere between the Tech Twist era and the modern / current design language, the former represented by the case design, the offset of the crown and small seconds subdial and the date window, while the latter seen in the mentioned new hands, the dial and the L.U.Chopard font on the dial. 

The watch is most certainly not a conventional design or conventionally pretty but it does have an unmistakable character and presence. What the movement also does (in addition to giving you a relatively smoothly moving small seconds hand) is to give you a completely unique aural experience - the watch sounds unlike any other mechanical watch and is a pleasure to put to your ear and listen to. 

So as promised some time ago, here come more detailed shots of the case, in addition to the standard ones of the dial that I have made frequently over the past couple of years.