Chopard L.U.C Quattro Spirit of ‘72

quattro · 2026-03-16T20:35:51Z

Explore the Chopard L.U.C Quattro Spirit of '72, a unique white gold tribute to Jacky Ickx. Featuring a Grand Feu enamel dial of his Ferrari 312 PB, it sparks debate on art and horology.

quattro

WPS member · Chopard forum

45 replies2175 views17 photos

In this insightful article, forum author 'quattro' introduces the Chopard L.U.C Quattro Spirit of ‘72, a unique piece honoring racing legend Jacky Ickx. This piece delves into the watch's intricate Grand Feu enamel dial, which meticulously recreates a historic moment from the 1972 Spa race. 'quattro' provides an in-depth look at the watch's design, its connection to motorsport history, and the artistic challenges of capturing speed in miniature enamel painting.

The white gold L.U.C Quattro Spirit of ‘72, ref. 161977-1008, is a unique piece honouring legendary racing driver and Chopard Ambassador Jacky Ickx.

The year is 1972: a Ferrari prototype roars through Spa, Belgium, with Jacky Ickx at the wheel, etching a moment of racing history in time.

In qualifying, Icks got the pole position; unfortunately in the race, a poorly fixed wheel deprived him of victory.

The dial faithfully reproduces the famous image titled “Ferrari 312 PB – 1972”, captured by renowned photographer Rainer W. Schlegelmilch.

Executed inhouse at Chopard’s Manufacture in Fleurier by a master artisan enameller, the dial is a miniature painting in Grand Feu enamel.

The composition foregrounds the iconic 312 PB and Ickx’s helmet with clarity, while blurred spectators convey the impression of speed — an effect rarely seen in this medium.

Chopard Ambassador Jacky Ickx, said: “Racing is an emotion lived at speed. This watch slows time to a moment and lets that emotion endure.”

The following images are (poor) screenshots from @yohann_artintime, Monaco, where the watch was delivered: link here.

The sapphire crystal case back reveals Jacky Ickx’s autograph, reproduced alongside the inscription ‘1000 km de Spa 1972’.

Karl Friedrich Scheufele, CoPresident of Chopard, said:

“The L.U.C Quattro Spirit of ’72 unites Haute Horlogerie with a page of motorsport history, handpainted in enamel and powered by a calibre whose autonomy and precision honour the discipline of endurance racing.”

Jacky Ickx stands as a true motorsport icon.

He claimed a record-breaking six victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans between 1969 and 1982, secured 8 Formula One wins and 25 podium finishes, and tackled the gruelling Paris-Dakar rally no fewer than 14 times.

credit: @yohann_artintime & Chopard

If you are interested, I have listed here all the variants to date of the L.U.C Quattro Spirit 25.

Thanks for reading.

Best, Emmanuel

Key Points from the Discussion

The miniature painting on the dial, particularly the background and the Gulf logo, fails to effectively convey the sense of speed and excitement of the original photograph, appearing as a jumble of colors rather than a blurred effect.
While acknowledging the criticism regarding the Gulf logo, the author 'quattro' suggests that the 'digital window' for the jumping hour complication might intentionally interrupt the car's image to emphasize speed, though admits personal bias due to meeting the enameler and owning a Quattro Spirit model.
The placement of the jumping hour window at 6 o'clock is a deliberate design choice by Karl Friedrich Scheufele, intended to allow the jumping hour to be seen without obstruction from the minute hand at 12 o'clock, which might make this particular dial image less suitable for the complication.
A contributor suggests that the jumping hour window's position could be changed freely, similar to a date disc, by printing different hour discs to align with various dial positions, arguing that this flexibility should be feasible for a watch at this price point.
The dial's intricate details, while stunning to some, might not hold up well under close magnification, suggesting it's a piece that 'hates a loupe.' The contributor also questions the broader benefit of Chopard's niche partnership with Jacky Ickx.
Despite not being a Ferrari fan, one collector, who appreciates L.U.C Chopard and motor racing, finds the dial 'stunning' and capable of holding attention for hours due to its minute details.

The Discussion

KMII

Mar 16, 2026

Although I have to say it would work much better in my eyes, if the hour window was at 12 o’clock rather than 6, so as not to cut into the car on the dial 😊🤷🏻‍♂️

Champthekid

Mar 16, 2026

I have not seen a date ruin a dial more than this. Sorry.

quattro

Mar 16, 2026

And KFS wanted it to be at 6 o'clock since the creation of the QS25 because when the minute hand reaches 12, you want to be able to see the hour disc jump!

quattro

Mar 16, 2026

KF Scheufele wanted it to be placed at 6 o'clock since the creation of the model (Quattro Spirit 25) in order to be able to see the hour jumping without the minute hand being in front of it at 12 o'clock... So, I guess this particular image isn't well suited to such a complication... Best, Emmanuel

Champthekid

Mar 16, 2026

Maybe I was too harsh, but I believe no window at all should be in that spot on such a beautiful dial. Stuff like this drives me crazy. lol. I can’t help it 😁. Just add an hour hand and it will be perfect 😂

quattro

Mar 16, 2026

But it's not for me! 🫣🤷🏽‍♂️😅 Best, Emmanuel

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