Chopard L.U.C Tourbillon Dragon Fleurier Engraving

Kong · 2012-03-28T10:56:07Z

Discover the Chopard L.U.C Tourbillon Dragon, a limited edition timepiece featuring rare Fleurier fillet engraving and a 9-day power reserve.

At the start of this Chinese year of the Dragon, Chopard unveils a L.U.C Tourbillon model featuring movement bridges adorned with gravure à filet (fillet engraving) a highly distinctive and almost extinct traditional engraving skill typical of the village of Fleurier in Canton Neuchâtel.

An historical speciality of the village of Fleurier where Chopard Manufacture has been established since 1996, gravure à filet is an artistic craft that has all but vanished, although from the 18th century onwards it earned local watchmakers a magnificent reputation and ensured the success of their watches as far afield as China. This highly distinctive skill is distinguished by raised decorations on metal parts, generally gold movement bridges.

Fleurier Fillet Engraving

Its specific nature stems from the fact that it involves creating a motif not by actually engraving it but rather by sculpting it, meaning carving it out by removing the surrounding material. It is a technique that requires a great deal of time as well as meticulous craftsmanship calling for absolute mastery of the tool used for this purpose.

Perpetuating know-how

The House of Chopard, which continues to cultivate a longstanding commitment to training the up and coming generation and is profoundly attached to perpetuating ancient skills, encouraged certain specialists in its decoration workshops to recapture this form of engraving and thus revive the local tradition. A first series of 15 unique pieces of the L.U.C collection adorned with floral motifs was presented on the occasion of Chopard’s 150th anniversary, in 2010.

In 2012, the year of the Dragon according to the Chinese calendar, Chopard is offering a new strictly limited edition of 8 unique L.U.C Tourbillon watches, each featuring bridges adorned with a dragon hand-crafted using this unique engraving technique.

As aesthetically fascinating as they are technically accomplished, these precious timepieces driven by the L.U.C 02.02-L tourbillon movement from Chopard Manufacture are endowed with a 9-day power reserve thanks to Chopard’s patented Quattro® technology. Water-resistant to 30 metres, they are fitted with a hand-sewn brown alligator leather strap.

Technical details

Case

·      Case in 18-carat rose gold

·      Diameter                                                                 39.50 mm

·      Thickness                                                               10.82 mm

·      Water-resistant to                                                   30 metres

·      Crown in 18-carat white gold with L.U.C logo         6.00 mm

·      Glareproofed sapphire crystals

·      Exhibition back

Movement

·      Hand-wound tourbillon movement                           L.U.C 02.02-L

·      18-carat rose gold mainplate and bridges

·      Total diameter                                                          29.70 mm
·      Thickness                                                                 6.10 mm

·      Number of jewels                                                     33

·      Frequency                                                                28,800 vph (4Hz)

·      4 barrels, Quattro® technology

·      Power reserve                                                          216 hours (9 days)

·      Bridges adorned with “Dragon” motif created using the gravure à filet technique

·      Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark

·      Chronometer certification (COSC)

Dial and hands

·      Dial in guilloché silvered 18-carat gold

·      Gilded Dauphine hour and minute hands

·      Blue arrow-type small seconds hand

Functions and displays

·      Central hour and minutes display

·      Small seconds at 6 o’clock

·      Power-reserve display at 12 o’clock

Strap and buckle

·      Hand-sewn strap in brown alligator leather

·      18-carat rose gold pin buckle

Ref. 161869-5003 – in 18-carat rose gold, issued in a limited edition of 8

Press Release

Chopard L.U.C Tourbillon Dragon Fleurier Engraving

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