Vintage
MTF uncovers a vintage Chopard Minute Repeater Pocket Watch, a significant discovery that addresses long-standing questions about Chopard's history with striking complications. This finding provides historical context for the brand's modern L.U.C Full Strike and L.U.C Strike One wristwatches, confirming Chopard's heritage in horological acoustics.
When Chopard Manufacture produced their first minute repeater wristwatch and revealed the L.U.C Full Strike in 2016, some commentators questioned if the House of Chopard ever produced legitimate 'striking' watches before.
Renaud Capuçon and Karl-Friedrich Scheufele
L.U.C Full Strike
L.U.C Strike One 96 SHT movement
Indeed, the same question was asked in 2006, when Chopard launched their first striking wristwatch - the L.U.C Strike One.
Then, there were no examples of L.U.C 'striking' pocket watch yet found.
L.U.Ceum
Chopard Museum
I first "hinted" at a L.U.C striking pocket watch that we spotted at the Chopard Geneva Museum in 2015.
We did not expand on the discovery because Chopard had to conduct a deep investigation as to the provenance and authenticity.
This was especially poignant because of the planned launch of their first minute repeated wristwatch for the 20th Anniversary of the Chopard Manufacture in 2016.
Chopard Museum
Read a previous report: L.U.Chopard Journey Through Time in 2016 Continues
THE OLD
L.U.C Pocket Watch Répétition Minutes
I am now allowed to confirm that it was an authentic Chopard Minute Repeater Pocket Watch.
It has now been "sympathetically restored" and may be displayed at one of the Chopard museums. There are Chopard museums located in Geneva and Fleurier as well as travelling exhibitions.
L.U.C Pocket Watch Répétition Minutes
L.U.C Pocket Watch Répétition Minutes
It is a manual winding mechanical movement with a bi-metallic (brass and steel) balance, blue steel hairspring with Phillips terminal curve, black polished regulator and Swiss anchor escapement.
Rhodium-plated brass chamfered bridges with Geneva stripes give an appearance of restrained elegance.
The traditional steel hammers and gongs are perfectly adjusted to give a melodious sound "on request".
This means that the striking function works after activation of the slide lever at 6 o’clock.
The sliding action is sufficient to wind the striking mainspring before the strike sequence is set in motion.
L.U.C Pocket Watch Répétition Minutes
THE NEW
L.U.C Full Strike
Contrast this with the advanced technology developed for the modern L.U.C Full Strike: the first minute repeater wristwatch created by Chopard Manufacture.
The modern gongs are made of sapphire crystal and integrated with the watch glass to act as a resonator.
Chopard retains the traditional steel hammers that still work best as strikers.
The modern L.U.C Strike One has a striking mainspring wound by turning the crown to store a huge potential energy for 12 full sets of the "longest" strikes i.e. when the time is 12:59.
When you hear the new L.U.C Full Strike wristwatch that was invented and developed by Chopard Manufacture before they re-discovered a vintage minute repeater produced by their forebears, you have to admit that the modern watch stands alone for it's striking excellence. It is the best minute repeater produced today.
On the other hand, when you know of the revival of the House of Chopard since 1963, when so much history had been lost through two World Wars and the 'Swiss quartz crisis', it is good to know that L.U.Chopard unwittingly paid homage to their horological history with the two L.U.C striking wristwatches: Strike One and Full Strike.
L.U.C Pocket Watch Répétition Minutes
What do you think?
Do you need a history of striking products to excel at making a minute repeater?
I think not; as L.U.C Full Strike was developed before they even knew of the vintage pocket watch.
They just applied the best people and processes they had to the final objective: Make the Best.
"Yes we can !"
YES ...We Can !
Regards,
MTF
Beautiful (the pocket one) and BEAUTIFUL (the modern one). Cheers, Nilo
Chopard's inspiration aside, allow me to ask you a question Melvyn. You seem clearly supportive of the notion that this Chopard watch is indeed the finest "sounding" striking watch ever made. I think you have had the opportunity to handle many repeaters from many brands over the years, and therefore you seem qualified to have such beliefs. I am curious, have you experienced Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak Concept Supersonnerie in person? I would love to read a comparison of these two (I have not exp
Actually, Chopard Manufacture has NEVER claimed to have the best contemporary minute repeater; it's NOT their style to boast. They only listed all the technical "improvements' incorporated or patent pending....and let us make our own conclusions. Fellow collectors and journalists made those positive comments during the launch and afterwards in private conversations. I have not heard any modern Audemars Piguet striking watches since a factory visit... Audemars Piguet Resonance Box Audemars Piguet
I wish I had more experience with striking timepieces. I still have a specific curiosity to hear comparisons between this new Chopard and AP's Supersonnerie.
...when I first saw the pocket watch, it needed some tender loving care. I like that it brings some history to life at Chopard because they did not have any archive records to even hint that the brand ever produced any minute repeater watches since 1860. On the other hand, even though I'm not a minute repeater aficionado, the L.U.C Full Strike of pure tones of C and F are so clean that it is scary to some collectors. It makes their other watches sound "fuzzy". MTF
Simple but harmonious design. Regards MTF
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