I'm definitely aiming to add a Chopard watch specifically with the 1.96 movement or it's updated brother so i'm hoping we get an answer to your question soon! It does seem odd there's a reduction to jewel count.
Worth nothing on Chopard's site they list the movement as having 29 jewels: https://www.chopard.com/us/l-u-c-96-01-l-c6309601l-04#tab-label-additional