MTF
[PuristS]
13383
216 Hours Autonomy
I had a quick rummage to find a watch for 2018 that I've not worn much in 2017.
This is what I found
L.U.C 1.98 Quattro chronometer
In March 2000, the L.U.C Calibre 1.98 made its public debut as the worlds first hand-wound movement with four mainspring barrels. They were stacked in a 2x2 formation and registered as 'Quattro' technology. Each barrel contained a 47-cm long mainspring thus adding up to 1.88m in total length and affording approximately 216 hours power reserve.
A quick check on a calculator makes that 9 days reserve but only 8 days are shown on the power reserve indicator. The reason is to encourage the user to rewind the watch, when secretly, there is still at least 24 hours reserve. The precision of mechanical watch escapements suffers when power reserves are low so Chopard tries to mitigate this with a red alert on the power display when there is still 48 hours left.
It does take four times as long to wind but it is not an onerous task taking place once a week; a wonderful few minutes relaxing on a Sunday winding the buttery smooth mechanism. You never have to worry about over-winding the timepiece, not only because there are protective mechanisms to bleed off excesses but also because the power reserve indicator merrily winds up the scale to your desired setting. I naturally wind it to Day 8...er...I mean Day 9 (shh).
L.U.C 1.98 Quattro chronometer
Forgive the harsh flash has revealed artefacts on the watch bezel. They cannot be seen with the naked eye and in normal lighting conditions.
In fact, I was surprised to discover them when I reviewed the digital image on my monitor screen 
This timepiece has a Poinçon de Genève (Geneva Seal) because all its components were made in Chopard Manufacture, Fleurier and transported to Chopard Geneva Manufacture for final finishing and assembly under the rules of the Canton of Geneva. Additionally, it also possesses a C.O.S.C rating as required by Chopard for all its chronometers with running seconds hands.
All 224 parts of the movement are constructed and decorated to the highest Geneva Seal standards by hand.
I like to gaze at the guilloché central part of the dial with 'sunburst' streams. The logo is still old school cursive 'Chopard' that was introduced because 'L.U.Chopard & Cie' was too long.
What do you think of 'old school'?
Regards,
MTF
216 Hours Autonomy
Sometimes, old stuff still has value and meaning
I like the “owl look” of the movement of this L.U.C Quattro a lot but I prefer the 16/1860 and its micro rotor movement 😍
I got the L.U.C 1.98 before the L.U.C 1.96
You saw a salmon dial L.U.C 16/1860/1 with Officer case back?
That was the regular production L.U.C 16/1860/2
This is still a piece that i would like to see on my wrist one day...
I never considered that question before
Side-by-Side: Original L.U.C 1.96 chronometer and L.U.C 1.98 Quattro
As you always come to my country but we never meet...
