Comments:
I liked the alpine eagle from the start
... and ended up with the blue faced one. I handled the first ever XPS in the London boutique a few weeks ago, and it's definitely different to the regular one, but unlike you, I think some of the changes aren't entirely for the better. The loss of a mm of thickness is cool, it's definitely very noticeable. But the thinner bezel I don't think suits the watch so well, I think it's slightly it of proportion. I also think the sub seconds is a bit fussy, I'd rather have had a micro rotor centre seconds, but I'm not sure if they still make a watch with that variation of the movement (I think I last saw it in the pro one diver). The colour is fantastic.
At the boutique they also had the Singapore special solid gold AE with a red face. That was a real stunner, too.
At the boutique they also had the Singapore special solid gold AE with a red face. That was a real stunner, too.
Another impressive in-depth review, Nico!ššš
I believe it goes without saying that Iām a huge fan of this spectacular piece. With no prior purchase history, Iām especially shocked that I was fortunate to obtain one, which Iām wearing today:
1. Just to add to your review, the dial can change depending on the lighting conditions to a very light salmon to a dark salmon:
Regarding the hands, they are white gold as you mentioned. But, once again, depending on the lighting, can appear to have black edges. However, this is simple the lighting effects on the cafe:
You mentioned the ring of metal surrounding the subdial. Itās actually in the background. I tried to capture in these next two photos that there is a hollowed separation gap between the dial and the subdial:
Finally, most critics of the standard AE dislike the Roman numerals and the 4:30 date. And we all know just how much you love holes in dials!š
2. Itās refreshing to have a modern timepiece with a thin case. The bezel is also thinner than the bezel on the standard AE. At various angles the bezel on the standard AE can appear as if itās being āpinchedā at the 12 and 6 positions:
3. The movement is the āstar of the show:ā
4. The bracelet reminds me of the first generation Vacheron Constantin Overseas. Itās extremely comfortable as you mentioned and the polished center links donāt bother me. Although itās doesnāt have a micro-adjustment feature, you can order a link and a half to get a better fit.
5. One of my lessons learned on the acquisition of the Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321 āEd Whiteā was reading between the fine print. Although there was no specific mention that this is a boutique-only piece, I didnāt take any chances with the local ADs. With the limited production numbers I saw, I contact the closest boutique to secure my piece.
I donāt know how many people if any were fortunate to secure one from an AD. I strongly recommend reaching out to a boutique to improve your chances. Fortunately, Chopard customer service is truly impressive and they wonāt play mind games with you!
Thanks again, mon ami! Wishing you and your love ones a joyful and safe holiday season!š„
You are right about the light conditions and the color of the dial. Thanks for the tip about the bracelet!
Superb post!
For a fella who is not a tremendous fan of Genta-esque, integrated bracelet, sports watches, you rather liked this watch! The killer here is the movement. This is a wonderful movement. There is so much inner beauty here. And the Chopard 96 movement is not only small and thin, but has an unusually long power reserve. I don't think that people can find fault with the Geneva Seal-ed movement.
On the other side of the coin, the overall design of the watch is very much "beauty in the eye of the beholder." While I like it, I find the bracelet with the polished part that sticks out, to be an ultimate scratch magnet. But I would say that if it was all brushed, it would probably not look quite right.
On the other side of the coin, the overall design of the watch is very much "beauty in the eye of the beholder." While I like it, I find the bracelet with the polished part that sticks out, to be an ultimate scratch magnet. But I would say that if it was all brushed, it would probably not look quite right.
I'm really pleased that the St. Moritz's Rococo design was not maintained. The Scalloped design is not something either of us that we like. And the new Alpine Eagle does get rid of those "scallops" or protrusions on the bezel.
Overall, I'm interested in this watch. I plan to be getting one later this year. And I look forward to wearing it and hopefully it will be a reliable piece.
Agreed on the bracelet. You know me well, I am not fan of this kind of design, normally.
Allow me to be critical...
1. This dial. The eagle's iris. I still find it a little "strange." And I'm not crazy about it. It's also stamped. And I think the indices and hands are made of steel (not gold).
2. This bracelet is beautifully constructed, expecially from that side profile where the links show real precision and being manufactured with micron tolerances. The manufacturing is impressive! But is it beautiful? Eye of the beholder. Is it practical? NO! The polished links all stick out and will show scratches first!
3. The crown with the compass rose, to me this is a little "lame." I feel the compass rose decoration is a little overdone and almost a juvenile choice. I know I'm being overly critical here.
4. The A223 steel is definitely harder, but watches that have been used certainly do show a lot of scratches on those polished bracelet links.
5. From a value perspective, compared to Patek's Nautilus and AP's Royal Oak, this is a great value. You've got a Geneva-Seal high quality movement at much less price, and this one is actually possible to obtain - the others are impossible with forever waiting lists. This one you'll get in a couple of years.
6. But from a true love perspective, I think I'm going to like the Nautilus more.
2. This bracelet is beautifully constructed, expecially from that side profile where the links show real precision and being manufactured with micron tolerances. The manufacturing is impressive! But is it beautiful? Eye of the beholder. Is it practical? NO! The polished links all stick out and will show scratches first!
3. The crown with the compass rose, to me this is a little "lame." I feel the compass rose decoration is a little overdone and almost a juvenile choice. I know I'm being overly critical here.
4. The A223 steel is definitely harder, but watches that have been used certainly do show a lot of scratches on those polished bracelet links.
5. From a value perspective, compared to Patek's Nautilus and AP's Royal Oak, this is a great value. You've got a Geneva-Seal high quality movement at much less price, and this one is actually possible to obtain - the others are impossible with forever waiting lists. This one you'll get in a couple of years.
6. But from a true love perspective, I think I'm going to like the Nautilus more.
Well to each his own. I prefer this one to the over rated Nautilus. Not to say that everything is perfect on this one!
Can't wait to try it on!
I really like this one! Looking forward to acquiring mine later this year!
I have Nautilusā poor imitation
GP Laureato, and it picked up scratches like there is no tomorrow. So I wouldnāt really fault Chopardās polished center links. But for some reason I feel the overall design is more industrial and less refined than RO or Nautilus. Again I am only talking about the design and not workmanships.
more than three weeks....
...of wearing the alpine eagle XPS more or less continuously. and i still don't know completely how i feel about it. here are a few thoughts. the contrast of the pink dial and
the white metal hands and indices (white gold?) is strikingly beautiful and gives real three-dimensionality to the dial. the roman numerals - not sure they
are needed and possibly the watch could look better with simple batons. the bracelet could certainly taper one or two millimeters more - the same criticism
applies to the VC overseas although i hear this was fixed in this year's update. back to the XPS: possibly the bracelet has been designed to recall the chopard ice-cube bracelets and
therefore tapering was ruled out. legibility is excellent, which i definitely appreciate.
the polished center links of the bracelet (which appeal to me, think ice-cube again) are definitely scratch magnets but there are those evil people saying that i scratch all my watches anyway::
))
))is the watch grail level of integrated-bracelets elegant sports watches? i don't know but i don't even know why the nautilus is. i feel that the RO is possibly still on a different levels. with the XPS though, i realize that
i get a lot of compliments from ladies....even my wife likes it and she usually dislikes bracelet watches. there seems to be a 'female' side to it (which i like).
dial
the more i look at my AE XPS the more i get convinced that the watch gains a lot of its distinctive estethics from the height of the hour markers, which makes the dial really three dimensional
.
One of the best steel watches
It is almost perfect. There are basically 2 drawbacks:
1) central link that will eventually scratch;
2) 1mm too big in diameter.
Donāt know how good the links bracelet are connected though.
1) central link that will eventually scratch;
2) 1mm too big in diameter.
Donāt know how good the links bracelet are connected though.
Agreed on the central link. As or the case diameter, in real, not too big. Did you see it in person?
Not yet
I was able to touch other alpine eagles. But I was disappointed with their movement finishing. Salmon one seems to have a great movement so this drawback is eliminated.