The L.U.C Quattro Spirit of ‘72
The year is 1972: a Ferrari prototype roars through Spa, Belgium, with Jacky Ickx at the wheel, etching a moment of racing history in time.
Executed inhouse at Chopard’s Manufacture in Fleurier by a master artisan enameller, the dial is a miniature painting in Grand Feu enamel.
Chopard Ambassador Jacky Ickx, said: “Racing is an emotion lived at speed. This watch slows time to a moment and lets that emotion endure.”
The sapphire crystal case back reveals Jacky Ickx’s autograph, reproduced alongside the inscription ‘1000 km de Spa 1972’.
Jacky Ickx stands as a true motorsport icon.
credit: @yohann_artintime & Chopard
Another interesting variety of the Quattro…
The movement doesn't allow to move the hour window, unfortunately.
I get the seeing bit…
Yes, I’m almost certain that they
Yes, I understand. It's the jumping hour window, not the date, and
So, I guess this particular image isn't well suited to such a complication...
Best, Emmanuel
Thanks for the clarification 👍
Ha, yes, they probably could have done it (there is regular version of the caliber 98)...😇
I’m not attracted to this timepiece, tbh.
Best, Emmanuel
I am imagining my print of Michael & Mario Andretti on my wrist
I imagine they could have done something like this, yes.
Best, Emmanuel
An old saying...
Although beauty is in the eye of the beholder...
Both the subject matter, and most importantly, execution matters a great deal in achieving the desired outcome on miniature paintings. Unfortunately, this artwork fails to achieve the sense of speed and excitement that the original photo entailed.
This is apparent when looking at the background, Whereas the blurred effect created by the camera's slow shutter gives the sense of speed, the miniature painting is a mess of jumbled colors that bares no resemblance to the original subject matter - the grand stand and the fans. The "Gulf" petroleum sign is executed particularly poorly. Not only does it bare no resemblance to the original logo at all, but its sharpness and clarity stands in direct contrast to the blurred background for which it was intended to be part of, and thus further lessening the "depth" effect the painting is supposed to achieve. I do not hazard to guess what the artist had in mind when he/she was rendering this logo, but I would hate to think that the artist did not undertake the necessary study into motor racing before attempting to replicate this photo.
As others have mentioned, the boldness of the "date window" owing to its size, location, choice of font, and industrial feel of the squared off borders, was also not a particularly good choice, as it further disrupts the graceful nature of the artwork (note that I have put "date window" in inverted commas because it is not apparent on first glance that it's not a date window at all, but rather a jump hour. It is therefore probable that in an attempt to showcase their technical prowess, Chopard gave little forethought into understanding how this functionality could interrupt the aesthetics of the artwork).
While I understand the above criticism could be overly critical - it is difficult to achieve the desired outcome on such a small canvas, and perhaps when viewed at the actual size, these imperfections are not apparent, it should also noted that others brands have created artwork regarding the same subject matter that are more tasteful and nuanced, take for example the below Patek Philippe models. In the first example in particular, notice how Patek Philippe has given the type of "forethought" that is missing from the Chopard piece - the choice of the perferated strap and hands were no accident, but rather mirror the type of racing gloves that the drivers of that era would have worn during race. In the second example, the use of a diamond pattern in the strap, and diamond and ruby bezel inserts, is reminescent of the checkered flags used in racing. This sense of coherence shows that Patek is operating at a level significantly above Chopard when it comes to design.
