Chopard presents a new L.U.C Full Strike minute repeater watch in blue sapphire in a new exclusive limited edition of five-pieces.
In addition to the gongs of the L.U.C 08.01-L chronometer-certified calibre, the entire case, crown and dial of this new L.U.C Full Strike model are made of sapphire. Featuring a totally transparent intense blue sapphire case, it offers a 360-degree view of a movement with exceptional finishes.
Introduced in 2016, the L.U.C Full Strike model heralded a novel way of generating and propagating the sound of a minute repeater.
By using solid sapphire gongs and having the sapphire crystal serve as a resonator, as well as by making these two components into a single monobloc entity, Chopard Manufacture has achieved incomparable tonal richness and acoustic intensity.
In 2022, to mark the 25th anniversary of Chopard Manufacture, its founder Karl-Friedrich Scheufele launched the first minute repeater watch with a sapphire crystal case. The new blue sapphire version is an evolution of this masterpiece.
The 42.5 mm diameter case is 11.55 mm thick, with well-balanced proportions identical to previous versions of the L.U.C Full Strike. The bezel, case band, crown, case-back and rear glass are all made of blue sapphire crystal.
The intense blue colour was achieved by adding chromium and rare earth elements to the usual composition of corundum crystal.
The distinctively cut shaped sapphire dial enhances the indication elements essential for reading. To eliminate the effect of blurring the view, Chopard has created a railway-type minutes track engraved on the sapphire crystal and painted. It complements a chapter ring punctuated with rhodium-plated herringbone-shaped applied hour-markers, and black transferred counterparts.
The sapphire ring is interrupted by three elements. The first is the off-centre seconds counter. The second is an applied white gold plate bearing the “L.U.CHOPARD” logo. The third is the concentric power-reserve indicator in which two hands respectively indicate the energy remaining in the barrel that drives the movement as well as in the other powering the minute repeater.
The L.U.C Full Strike Sapphire is one of the rare non-metallic timepieces to bear the prestigious Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark, covering both the design and finishing of the movement and the case. Its patented resonant sapphire structure is complemented by several innovative technical systems, four of which are patented.
In a minute repeater mechanism, the energy required by the strikework is provided each time the winding lever is activated. Here, the energy comes from a separate, dedicated barrel wound directly by the crown. It enables the L.U.C Full Strike Sapphire to chime the most complex and energy-intensive time of day (or night) – namely 12 hours and 59 minutes – up to 12 times.
This exceptional autonomy is due to several factors. It benefits from the contribution of a patented clutch-lever mechanism that ensures that the strikework going train is blocked, to avoid losing power reserve during the information capture that controls the minute repeater.
Since it has an autonomous energy source, the strikework systematically respects the defined rhythm, whatever the time that is chimed and however many times it chimes.
Keen to preserve the user-friendliness of the minute repeater and to make its operation as secure as possible, Chopard Manufacture has introduced a number of innovative systems. Thus, if the barrel no longer has sufficient force to power the minute repeater, a safety mechanism blocks its release.
In addition, Chopard has filed and been granted a patent for a new strikework-activation device. As soon as it is activated, the pusher is disengaged, thereby making it impossible to disturb the running of the minute repeater or to damage it.
Technical details
Model: Chopard L.U.C Full Strike Blue Sapphire, Reference 168604-9001
Case
Blue sapphire
Total diameter: 42.50 mm
Thickness: 11.55 mm
Crown with integrated strike work pusher in blue sapphire, with L.U.C logo: 8.80 mm
Blue sapphire case middle, bezel and case-back, engraved case-back
Blue sapphire monobloc case-back
Sapphire crystal with two Chopard-patented integrated monobloc gongs
Movement
Mechanical hand-wound L.U.C 08.01-L
Number of components: 533
Total diameter: 37.20 mm
Thickness: 7.97 mm
Number of jewels: 63
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 60 hours
Mainplate and bridges in untreated nickel silver
Bridges adorned with Côtes de Genève motif
Minute repeater
Variable-inertia balance
Balance-spring with Phillips terminal curve
Chronometer-certified by the COSC
Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark
Patents
Monobloc sapphire crystal and gongs
Clutch-lever device serving to block the strikework so as to avoid losing power reserve during information capture
Dedicated ratchet-driving mechanism serving to avoid pauses during chiming
Strikework-activation device serving to act on the pusher whether it is chiming or not, in normal, low, continuous or fast mode
Dial
Open-worked sapphire dial
Applied logo plate in 18-carat white gold with black transfers
Satin-brushed chapter ring
Satin-brushed small seconds
Railway-type minutes track engraved on the sapphire crystal
Black transfers
Applied rhodium-plated herringbone-type hour-markers
Applied rhodium-plated Dauphine hours and minutes hands
Rhodium-plated baton-type small seconds hand
Rhodium-plated baton-type movement power-reserve and strikework power-reserve hands
Functions
Minute repeater striking sapphire gongs (Chopard-patented system)
Central display of the hours and minutes
Small seconds display at 6 o’clock
Concentric display of the watch and strikework power reserves at 2 o’clock
Stop-seconds function
Strap
Strap in hand-sewn blue alligator leather with blue alligator lining
Folding clasp in polished and satin-brushed ethical 18-carat white gold
Edition
Numbered five-piece limited edition in blue sapphire
