Chopard Launches Two New Variants of Its Sophisticated L.U.C Lunar One Perpetual Calendar
Chopard presents its L.U.C Lunar One, a design which offers a perpetual calendar with a large date, and high-precision orbital moonphase in two versions crafted from ethical gold. With an even slimmer case and finely guilloched dials, the manufacture showcases its technical and artisanal expertise. The high-horology timepieces celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
In 2005, the Chopard Manufacture unveiled one of its most important innovations: a perpetual calendar with a large date and an astronomically precise moonphase. This complex, literally forward-thinking mechanism ensures the accurate display of the date, day of the week, and month over decades, even taking leap years into account. The calendar will only require an adjustment on March 1, 2100, as the Gregorian calendar omits a leap year that year. Chopard's complication also includes the display of the large date through two windows, a 24-hour indication, and a technically sophisticated and visually refined moonphase display. In this, the Earth’s satellite rotates around the second's axis – hence the term "orbital". The indication displays the sky as seen from the northern hemisphere, featuring the Big Dipper, as well as the southern hemisphere with the Southern Cross. The display, assembled and adjusted by Chopard’s most talented watchmakers, boasts an impressive astronomical precision: with great attention to detail and artisanal craftsmanship, the indication reproduces the synodic orbit of the moon so accurately that it will only need correction after 122 years.
A Slimmer, Redesigned Case
The two new L.U.C Lunar One models stand out from previous versions by a slimmer case that has been delicately revised to align with the aesthetic features of the L.U.C collection. With a diameter of 40.5 mm and a height of 11.6 mm, it sits comfortably on the wrist. The case is made of 18-carat ethical white or rose gold, and its shape is concave, reminiscent of a shell, with a smaller diameter at the base than the domed, polished bezel. This distinctive profile is inspired by 19th-century pocket watches, which are part of Louis-Ulysse Chopard’s creative heritage.
The new case features vertically satin-brushed sides, paired with a rounded, notched crown that is not only elegant but also comfortable to operate. The slightly curved sapphire crystal follows the lines of the bezel, creating a rounded, harmonious profile. The case’s quality is evident in the lugs, which are individually crafted and welded to the case.
Hand-Guilloched Dials
A distinctive hallmark of the L.U.C collection is the exquisitely crafted dials, made with old guilloché machines in Chopard’s workshops and hand-finished by specialists. The two new L.U.C Lunar One models, available in deep blue and sought-after salmon, feature a radiant pattern, with the moonphase display at 6 o'clock as its center. The large date, displayed in two windows, is positioned opposite at 12 o'clock. Around the dial’s minute track is a concentric circle pattern. The Dauphine-fusée hands and the pointed hour markers are crafted in matching white or rose gold. The two subsidiary dials of the perpetual calendar are also decorated with a circular pattern, except for the center of the subdial at 9 o'clock, where a 24-hour display can be used as a day/night indicator. The upper half (day) is finished with a sunburst pattern to represent daylight, while the lower half (night) is engraved with a horizontal motif symbolizing nighttime. The arrangement of the displays is both harmonious and highly legible.
Two Quality Seals
The L.U.C Lunar One also reflects Chopard’s ambition to make especially flat movements. It is one of the few watches whose automatic movement with perpetual calendar is equipped with a micro-rotor. Made from solid gold, this rotor is fully integrated into the movement to maintain the slim design. It can be viewed through the sapphire caseback, where it is engraved with the L.U.C logo and adorned with fine guilloché. This is just one example of the high level of finishing applied to the L.U.C 96.13-L caliber: all 355 components are made in-house, hand-decorated, and assembled at Chopard’s workshops. Thanks to the Chopard Twin technology, featuring two stacked mainspring barrels, the haute horlogerie timepiece offers a power reserve of 65 hours. Like the original model, it bears both a COSC chronometer certificate and the rare Geneva Seal.
Interchangeable Straps
A new feature is the interchangeable strap system, allowing for quick and easy strap changes without tools. Each watch is delivered with two straps – one in alligator leather and one in calf leather.
Pricing is marked at $85,800.
To learn more, visit Chopard, here.
