Concerto Grosso: Chopard Wows With L.U.C Grand Strike

The Chopard Manufacture marks its 30th anniversary with the unveiling of the L.U.C Grand Strike, a masterpiece of haute horlogerie that represents the pinnacle of the Maison’s chiming watch expertise. Developed entirely in-house, this exceptional timepiece combines a grande sonnerie, petite sonnerie, and minute repeater, featuring Chopard’s proprietary sapphire crystal gongs. It embodies decades of technical research and innovation initiated by Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele.

Boasting over 11,000 hours of research and development, the L.U.C Grand Strike incorporates ten proprietary patents—five of them newly created for this watch—making it the most complex wristwatch ever produced by Chopard Manufacture. Certified by both the Poinçon de Genève and COSC, it is officially the most rigorously rated grande sonnerie in contemporary watchmaking. Its open-dial design highlights the intricate 686-component caliber L.U.C 08.03-L, showcasing its beautiful architecture and top-notch finishing quality. 

The L.U.C Grand Strike reflects nearly 20 years of sonnerie know-how and ten years of sapphire monobloc technology, culminating in this extraordinary 43mm, 18-carat ethical white gold watch. Two polished steel hammers at 10 o’clock signal the chiming mechanism, adjustable between Grande Sonnerie, Petite Sonnerie, and Silent modes via an ergonomically positioned sliding selector switch. A 60-second tourbillon at 6 o’clock underlines the COSC-certified precision of the movement

The patented sapphire crystal gongs, machined from a single piece together with the dial crystal, provide unparalleled acoustic clarity thanks to the properties of this material. When they are struck, they vibrate in concert with the dial crystal, channelling the sound, tuned to a harmonious C#–F♮ interval, directly towards the exterior of the watch and avoiding energy dissipation through the movement or case. Naturally, the chime gains in clarity and tonal purity. Nine additional patents—including five newly filed for this model—enhance both the function and security of the movement, covering everything from precise chiming cadence to safeguards against accidental mishandling.

The in-house manual-winding calibre L.U.C 08.03-L contains two mainspring barrels: one for timekeeping, offering 70 hours of power reserve, and a dedicated sonnerie barrel, providing at least 12 hours of continuous chiming in grande sonnerie mode. Despite the complexity, the movement maintains a wearable 43mm diameter and 14.08mm thickness, a remarkable engineering achievement.

The movement’s plates and bridges are crafted from maillechort (German silver), developing a warm patina over time. The L.U.C Grand Strike comes with two interchangeable straps, a gray alligator one and a calfskin one, both fitted with a folding clasp in 18-carat ethical white gold. Pricing is available on request.

To learn more, visit Chopard, here.

And to learn more about the intricate details of the L.U.C Grand Strike, the latest release from Chopard will be featured in the upcoming January–February issue of WatchTime magazine (out January 13). For a subscription, follow this link.