Chopard L.U.C. Lunar One


Chopard LUC Lunar One frontChopard introduced the first L.U.C Lunar One Grande Complication — one of the most prestigious models in its haute horlogerie L.U.C. collection, named for founder Louis-Ulysse Chopard — in 2005. In keeping with the brand’s recent revamp of that collection, the Lunar One, a perpetual calendar with an orbital moon-phase display, has been released in a new version whose aesthetics emphasize more flowing curves for the case and ideal legibility for the dial.

The rounded 43 mm-diameter case, fashioned of 18k rose gold, has polished and satin-brushed lugs that have been entirely redesigned for enhanced comfort and stylistic equilibrium. The slender crown, engraved with the L.U.C logo, is more ergonomically shaped. The caseback has a glareproofed sapphire crystal, engraved with the inscriptions “Chopard Manufacture,” “Lunar One,” and “L.U.C”.

The silver-toned and satin-brushed dial boasts several subtle touches intended to enhance its readability, such as the gold-toned “Dauphine”-style hands and the new, 1960s-inspired, golden-appliqué Roman numeral hour markers. The dial is framed by a railroad-stye minute track with black, transferred type that echoes that on the three subdials indicating the small seconds, month, and day of the week. (Photos can be enlarged with a click.)

Chopard LUC Lunar One front

The movement, automatic caliber L.U.C 96.13-L, based on the L.U.C 96QP, is chronometer-certified by the COSC, stamped with the Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark, and has an approximately 70-hour power reserve. Its functions include the central hours and minutes, small seconds, perpetual calendar with large twin-aperture date display at 12 o’clock, days of the week and 24-hour indication at 9 o’clock, and months and leap year indication at 3 o’clock.

The watch’s hallmark complication, its moon-phase display, displays the moon phases in a clever, unconventional manner, with the moon rotating around an axis inside the small seconds subdial (hence the term “orbital”). The degree of precision is such that the difference between two lunar cycles amounts to a mere 57.2 seconds, meaning it deviates by only one day every 122 years.

The L.U.C Lunar One, whose case is water-resistant to 50 meters, is fitted with either a new semi-matte or matte-black hand-sewn alligator leather strap; each features a cognac-colored alligator leather lining and is secured by an 18k rose-gold pin buckle.

Chopard LUC Lunar One dial detail

Chopard LUC Lunar One angle

Technical characteristics:

Movement: Chopard caliber L.U.C 96.13-L, based on L.U.C 96QP, automatic; diameter = 33 mm; height = 6 mm; 32 jewels; 28,800 vph; 7o-hour power reserve; bridges adorned with côtes de Genève motif; COSC-certified chronometer; Stamped with Geneva Hallmark

Functions: Central hours and minutes; small seconds at 6 o’clock, large date at 12 o’clock; perpetual calendar; moon-phase display

Case and strap: 18k rose gold case; diameter = 43 mm; height = 11.47 mm; water-resistant to 50 meters; glareproofed sapphire crystal and exhibition caseback; rose-gold crown with engraved L.U.C. logo; on semi-matte brown or matte black hand-sewn alligator leather strap with cognac-colored alligator leather lining

Dial and hands: Silver-toned, satin-brushed dial with gold-toned hour markers, hour, minute, day and month, and small seconds hands; blue triangles for day/night and year indications

Receive all the news, features and reviews from WatchTime for free! Sign up for our free weekly newsletter and get it all delivered to your inbox.

No Responses to “Chopard L.U.C. Lunar One”

Show all responses
Leave a Reply