2020 is a year full of anniversaries for German-founded watch-and-jewelery retailer Wempe. The dawn of the decade marks 20 years since the launch of its By Kim Jewelry collection; 30 years with Ruediger Albers at the helm of the U.S. division of Wempe as President, and most importantly, 40 years of the brand’s presence in New York City. To celebrate that third milestone, the luxury retailer has partnered with one its most important brands, Chopard, for the new, limited-edition Alpine Eagle Wempe 5th Avenue Edition.
Based on the original, time-and-date-only Alpine Eagle sport-luxury model launched last year, the watch features a new dial color and a special commemorative caseback to recall Wempe’s 40 years on New York City’s famous 5th Avenue. Wempe also shared some vintage ads announcing the launch of its 5th Avenue location alongside news of the watch, highlighting how competitive the market likely was in New York some 40 years ago, long before Wempe boutiques in the city were commonplace.
The 41-mm case of the Alpine Eagle Wempe 5th Avenue Edition is constructed of Chopard’s ultra-resistant, light-reflecting Lucent Steel A223, which was specially developed over the course of four years of research and development. The case features brushed polishing on its top facets, with alternating polishing on its stylized sides and eight securing screws on its large bezel; the multi-textured case finishes are meant to recall the sun falling on snow-capped glaciers. The case is integrated into a three-link bracelet, which also features alternating brushed and polished finishing, and has a large right-side crown flanked by stylized, protruding shoulders.
The dial is similar to those of previous Alpine Eagles, albeit differentiated in this special edition by its use of a silver color with blue accents. On the outer edge, a minute ring is accentuated at each hour position with a printed square, while the texture of the main inner section evoke the iris of the eagle for which the collection is named. Applied Roman hour numerals mark each quarter position, while applied rectangles are found at each intervening hour. At the 4:30 position is a prominent date window. Also of note are the Chopard brand logo toward 12 o’clock and the special-edition Wempe logo toward 6 o’clock; passing over both are two matching, lume-filled, rounded, baton-style hands for the hour and minute, along with a feather-counterweighted seconds hand.
Inside the 100-meter water resistant case is the Chopard 01.01-C movement, an in-house mechanism used throughout the Alpine Eagle collection. The automatic caliber is chronometer-certified and amasses a 60-hour power reserve. A stylized Chopard-signed rotor powers the mechanism. Offering a view of the movement is a sapphire caseback with printed and engraved commemorative stamps, most prominent among them the large “5th Avenue” stylized text printed on the exhibition crystal.
The new Chopard Alpine Eagle Wempe 5th Avenue Edition will be limited to 40 pieces and will be retailed exclusively through Wempe boutiques. Each of the numbered editions will retail for $12,900 and all are available now directly through the retailer.
To learn more about the Alpine Eagle collection, visit Chopard’s website, here.
To learn more about the special edition model and inquire for purchase, visit Wempe’s website, here.
