Fergus Nash
The Chopard L.U.C 1860 is a reissue of their first L.U.C watch, with many modern improvementsThe salmon dial is crafted from a gold plate, and does away with the unnecessary date displayChopard's Lucent steel is made from 80% recycled material, and is also harder and brighter than regular stainless steelChopard's first wristwatch in the L.U.C collection dates back to 1997, and it met instant acclaim. Winning the Watch of the Year' title by the Swiss magazine Montres Passion (Uhrenwelt), the piece was a delicate and finely-finished display of yellow gold and silver guilloche that would have made enthusiasts swoon. At Watches & Wonders 2023, Chopard L.U.C have now reissued their origin story with a slew of updates that showcase their progress 26 years later paring the two versions of the Chopard L.U.C 1860, it's pretty clear that the new edition isn't just a simple re-release with some different colours. The new case is more distinctive, with a slightly wider bezel and wider lugs that give the watch a more statuesque appearance. The outer sections remain largely the same, however the guilloche pattern in the centre radiates from the Chopard logo plate rather than the central pinion, which introduces some pleasing horizontal asymmetry. The original has a subtle crimped edge pattern surrounding its guilloche and small seconds subdial, while the new model emphasises that motif with a high-contrast band between each dial sector. The date display has also been removed, cleaning up the look considerably.In terms of materials, the modern Chopard L.U.C 1860 shows off plenty of development too. The dial is crafted from a salmon-toned gold plate, and the 36.5mm case is made from their proprietary Lucent steel instead of yellow gold. Lucent steel is made of 80% recycled material, treated to be 50% harder than regular stainless steel, and also has a brighter lustre. The L.U.C 96.40-L is also an evolution of the calibre 1.96 found in the original watch, with a 4Hz sweep and a generous 65-hour power reserve. This movement, visible from the display caseback, has been granted chronometer certification by COSC as well as a Poin?on de Geneve for its quality and finishing.The Chopard L.U.C 1860 pricing and availability:The new Chopard L.U.C 1860 is now live on their website. Price: US$23,200BrandChopardModelL.U.C 1860Case Dimensions36.5mm x 8.2mmCase MaterialLucent steelWater Resistance30mCrystal(s)SapphireDialSalmon-toned goldStrapAnthracite calfskinMovementL.U.C 96.40-LPower Reserve65 hoursAvailabilityAvailable nowPriceUS$23,200
30.03.23