Beauty & Style | Sunday 17 January, 2016 12:26 pm |

For this Valentine’s Day, Chopard offers a series of exceptional accessories extending an open invitation to travel and to enjoy the Dolce Vita. 

On the Mille Miglia road

Featuring a design inspired by collectors’ car rear-view mirrors, a light metallic grey colour, palladium-coated finishes and ideal dimensions, the new “Vintage Racing” desk clock will undoubtedly delight devotees of the automobile world and enable them to keep elegant track of time between two meetings.

Moreover, those with a penchant for beautiful objects will not want to set off on a relaxing weekend without the new “Weekender Classic Racing” bag, the result of fine Italian craftsmanship applied to finely smooth leather. With its sophisticated details and spacious inside pocket, this must-have will be a perfect companion on wonderful weekends for two.

Precious stone scarves

Meanwhile, for ladies, Chopard interprets sparkling showers of precious stones on the printed fabrics of its “Haute Joaillerie” silk twill scarves. With its interlacing gemstone motifs inspired by the jewellery creations of the Geneva-based Maison, these silk squares made in Italy will add a colourful and supremely elegant touch to the outfits of the women wearing them.

Happy Hearts

A flurry of hearts for a declaration

For Valentine’s Day, Chopard highlights one of its leading lines, Happy Hearts. A token of love and a lucky charm profoundly cherished by Caroline Scheufele, the heart motif has come to epitomise the Geneva-based Manufacture. Associated with the famous freely whirling and twirling Happy Diamonds, it has naturally found its place in the Happy Diamonds collection to become a collection in its own right named Happy Hearts.  

Happy Hearts feature fine slender white or rose gold chains dotted with wide open hearts and dainty hearts enclosing mobile diamonds. The supple nature of these jewellery creations, combined with the moving diamonds and the random nature of the motifs, compose a jewellery line imbued with distinctive chic and exquisite femininity. 

This year, Chopard presented a completely new approach to the Happy Hearts collection, in which colour made a magnificent entrance, with turquoise, onyx, mother-of-pearl, lapis lazuli or set diamond-set hearts rubbing shoulders with traditionally open hearts. The line now features a stellar new bangle bracelet graced with two hearts – one in colour and the other enclosing a moving diamond – facing each other at each tip and performing an elegant pas de deux.

Vibrant red to celebrate Valentine’s Day on behalf of the Happy Hearts Fund 

As well as being a symbol of love, the heart is also that of the Happy Hearts Fund founded in 2006 by Petra Nemcova in order to help children left destitute in the wake of natural disasters. For Valentine’s day, Caroline Scheufele dedicates the bangle bracelet adorned with a vibrant red heart to the Happy Hearts Fund, which Chopard has been supporting since 2013. 

L’Heure du Diamant

Listening to the voice of the heart

The evocatively named L’Heure du Diamant collection stems from an encounter between Chopard’s watchmaking know-how and its jewellery expertise. Composed of exquisitely refined watches and dainty jewellery creations, L’Heure du Diamant vividly illustrates the breadth of creativity cultivated by the Geneva-based Manufacture as well as the talent of its artisans.

Embodying a perfect blend of purity, radiance and mystery representing the quintessence of luxury, diamonds exalt the charms of any woman who wears them. Fascinated by their extraordinary aura, Caroline Scheufele consistently gives them a starring role in her creations.

With “L’Heure du Diamant”, Chopard unites the strengths of its two fields of expertise in a dazzling collection gravitating around the most precious of all gemstones. Haute Joaillerie watches, pendants, and earrings are entirely set with prong-set brilliant-cut diamonds. These discreetly classical yet infinitely graceful creations in white or rose gold blossom around beautifully balanced and varied circular, oval, drop-like or elliptical shapes. And naturally also in the form of Chopard’s signature heart symbol, to celebrate Valentine’s Day…

L.U.C 1937 Classic 

A blend of subtle refinement and elegance

For Chopard’s 150th anniversary, the Manufacture launched a limited edition of the L.U.C 1937 model – a mechanical tribute to the company’s watchmaking heritage. Firmly rooted in the Chopard tradition of classic timepieces, the steel L.U.C 1937 Classic watch embodies a blend of subtle refinement and elegance. Featuring a satin-finished silver-toned dial and a Manufacture movement (Calibre 01.01-L), it is a perfect illustration of Chopard’s watchmaking craftsmanship.

The history of the Chopard company, founded in 1860, has been marked by many significant moments. 1937 was one of these fundamental years, as this was when the founder's grandson Paul-André Chopard chose to leave the Jura region where Louis-Ulysse Chopard set up his first workshop, in order to establish the brand in Geneva. It was in the latter Swiss canton that Chopard subsequently built its current international success. When celebrating its 150th anniversary, the Manufacture paid tribute to this historical relocation by presenting the L.U.C 1937 Twist with its pure, understated lines. For Valentine’s Day 2016, Chopard has chosen to offer a steel version with a crown at 3 o’clock.

An elegantly ageless timepiece for gentlemen

The L.U.C 1937 appears in a steel version on an alligator leather strap with a satin-brushed silver-toned dial punctuated by rhodiumed Roman numerals and a transferred minute track. The Dauphine hands characteristic of the L.U.C collection further enhance the beauty of the dial displaying the passing hours, minutes and seconds. The 42 mm-diameter steel case of the L.U.C 1937 Classic model features a timeless, distinctively curved profile, on which polished and satin finishes lend the ultimate touch of elegance that endow this timepiece with an inimitable aura of gentlemanly distinction. Its screw-lock crown at 3 o’clock guarantees water resistance to 50 metres, while the sapphire crystal case-back reveals the L.U.C 01.01-L calibre crafted in the Chopard Manufacture workshops at Fleurier.

 

 

 

L.U.C Calibre 01.01-L: precision and performance

This L.U.C 1937 Classic model beats to the rhythm of the new L.U.C Calibre 01.01-L and its 28,800 vibrations per hour. This mechanical self-winding movement is chronometer-certified by the COSC and has a 60-hour power reserve. Its construction designed to achieve faultless reliability drives the hours, minutes and central seconds hands, as well as a date display through a window at 6 o’clock. It also features a stop-seconds function enabling easy and accurate time-setting. The precise and high-performance L.U.C Calibre 01.01-L represents a significant landmark in the history of L.U.C movements, since its construction has served to increase production volumes and to further Chopard’s ongoing commitment to independence.

These subtly elegant L.U.C 1937 Classic men’s watches are fitted with a black alligator leather strap lined with brown alligator leather and secured by a steel pin buckle. 

Chopard’s in-house approach to watch manufacturing

Chopard is a family business with a strongly ingrained philosophy of independence. Each step involved in making L.U.C watches is performed in-house at the group’s Meyrin and Fleurier production sites. Movement development, gold smelting, finished product design, stamping and case machining, movement components and metal bracelets, as well as traditional hand-crafted finishes, surface treatments, polishing, assembly, adjustments and quality controls: such is the comprehensive range of watch production operations fully mastered by Chopard.

Mille Miglia GTS Power Control

Racing in style

Chopard presents a sporty timepiece dedicated to the Mille Miglia classic car race, for which it has been serving as partner and official timekeeper since 1988. The model embodying the legendary spirit of the famous Italian competition is equipped for the very first time with a Chopard in-house movement certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). Inspired by the speed machines having taken part in “la corsa più bella del mondo” between 1940 and 1957, the Mille Miglia GTS Power Control bears a power-reserve indicator reminiscent of a petrol gauge, along with a flaming “Rossa Corsa” red dial and oversized numerals evoking typical 1950s dashboards. This exclusive edition is issued in limited series of 1,000 in steel. 

The Mille Miglia: a unique competition and a myth

Since 1988, Chopard has been the partner and official timekeeper of the prestigious Mille Miglia, which sees this year 430 classic cars compete over four days along a route stretching one thousand miles and winding through the most stunning Italian scenery between Brescia and Rome. Reserve for vehicles having taken part in one of the editions of the historical Mille Miglia between 1927 and 1957, this competition is an authentic test of resistance for collector’s cars that takes in some of Italy’s most fascinating regions – from the Po Valley to the city on seven hills, to the rapturous applause of thousands of spectators lining the 1,600 km of this exceptional race. As the ambassador of the Italian art of living, the famous Mille Miglia, which Enzo Ferrari dubbed “the most beautiful race in the world”, embodies the passion for fine mechanics and sporting conviviality. A philosophy shared by Chopard, which has contributed to extending the international reputation and prestige of this event beyond national borders. Born of the personal passion for classic racing cars nurtured by Chopard’s Co-President, Karl-Friedrich Scheufeule, this inseparable link between Chopard and classic racing gave birth to a highly sought-after collection of Mille Miglia watches. With its virile, sophisticated design and its mechanism that is chronometer-certified by the COSC, this line is a great contemporary watchmaking classic. Each year, a limited series dedicated to the race is specially created and thereby enriches the iconic Chopard collection. In addition, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, a discerning collector and active driver, takes part in the race personally each year.

Mille Miglia GTS Power Control: reinventing the classic racing spirit in limited edition

Issued in limited series of 1,000 in steel, the Mille Miglia GTS Power Control picks up the design codes of the classic cars that took part in the Italian race between 1940 and 1957. On the varnished dial, a powerful shade of red reigns supreme. This “Rosso Corsa” is one of the famous “racing colours”, the colour codes for cars that served to identify competitors’ nationality from the early 20th century through to the late 1960s. This emblematic red was chosen as the competition colour of an entire nation: Italy. The power-reserve indicator is reminiscent of typical 1950s petrol gauges, while the oversized 6 and 12 o’clock Arabic numerals echo the dashboards of vintage cars. In a nod to the participant numbers placed on the doors and bonnet of the competing vehicles, the date window appears clearly on a white background in the Mille Miglia red arrow-shaped logo. The facetted hands and the hour-markers are painted with a luminescent coating and enhance the readability as well as the sporting character of this timepiece. The Mille Miglia GTS Power Control comes in a sturdy 43 mm-diameter case in steel, topped by a bezel with a black aluminium graduated insert. Its short, streamlined lugs have been designed to perfectly mould the curve of the wrist, ensuring optimal comfort and style further enhanced by the black Barenia leather calfskin strap secured by an 18-carat rose gold or steel folding clasp. The screw-down back guaranteeing water resistance to 100 metres is engraved with the inscriptions “Mille Miglia” and “Brescia > Rome > Brescia” and fitted with a transparent sapphire crystal pane revealing the Chopard movement and its openworked oscillating weight.

A Chopard high-precision manufacture movement – chronometer certified

This exceptional aesthetic is matched by an extremely precise horological ‘engine’. The Mille Miglia GTS Power Control is equipped with Chopard Calibre 01.08-C, entirely developed, designed and assembled in the Chopard’s Fleurier Ebauches workshops. Chronometer-certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC), this mechanical self-winding movement ensures extreme precision in driving the hours, minutes and seconds indications, as well as a date appearing at 3 o’clock and a power-reserve display at 9 o’clock. Endowed with a generous approximately 60-hour power reserve, the Mille Miglia GTS Power Control embodies the exclusive spirit of the race with its blend of Italian elegance and sporting prowess.