One week one watch : 1st week, (Part 2 is in)

[Godzillaz]

Good day to you all,

I got inspired to post some watch from my collection after reading some of the recent post.

I will try to do this in 3 part.

Part 1: General introduction
Part 2: Photo essay and watch specs.
Part 3: Owner's experience

Without further delay here is Part 1

The watch we have today is Chopard L.U.C. 1860. This is the white gold version.



Part 2 soon to be follow.

Regard
Tyler

[takashi78]

LUC is niceeeee !
Best value for money in terms of finishing i would say.
And in the SS version a great price !
Too bad discon.

[Godzillaz]

The finishing surprise me as well when I compare it to the higher end brand. Really others a run for their money.

As for best value I really can't say. Don't get me wrong I think this watch does belong to the value for money category but maybe just not "the best" value.   

I wasn't aware of a SS version for the LUC 1860. It is news to me

Regard
Tyler

 

LUC is niceeeee !
Best value for money in terms of finishing i would say.
And in the SS version a great price !
Too bad discon.

[takashi78]

I think its just called the LUC Classic.
Last i checked.
When i say best value, i was comparing the SS version.
To me at least, nothing comes close in terms of finishing for the price after discount.

[Plankton-IkanBilis]

Unfortunately, Mille Miglia is the first thing that comes to most minds when Chopard and watches are being mentioned...wait, that `honour' could also go to Happy Diamonds.
(I too was one when I first started to develop the interest)

Thanks for sharing...looking forward to more - especially love the fact that I can learn more since the history/pedigree/lineage of the watch is known by the owner.

 

[davidtth]

may i know what material being use on the marker and hands ? looks like carbon ...

looks really neat, wish to see how great the finishing is since you owned most of the high quality watch 

[Godzillaz]

The material of the hands are white gold. It's the reflection that's playing the tricks.

Regard
Tyler

may i know what material being use on the marker and hands ? looks like carbon ...

looks really neat, wish to see how great the finishing is since you owned most of the high quality watch 

[Godzillaz]

Thanks for the comment. I need to take a few more photos then part 2 should be up.

Regard
Tyler

Unfortunately, Mille Miglia is the first thing that comes to most minds when Chopard and watches are being mentioned...wait, that `honour' could also go to Happy Diamonds.
(I too was one when I first started to develop the interest)

Thanks for sharing...looking forward to more - especially love the fact that I can learn more since the history/pedigree/lineage of the watch is known by the owner.

 

[JPSP]

looking forward to next week 

[1to12]

Very nice classic looking watch. Superb dial and finishing. 

[JPSP]

looking forward to next week 

Isn't it week 2 already? 

[Godzillaz]

Patient, my friend.  Very soon

(It seem CNY celebration have used up much of my time )

Regard
Tyler

looking forward to next week 

Isn't it week 2 already? 

[mr.jim]

cant wait for more photo bro! nice watch u got there!!!

[hannyy]

How much does this cost?

[dsiewmy]

Tyler, where is the part2!?!?!

[Godzillaz]

LOL, getting impatient I see. 

It will definitely be up this week. I just need to process all the pics before hand.
 
Regard
Tyler

Tyler, where is the part2!?!?!

[Godzillaz]

The L.U.C 1860 1.96 is Chopard first entry to the haute horology scene. Before acquiring L.U.C, the Happy Diamonds are what comes into the minds to most when mention of Chopard name. The introduction of 1.96 in 1998 was a move to change all that.

The 1.96 spot a classical design which took cue from many great house of haute horology. We can even call it as Chopard's take on the calatrava classic from Patek.

One thing for sure is that if you want to compete in the haute horology category, Patek is the ultimate target.
What's a better model than the iconic historical Calatrava




Let's look at the dial
The centre circle is hand guilloche, a usual practice of haute horology. A small detail but a must for a serious watch like this.
The applied spear shape index are made of white gold and given a mirror polish.

Lastly 2 sunken track were added outside of the index to give contrast and better readability. I like the subtlety, it gives elegance to the watch.
A small setback is the punctured date window. It would my preference to do without it.   



Switching over to the back, we have the movement. An in house movement jointly develop by Michel Parmigiani and Chopard. The option of micro rotor means it have the advantage of slimness. It bidirectional winding and boost an impressive 70 hour power reserve. Thanks to the double stack barrels that operate in series (one switching in progressively as the first exhausts)

The 22k micro rotor is pure bliss

27.4 millimeter in diameter, 3.3 millimeters thick and 29 jewels. It's jeweled back to the barrels as well as the automatic winding system(utilize no less than four ball bearings)



3 three-armed Glucydur balance, uses an adjustable stud carrier and oscillating at 28,800 bit per second.
Breguet overcoil balance spring and Swan’s neck regulator(not the most practical but definitely beautiful to look at)

Shock protection is provided by KIF units
All the necessary attention were given to have the movement live up to the promise of chronometry. (The watch comes with a COSC certificate) 



At last the finish. What can I say, everything is here. Cote de Geneva(Geneva stripes), Perlage(tiny circular pattern on the bottom plate and anglage(beveling). These hand finishing is what makes these swiss watch so expensive! LOL
However if you have the chance to see these tiny wonders under a magnifying loupe, you'll understand what I mean. Here a photo I took with fill in flash to show what am talking about   



It even have double signed Geneva Seal, Can you spot the other one? 



I hope this little review help gather some interest about the LUC collection from Chopard which to me a hidden gem.

Thanks for reading

Regard
Tyler

[chrisyen]

If chop are price goes up b4 I buy it
I blame u 

[Plankton-IkanBilis]

Since we are on the subject of Chopard and I am not in the mood to Google  why do some of their watches are branded as L.U.Chopard...yes, I do know it is after Louis-Ulysse Chopard but just wondering...any technical or whatever differences between the two?

[Plankton-IkanBilis]

another worthless non-technical observation - Chopard watches - the Chopard name in Capitalised Font, Cursive Font and L.U. Chopard.

[Godzillaz]

The LUC collection are mostly manufacture in the Fleurier, a town situated north of Geneva. This Fleurier facility are built to make highend model, tourby, perpetual, etc and also in majority of the in house movements .

Chopard other collection like Happy Diamonds (mostly quartz movement) and jewelry are make in other facility in Geneva. On the same note, the Mille Miglia collection are also produce here.

In 1992/93 when Chopard bought an watchmaking company, L.U.C. (more like just the name since the company wasn't producing anything anymore)

This enable Chopard to have a perfect portfolio at all level

Highend: L.U.C.
Sport: Mille Miglia
Jewelry: Happy Diamonds

The reason for having 2 facility is that Chopard start off as jeweler not watchmaker. Their watches are mostly jewelry quartz piece or sport model with 3rd party movement.


In order to coupe with the new LUC line Chopard needed new experience watchmakers and a new production facility hence the new Fleurier factory was built. Fleurier is where you can find these watchmaker. However some of the movement that carry the Geneva Seal are produce in the Geneva factory.

Regard
Tyler
   

Since we are on the subject of Chopard and I am not in the mood to Google  why do some of their watches are branded as L.U.Chopard...yes, I do know it is after Louis-Ulysse Chopard but just wondering...any technical or whatever differences between the two?

[1to12]

Very nice indeed. I always had the impression that Chopard is more into jewellery. But the above is excellent. Thanks for sharing!

[dsiewmy]

fantastic review bro. looking forward for part 3 

[takashi78]

I have always wondered about the need for double Geneva seal.
Only other brand i know off that has this is Roger Dubuis.

Is it the angle of the photo or is the Geneva seal missing some gold filling?
I mean the upper one.

[TheHobbit]

Beautiful watch Tyler. Congrats and wear it with good health. Waiting for you to post some of the vintage pieces.