Our remarks

Chopard L.U.C 1860 Ref. 16/1860, 18k White Gold, Silver Dial, Caliber L.U.C 3.96, Limited Edition, 2005

Chopard was founded in 1860 by Louis-Ulysse Chopard in the small village of Sonvilier in the Swiss Jura. More than a century later, the company decided to return to its roots as a true watch manufacture. In 1996 it opened its own movement workshop in Fleurier and presented its first in-house caliber, the L.U.C 3.96. The initials stand for Louis-Ulysse Chopard, and the watch that carried this movement was named after the year of the company’s founding: the L.U.C 1860. It is the watch that marks the beginning of Chopard’s modern manufacture story.

The 36 mm case is made of 18 karat white gold and has the classic proportions of a refined dress watch. It is slim and elegant, and slides easily under a shirt cuff. Through the sapphire caseback you can admire the movement.

The silver dial is clean and balanced, with white gold applied hour markers markers, slim hands and a small seconds at 6 o’clock. It is a dial made for understated elegance, and it lets the quality of the watch speak for itself.

Inside works the self-winding caliber L.U.C 3.96, the first movement Chopard developed and built entirely in house. It has a micro-rotor in 22 karat gold, which allows the movement to stay remarkably thin, and two stacked barrels that provide a power reserve of around 65 hours. The movement is chronometer certified and carries the Geneva Seal, one of the most demanding quality standards in watchmaking. Its finishing is regarded as among the finest of any modern automatic movement.

It is worn on a matt black aligator strap.

The watch dates from 2005 and is in very good condition. It belongs to a limited edition of 1860 pieces and comes with box and papers.

"The model that started Chopard’s manufacture era, with one of the finest automatic movements of its time - clearly a fine gentlemen watch and great collectors item!"