Representing essentially the most difficult timepiece ever produced by the Chopard manufacture, the design makes use of a minimum of ten technical patents.
The L.U.C Grand Strike options a number of chiming issues, together with a grande sonnerie (robotically chimes the hours and quarters of the hour), petite sonneries (robotically strikes the hours and quarters on the hour), and a minute repeater (chimes the time on demand through a pusher built-in into the crown).
Fascinating, to make the chiming sound, conventional steel hammers strike proprietary sapphire crystal gongs, that are machined from a single block of sapphire crystal, built-in with the watch glass, to supply a remarkably loud and clear sound with a definite C#-F pure chord.
Along with the audible chiming issues, the L.U.C. Grand Strike has conventional Dauphine-shaped central hour and minute arms, and a 60-second tourbillon with stop-seconds operate is seen on the 6 o’clock place, aiding in exact time setting. The tourbillon is supplied with a devoted small seconds hand and stop-seconds operate, guaranteeing that you could set the watch exactly. And COSC has licensed that the motion is regulated to chronometer specs -4/+6 seconds per day or higher.
A dial-less show (openworked) showcases the 686-component, 67-jewel manually wound caliber L.U.C 08.03-L, beats at 4Hz housed inside a 43 mm diameter x 14.08 mm in thickness 18K moral white gold case, that’s compact relative to the quantity of horological innovation and complication inside.
A sliding selector change, situated on the case flank between 2 and three o’clock, permits the wearer to decide on between Grande Sonnerie (G), Petite Sonnerie (P), and Silence (S) modes.
The watch has two separate energy barrels: one for timekeeping (approx. 70 hours) and one for the placing mechanism (no less than 12 hours in grande sonnerie mode).
Ending and adorning of the parts, together with the Geneva-striped German silver mainplate and bridges, are executed to the best high quality customary and bear the Genève Seal.
Last Ideas
Priced at CHF 780,000, which is almost 1,000,000 {dollars} at at present’s alternate charges ($969,940), solely two to 3 of the L.U.C. Grand Strike timepieces (Ref. 161994-1001) could be made per 12 months.
From the distinctive acoustic readability to the intricate hand ending to the extraordinary issues and sapphire gongs, all on show by means of the openworked dial, Chopard has really delivered a horological marvel within the L.U.C. Grand Strike.
Study extra at Chopard.
Picture by Chopard.
