The New L.U.C 1963

Jan 09, 2014,08:33 AM
 

L.U.C 1963 is one new stunning and elegant piece, a good balance of traditional with contemporary in design!  It is developed to commemorate a key milestone of the Geneva-based company - Chopard, which was acquired by the Scheufele family in 1963 and year 2014 marks the 50th anniversary the family at the helm, moving the brand to new height.

The L.U.C 1963 is a  COSC certified Chronometer with Geneva seal (limited to 50 pieces rose gold), powered with a pocket-watch movement which was supposedly to be  'direct descendant' of chronometers which Chopard was still producing in 1963.


“We had a very classical approach, reminiscent of the watches that my father used to make just after the takeover: models with white dials and black Roman numerals. Such was the classic aesthetic of the era and which my father deliberately cultivated,” according to Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Co-President of Chopard. 




The design of the case and dial, font used is consistent with the revamped theme since 2010 (for more information, please click  here).

If you recalled, it sort of resembled the 49.60mm L.U.C - The Tribute ...






Clean and uncluttered lacquered dial with the new L.U.C fonts.  Will be even better if the dial is a grand feu enamel dial.

Though the L.U.C 1963  consists of a pocket-watch movement, the 18K Rose gold case diameter is reduced to 44mm, but still appears larger due to the thin bezel.


Cambered sapphire crystal with both sides anti-reflective coated to reduce glare.



Both the hour and minute hands of 'Dauphine fusee' style.

Small second at 9H location.


Good improvement with shorter lugs, allowing the strap to drop immediately from the case, and  allowing higher possibility of the watch to embrace thinner wrists.


Wonderful dual polishing (gloss on top elevation while brushed on the cambered side profile)  enabling interesting light-play.

(Note : Apologies for missing out removing the protective film on the part of the brushed surface)


An  8mm diameter 18K polished gold crown accurately covering the thickness of the watch-band. 

The total thickness of the case is 11.50mm, relatively thin for the diameter, so it could slide under the cuff.



The above picture illustrate clearly the side of the caseband is not straight / flat but cambered.  Good fine details!


Symmetrical reflective image of the bezel over the thin flange gold case-back, giving full unblock view of the beautiful L.U.C movement.





The beautifully decorated movement is a hand-wound L.U.C 63.01-L, a workaround of the pocket-watch movement in The Tribute L.U.C 06.01-L , beating at 3Hz and has a power reserve of 60 hours. 



The maillechort bridges decorated with 'Cotes de Geneve' pattern, with Geneva Seal stamped. 



One of the bridges beside the large balance wheel and swan-neck regulator is like black-polished with internal angle beveled !








A wrist-shot illustrating the L.U.C 1963 sat snugly on a thin wrist.


The L.U.C 1963 is with a double side hand stitched alligator leather strap and a 18K gold buckle.



What's your thought? 

Do you like it?

I do. 



Kong












Related Reads:

Press Release of L.U.C 1963


L.U.C  Louis-Ulysse - Tribute






This message has been edited by Kong on 2014-01-09 08:41:20


More posts: Chronograph grand feu enamelCollection Villeret

  login to reply

Comments: view entire thread

 

Absolutely beautiful

 
 By: ant : January 9th, 2014-09:04
A timelessly elegant gentleman's wristwatch. The dial and case are exquisite. And the movement.....what a wonderful piece of craftmanship. Congratulations to everybody at L.U.Chopard for a magnificent creation. Antony

Extremely nice...

 
 By: Marcus Hanke : January 9th, 2014-09:10
Really a beauty! It has the potential to become a sought-after Chopard "grail", similar to IWC's Jubilee Portugieser. Unfortunately, the edition is so small that the watches are likely to disappear in vaults forever. Marcus

Beautiful! Look at that movement!

 
 By: patrick_y : January 9th, 2014-09:49
I really can't wait to see this one in person. That's beautiful! And look at that movement! It's like a band of purists sat down and said, "what are we going to make that's pure and not already on the market?" and this is what they came up with! Can't wai... 

"case diameter is reduced to 44mm"

 
 By: small-luxury-world : January 9th, 2014-10:39
LOL, that´s funny. Nonetheless, I like a lot what I see and I will try to see one in the metal. Maybe it has short lugs and fits on my smaller wrist ... that could be a good reason to wait until we see one in white metal ... a little bird told me PT is co... 

If pt is coming.....

 
 By: moc : January 9th, 2014-10:56
It's a dangerous watch..... We need to see it soon Oliver don't we? Mo

Ooooohh me like a lot,...

 
 By: moc : January 9th, 2014-10:55
Give me enamel dial and pt case I am in! Beautiful despite the size,need to see it live.... Mo

Chopard LUC 1963 is a purist's PuristS watch

 
 By: MTF : January 9th, 2014-13:49
With such a large movement base, we accept that 44mm diameter case. It is a cambered case with thin bezel and "proportionately thin" . I've seen many of the components and design elements before but not the complete watch. Thanks for the preview. Your wri...  

A superb view!

 
 By: foversta : January 9th, 2014-14:09
I really think that Chopard did a great job here: I love the beauty of this movement but more important the fact that it fully fills the case. Thanks a lot Kong! Fx ...  

Simply beautiful

 
 By: carlhk : January 10th, 2014-00:02
When I saw the watch in Basel last year, my only regret was its limitation to 50 pieces. The watch and even more the movement is stunning and raises the bar in terms of quality and craft within the LUC collection. Well done Chopard! Best, Carl

Superb movement!

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : January 10th, 2014-19:51
The movement looks beautifully finished and fills the case completely making the case back look really charming. The dial has a mix of classic elegance yet a modern flair to it. I like it too. Agree with Kong that having the dial in grand feu enamel will ... 

Kong, what dangerous pictures!

 
 By: CaliforniaJed : January 13th, 2014-10:52
I just missed seeing one in Las Vegas last week! What a stunning watch. The movement looks absolutely gorgeous. I cannot wait to see one now. Best, CaliforniaJed

Please check it out for us !

 
 By: Kong : January 14th, 2014-07:52
Hi Jed I am very curious to hear your first impression :-) Awaiting ... Kong

Kong, 44mm seems too large for a dress watch.

 
 By: ling5hk : January 24th, 2014-00:02
Of course, I can't blame the 44mm because of the pocket watch movement. Still, it is a very stunning 3 hands watch. May I say: if the dial is enamel, then, it would even be more attractive. Is this a boutique piece? Regards Ling

Tailor ...

 
 By: Kong : January 28th, 2014-01:10
the side of the cuff where the watch will be on bigger :-) I've to agree with you, the feel of value is stronger or perceived higher if the it an enamel dial. It did not say it is a boutique exclusive, however, given only 50 pieces, doubt enough to go to ... 

I still have a vivid souvenir of the Tribute... But this one is really something.

 
 By: amanico : January 30th, 2014-04:33
I would have preferred a small second subdial at 6, but I must say that I am postiviely impressed by this " 1963 "! Best, Nicolas

Good to hear that ...

 
 By: Kong : January 30th, 2014-19:32
Thanks for viewing, Nico. This one, you may wish to check it out in metal. kong

Any pix of Platinum version?

 
 By: timctang : April 3rd, 2014-09:50
I have heard a Platinum specimen was on display at Basel 2014 - anyone have pix? Thanks!

Not me ...

 
 By: Kong : April 7th, 2014-20:57
only see the rose gold. Please check with Chopard Boutique near your area. Kong