L.U.C 150 "all in one" - A consolidation of expertise

Mar 24, 2010,05:24 AM
 

To mark its 150th anniversary, Chopard presents one of the major complications of the watchmaking art: the Equation of Time which, in association with the Perpetual Calendar, provides a mechanical reflection of the fabulous dance of the heavenly bodies. Further enhanced with a Tourbillon, this masterpiece of complexity – chronometer-certified by the COSC and bearing the Poinçon de Genève – is naturally issued in a strictly limited edition.

 



Chronometer-certified by the COSC and bearing the prestigious Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark, the L.U.C 4TQE movement houses four barrels endowing it with a seven-day power reserve. It powers displays of the hours, minutes, small seconds on the tourbillon, a perpetual calendar showing a 24-hour indication, the day of the week, the date through a window, the month, the leap year, the power reserve, along with a 24-hour indication, the equation of time, sunrise and sunset times and moon phases. Comprising 516 parts and 42 jewels, the L.U.C 4TQE movement beats at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations/hour.

 

 



 A rare complication, the equation of time shows the difference between true solar time (that of nature) and mean solar time (or civilian time). The Earth follows an elliptical orbit around the earth, and its axis is also inclined in relation to the plane of the equator. This means that the period of time between two passages of the sun through the highest point in the sky (noon) is not the same length throughout the year. It lasts exactly 24 hours just four times a year (on April 15th, June 14th, September 1st and December 24th). For the rest of the year, the elapsed time is sometimes shorter and sometimes longer. The difference between true solar time and mean solar time – which may vary between minus 16 minutes and 23 seconds on November 4th to plus 14 minutes and 22 seconds on February 11th – is referred to as the equation of time. The display of this difference between “natural” and “civil” time is one of the complications featured in the new L.U.C 150 “all in one” model.

 



The 46 mm-diameter case of the L.U.C 150 “all in one” is crafted in white gold and water-resistant to 30 metres. It adopts the new style of the L.U.C complication models unveiled for the brand's 150th anniversary. Vertical satin-brushed finishes and lugs with polished tops are part of this renewal, as are the newly shaped hands, the new fonts and the redesigned Roman numerals enhancing the dial.



 

The multiple indications and complications of this perpetual calendar, equation of time and tourbillon watch are displayed on the gold guilloché-worked upper dial, as well as on the second dial on the case-back side. In addition to the hours, minutes and small seconds on the tourbillon at 6 o'clock, the upper dial displays the perpetual calendar with 24-hour indication and the day of the week at 9 o'clock, the large date window at 12 o'clock, along with the month and the leap year at 3 o'clock. The equally guilloché-worked gold plate of the dial on the case-back bears the equation of time, power reserve, 24-hour day/night indication, sunrise and sunset times, as well as the astronomical orbital moon-phase display depicting the dance of the heavenly bodies – set to coincide with Geneva – and its mechanical expression.

 

The new L.U.C 150 “all in one” is fitted with a half-glossy alligator leather strap with a gold pin buckle adorned with the Chopard logo. It is issued in a strictly limited edition of 15 in white gold, 15 in rose gold and 15 in white gold set with baguette-cut diamonds.

 

 

 

Technical details

 

Case:

 

·      In 18-carat white or rose gold

·      Satin-brushed/polished

·      Diameter                                                                      46.00 mm

·      Thickness                                                                     18.50 mm

·      Water-resistant to                                                          30 metres

·      Gold crown with L.U.C logo                                            8.50 mm

·      Multi-layered glareproof sapphire crystals front and back

 

 

Movement:

 

·      Hand-wound, tourbillonL.U.C 4TQE

·      Total diameter                                                              33.00 mm

·      Thickness                                                                     11.75 mm

·      Number of jewels                                                          42

·      Frequency                                                                     28,800 vph

·      4 barrels

·      Power reserve                                                               189 hours (7 days)

·      Chronometer certification (COSC)

·      Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark

 

Dial and hands:  

 

·      Hand-guilloché upper and lower dials

·      Silvered snailed hollowed counters

·      Black applied Roman numerals

·      Black Dauphine fusée hour and minutes hands

·      Black hands for the small seconds, perpetual calendar, equation of time and 24-hour day/night indication

·      Red hands for the power-reserve and sunrise and sunset indications

 

Functions and displays:

 

Upper dial

·      Central hour and minute hands

·      Small seconds displayed on the tourbillon at 6 o'clock

·      Perpetual calendar with 24-hour indication and day of the week at 9 o'clock

·      Display of the month and leap year at 3 o'clock

·      Large date window at 12 o'clock

 

Lower dial

·      Display of the equation of time, power reserve, the-hour day/night indication, sunrise and sunset times in Geneva, and the astronomical orbital moon-phase

 

 

Strap and buckle

 

·      Black hand-sewn half-glossy alligator leather lined with brown alligator leather

·      Gold pin buckle

 

 

Ref. 161925-1001 white gold 15-piece limited edition

Ref. 161925-5001 rose gold   15-piece limited edition

Ref. 171925-1001 white gold with bezel set with baguette-cut diamonds 15-piece limited edition

 

 

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Comments: view entire thread

 

Size aside, this watch looks great! Congrats LUC!

 
 By: ArthurSG : March 24th, 2010-20:26
This must be their response to JLC's hybris.... Would be nice to have a look at this and even though I have expanded my size tolerance, its huge! Maybe the challenge for LUC as a follow on to this... getting the same level of complication or more into a 4... 

Very high chance ...

 
 By: Kong : March 25th, 2010-11:33
Chopard Asia should be bring them in. I'm curious to try on too! Kong

If you happen to be orgainzing a Purist invite for this

 
 By: ArthurSG : March 25th, 2010-19:49
may I humbly request a spot on the list in advance....

congrats Chopard

 
 By: p.boxster : March 25th, 2010-01:25
this watch shows again the great competence of Chopard! I like it very much, though the thickness and diameter are quite extreme - not really wearable. But I don´t think that I will ever see this watch on anyone´s wrist. Is the price already set?? I specu... 

Seemed like wearability ...

 
 By: Kong : March 25th, 2010-11:12
was considered during the design stage. Should check out in steel. Pricing not known yet ... I'm waiting to know too Kong

46 mm big and 18,5 mm thick???

 
 By: amanico : March 25th, 2010-01:32
Damn, that's a big watch! Cool to see Chopard releasing this kind of watches! Though, I would have preferred seeing the sky chart on the dial side. Interesitng, nonetheless. Best, Nicolas

well,

 
 By: axisskin : March 28th, 2010-01:47
this is an highly intersting watch best soeren

another great watch from Chopard...

 
 By: FanFrancisco : April 1st, 2010-04:06
... WOW, looks very move by Chopard, they are making more highly complicated watches which is good news to us. keen and hope to see all these new pieces soon. stefan

Yes, likewise, looking forward to view the four pieces of 2010!

 
 By: Kong : April 1st, 2010-12:07
Hopefully after you are back in Singapore Kong