The new L.U.C Full Strike Revelation in radiant yellow gold is as ear-pleasing as the rose gold original from 2016.
It was actually Chopard’s first minute repeater with a novel system of generating and propagating a crystal-clear sound, which along with other innovations made the L.U.C Full Strike worthy of the Aiguille d’Or that Chopard took home at the GPHG 2017.
The coveted award underlines the maison’s prowess in haute horlogerie. The heritage dates back to 1860, when Louis-Ulysse Chopard set up a workshop in the village of Sonvilier.
Named after the founder, the L.U.C collection epitomises the highest standard of Swiss watchmaking.
Co-president Karl-Friedrich Scheufele is commited to raising the bar, and establishing the Chopard Manufacture in Fleurier in 1996 was instrumental in developing mechanical movements and complications.
Devising chiming mechanisms resulted in the L.U.C Strike One and the L.U.C Full Strike that respectively marked the 10th and 20th anniversaries of the Chopard Manufacture in Fleurier.
The 25-year milestone was commemorated by a limited-edition L.U.C Full Strike in a sapphire crystal case. A blue version followed as Chopard explored the palette of the sapphire crystal technology.
Over the years, the 42.5mm case has been crafted in various materials including platinum and ceramicised titanium for reinterpretations of the groundbreaking minute repeater.
The latest L.U.C Full Strike Revelation further demonstrates that changing the case material to ethical 18-carat yellow gold does not affect the purity of the signature crystal-clear sound.
Chopard harnessed the acoustic properties of sapphire crystal, traditionally used for scratch-resistant watch glasses, for its ingenious audio system.
The protective sapphire crystal also serves as a resonator for the sound generated by hammers hitting sapphire crystal gongs, instead of those typically made from steel or gold.
The transparent gongs are in fact an integral part of the top glass, with both elements machined from a block of sapphire crystal. The monobloc construction amplifies the chime when the L.U.C Full Strike indicates the hours, quarter hours and minutes.
The technical feat is one of the five patented systems within the hand-wound L.U.C 08.01-L movement.
The engineering also considered the mishandling of a minute repeater and resulting damage.
To secure its operations and a smooth musical expression, the other patents include a strikework-activation device, a ratchet-driving mechanism to avoid pauses during chiming, and a clutch-lever device that blocks the strikework to manage the power reserve.
The energy comes from a separate, dedicated barrel wound directly by the crown. In addition, the minute repeater mechanism can be simply activated via an integrated pusher in the crown, instead of a lever at the side of the case.
The openworked sapphire crystal dial of the L.U.C Full Strike Revelation showcases the chiming mechanism, with the two steel hammers visible at 10 o’clock. The power reserves for the movement and strikework are indicated at 2 o’clock while the small seconds counter is positioned at 6 o’clock.
Moreover, the sapphire crystal reveals the decorated components of the Calibre, L.U.C 08.01-L, chronometer-certified by the COSC.
The craftsmanship executed on the case and movement is guaranteed by the Poinçon de Genève quality hallmark, making the L.U.C Full Strike Revelation an exceptional melodious model, limited to 20 pieces.