At the Baselworld 2017 exhibition that we left behind, Chopard is one of the brands that gave a novel touch to the organization. Although almost all of the interest was focused on the L.U.C Lunar One Perpetual Calendar model, L.U.C XP Stainless Steel was also highly acclaimed with its simple and classic lines. The model, which brought the dress watch concept a new perspective through Chopard style, became one of the most successful models of that the brand has introduced with its elegant looks and L.U.C signed movement.
Chopard, one of the first to come to mind about luxury watches and jewelry, was among the most talked-about brands of the Baselworld fair this year. Especially L.U.C Lunar One Perpetual Calendar model, as well as audiences as well as authoritarian brands, classic dress watch style designed L.U.C XP Stainless Steel model.
Chopard, which is one of the first brands that come to mind when it gets to Jewelry and Luxury Watches, was one of the most talked about brands of this year’s Baselworld. The brand, which fascinated the watch authorities as well as the enthusiasts especially with its L.U.C Lunar One Perpetual Calendar model, also attracted great interest with the classic dress watch style L.U.C XP Stainless Steel model.
The model, which is covered by the brand’s L.U.C Collection known with its ultra-thin movements, tributes to the “less is more” motto with its design.
The new model comes in a 40mm diameter case made of stainless steel. The case, which is a tad bigger with its 40mm diameter, offers a combination of mirror polished and satin brushed finishes. Sporting an anti-glare coated sapphire crystal on the front side and a sapphire crystal display caseback, the case is water resistant 30 meters which is a bit weak even for a two-hand dress watch today. The case successfully balances the wide diameter with its 7.20mm thickness and sits comfortably even on smaller wrists with the help of its short lugs.
Being quite an eye-catcher with its large case and mirror polished smooth bezel, L.U.C XP Stainless Steel provides a strong wrist presence with its light colored and unique surface finish dial. The dial, which is finished in vertical satin brushed silver, is accompanied by large Arabic numeral hour markers at 3,6,9,12 and triangular indices for the rest. The hands are designed in XP Series’ unique form and finished in blue like the hour markers. The dial does not bear any writings other than “L.U.CHOPARD”
The model is powered with the brand’s in-house movement Caliber Ref. 96.53-L which is designed and manufactured at the brand’s ateliers at Fleurier – Switzerland. Despite its thickness of only 3.30mm, the movement is capable of providing an impressive power reserve of 58 hours thanks to its patented Twin Barrel system. Decorated with Cotes de Genève patterns, the movement comes with the signature feature of the L.U.C collection – a micro rotor. Let me remind you that, the micro-rotor is made of Tungsten alloy which has a higher specific weight. Thanks to that alloy, which is extremely hard to handle and difficult to process, the problem of not being able to be wind efficiently due to the small size (and lightness) of the rotor in the micro-rotor mechanisms has been eliminated.
Another important feature of the model is its strap. L.U.C XP Stainless Steel is offered on a leather/cashmere combination which was probably the coolest strap among all Baselworld 2017 novelties. Secured with a stainless steel Chopard signed pin buckle, the strap has a leather only option as blue alligator but I think it is the leather / cashmere mix that best completes the model’s character.
Frankly speaking, it is not possible to call Chopard L.U.C For XP Stainless Steel “just another dress watch... “ as it hosts a number of unique design element from the dial to the strap. The model, which we occasionally photographed with another Baselworld 2017 novelty of the brand - L.U.C XPS Twist QF Fairmined, is planned to reach the boutiques in midsummer.
