Symphony in every chime

I flew to Geneva early this month for the exclusive preview of Chopard’s most complex timepiece to date: the L.U.C Grand Strike, unveiled globally on November 19.

- Mitrajit Bhattacharya

Introduced in 1997 and named after Chopard founder Louis-Ulysse Chopard, the L.U.C collection epitomises the highest standard of Swiss watchmaking. Each L.U.C timepiece is crafted at Chopard's Geneva and Fleurier manufactures. Marking the 30th anniversary of Chopard Manufacture, the unique chiming timepiece is a milestone of both technical and acoustic innovation. Developed entirely in-house over more than 11,000 hours of research, the watch unites three of horology’s most prestigious chiming complications: Grande Sonnerie, Petite Sonnerie, and Minute Repeater. The Grande Sonnerie chimes both hours and quarters, while the Petite Sonnerie only chimes the quarters. The minute repeater, on the other hand, chimes the hours, quarters, and minutes on demand. But what makes this watch exceptional is that all its chiming functions are powered by sapphire crystal gongs unique to Chopard.

Setting records

The L.U.C Grand Strike is powered by the in-house L.U.C 08.03-L calibre, a 686-component manual-winding movement that combines precise timekeeping with a 60-second tourbillon. The watch carries both the Poingon de Genéve (Geneva Seal), an independent institution that certifies the highest level of manufacturing and finishing of components, and the Contrdle Officiel Suisse des Chronométres (COSC), which certifies the accuracy of movements. The L.U.C Grand Strike is one of the rare Grande Sonnerie watches to meet both chronometric and aesthetic standards of the highest order.