Only Watch Auction

Monaco, Sep 20, 2007

LOT 4

Chopard ?L.U.C. Chrono One Prototype? Fleurier et Genève, Prototype No. 1 of 2.

EUR 0 - 0

Sold: EUR 32,000

The case: 18ct white gold, round, down turned lugs, anti-reflective sapphire crystal,transparent case back secured by screws, water-resistant to 30 m, rectangular pushers activating the chronograph functions. Diameter: 42mm, thickness: 14.20mm Alligator strap with a folding clasp in 18ct white gold. The movement: Calibre ?L.U.C 10CF?, integrated double-pusher, column wheel, chronograph movement, Chronometer (COSC) certified, rhodium plated, ?Côtes de Geneve? decoration, 45 jewels, bi-metallic four-arm Variner® balance, selfcompensating balance spring, frequency 4 HZ or 28?800 VPH, Incabloc shock absorber, straight line lever escapement, 60-hour power reserve. Diameter: 28.80mm, thickness: 7.60mm. The case: 18ct white gold, round, down turned lugs, anti-reflective sapphire crystal,transparent case back secured by screws, water-resistant to 30 m, rectangular pushers activating the chronograph functions. Diameter: 42mm, thickness: 14.20mm Alligator strap with a folding clasp in 18ct white gold. The dial and the hands: ?Guilloche soleil? two-tone (black and dark grey) dial, applied Arabic indexes, outer 60-second division, sapphire crystal permanent-second, 30-minute and 12- hour counters. Date aperture at 6 o?clock. Luminous rhodium plated ?Dauphine? hands. Specific features of the ?L.U.C Chrono One?: ? Integrated double-pusher column-wheel chronograph with fly-back function (may be reset at any time while it is running by activating a single pusher). ? ?Permanent-second reset? function, combined with a movement stop mechanism. Very useful for an accurate time setting (patent pending). ? The reset function operates by a lever that pivots three supple hammers, enabling optimal reset of the three counter hands (patent pending). ? The self-winding mechanism ensures winding in both rotation directions of the oscillating weight (which is pivoted on a ceramic ball-bearing mechanism). It comprises a unidirectional gearing device to avoid energy loss and to guarantee optimal winding speed (patent pending). ? 60-hour power reserve ? The ?start-stop? function is activated by means of clamps operating in conjunction with vertical coupling. ? Fast date adjustment allows the wearer to make a one-day correction per half-turn of the winding-stem. ? The 30-minute counter is semi-instantaneous. ? The 12-hour counter is semi-instantaneous in terms of its function, but dragging for read-off. ? The date is semi-instantaneous and appears through a dial window at 6 o?clock. ? The regulating organ comprises a balance-cock with 2 points of support, thereby ensuring optimal stability. ? The Variner® balance with a high moment of inertia ensures a precise rate in order to successfully pass the COSC tests and earn the title of ?Chronometer?.


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Chopard was taken over by the Scheufele family in 1963 and its headquarters are located in Geneva. As one of the few remaining family manufactures in the luxury watch industry, the company distributes its products worldwide and employs 1650 people, mainly specialised craftsmen in 45 different professions. CHOPARD MANUFACTURE ? BACK TO THE ROOTS In 1996, Chopard returned to its origins in the Swiss Jura region and established ?Chopard Manufacture? in the village of Fleurier. Thereby the company tied up with its past and became once again a ?Manufacture?, that is to say one of the few watch brands mastering the process of producing movements and watches, from the gold melting to the final assembling. THE CHOPARD L.U.C COLLECTION ? AN IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE ? 10 YEARS: 10 L.U.C MASTERPIECES The letters ?L.U.C? stand for Louis-Ulysse Chopard, the man who founded Chopard in Sonvilier (Switzerland) in 1860. Within only 10 years, Chopard Manufacture presented a number of new watches, all of which feature interesting technical innovations, superior craftsmanship and finish: From the first ?L.U.C 1860? with micro rotor, 2 barrels for a 65-hour power reserve, awarded watch of the year in 1997, the ?L.U.C Quattro? with 4 barrels for a 9-day power reserve, the ?L.U.C Lunar One? with perpetual calendar, featuring a big date and one of the most accurate moon phase indicators, the well-known ?L.U.C Pro One?, the ?L.U.C GMT?, the ?L.U.C Regulator?, the ?L.U.C Twist, the ?L.U.C Strike One? and their very specific design and features, the ?L.U.C XP? awarded ultra-thin watch of the year in 2006,to the last edition of the ?LUC Tourbillon SL? in titanium, featuring an exclusive aluminium carriage powered with 4 barrels for an extraordinary 9-day power reserve. INTRODUCING THE ?L.U.C CHRONO ONE? PROTOTYPE NO 1 This chronograph is one of the most sophisticated horological complications. To mark the tenth anniversary of its creation, Chopard Manufacture wished to demonstrate its perfect mastery of Haute Horlogerie by creating a limited pre-series of 100 pieces,the ?L.U.C Chrono One? ConceptWatch edition. The ?L.U.C Chrono One? prototype no 1 presented for Only Watch 2007 is a ?pièce unique? crafted by hand prior to industrial production as such.The watch is in perfect working condition and is covered by 24 months of Chopard warranty. This timepiece, which meets the demanding standards of Haute Horlogerie, is in line with a tradition of extremely upscale mechanisms, including column wheel, fly-back function,automatic winding and a lengthy power reserve (60 hours). Created and developed in recordtime,the ?L.U.C Chrono One? has given rise to the filing of 3 patents,thereby proving that Chopard Manufacture specialists have opted for technical solutions well off the beaten track, while also demonstrating that, despite its youthfulness, Chopard Manufacture is indeed part of the highly exclusive club of companies capable of creating exceptional horological mechanisms.