The art of simplicity of design is not an easy one. How do you make something which has an elementary appeal, without unnecessary embellishments, yet imbue it with details that catch the eye as soon as it is viewed? This kind of purity of design is rare – but the new Chopard XP timepiece embodies all the hallmarks of it. It is spare, yet brimming with contrasts, and has an elegance that is unmistakable. The texture of its dial, the virgin wool of its strap, the brilliance of its hour-markers, and its slender shape reflect the tradition of fine Savile Row tailoring. It was created to be a modern classic, for men of taste.
It sticks to the essentials – two hands, no seconds, no date. Made of steel and enhanced by a satin blue dial with rose gold accents, this ultra-thin, ultra-chic timepiece is much more sophisticated than one might think at first glance. It is a watch that suits all wrist sizes, with its 40mm diameter and 7.2mm thickness, and will go with any outfit, be it a formal shirt or a Casual Friday polo t-shirt.
The dial, deeply satin-brushed, has a matt finish, and the applied hour-markers, two hands and Arabic numerals shine, with a warm glow. The dial both deceives and delights the eye, like a semi-plain fabric, a miniature houndstooth motif, or a tone-on-tone Prince of Wales check. The watch is equipped with an ultra-thin L.U.C Calibre 96.53-L. Its automatic winding is carried out by an engraved tungsten micro-rotor, the substantial weight of which optimises the winding power. It feeds two superposed barrels, based on Chopard’s patented Twin architecture. Together, they guarantee the L.U.C XP a generous 58 hours of power reserve.
The timepiece comes with a merino wool strap, made from a breed of sheep renowned for the finesse of the yarn it produces. A cognac alligator leather strap with brown alligator lining is also included. Dyed in deep blue, the braided fabric is a natural follow-on from the blue cashmere strap launched in 2017 on a previous L.U.C XP model, and the embossed leather one introduced in 2018 with the L.U.C Quattro.
With this watch, Chopard has created a rare item, but without making it a limited edition. The necessarily modern quantities of L.U.C collections are dictated by the rhythm of their introduction, as well as the care lavished on crafting them. This natural exclusivity, free of any deliberate effects or artifice, is rooted in the philosophy of Chopard Haute Horlogerie and its artisan-driven approach.
